Pinnacles
Volcanic rock spires, talus caves and soaring California condors in the Gabilan Mountains
- Hours
- East 24 hours; West gate 7:30am-8pm
- Entry
- $30 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- About 26,700 acres
Pinnacles Weather Now
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Pinnacles protects the remains of an ancient volcano that erupted about 23 million years ago near present-day Lancaster and was carried roughly 195 miles north by the San Andreas Fault. Erosion has carved the volcanic rock into spires, cliffs and crags that rise out of the chaparral. Boulders wedged into narrow canyons formed the park's two talus caves, Bear Gulch and Balconies. Pinnacles became a national monument in 1908 and the newest national park in California in 2013.
The park is part of the recovery program for the endangered California condor, and released birds now fly over the High Peaks with wingspans of up to nine and a half feet. Pinnacles is also a popular rock climbing area, with some routes closed from January through July for nesting raptors. More than 400 species of bees have been recorded here, one of the highest concentrations anywhere. Spring brings green hills and wildflowers, and the park is a certified International Dark Sky Park.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- March through May bring wildflowers, flowing creeks and mild temperatures, and October and November are cooler and quieter after the summer heat.
- How long to stay
- One full day covers the High Peaks and a cave; stay two days to see both sides of the park.
- Getting there
- San Jose (SJC) is about 1.5 hours from either entrance and Monterey (MRY) about 1 hour 15 minutes from the West entrance; San Francisco (SFO) is about 2.5 hours away.
- Wildlife
- Watch for California condors, turkey vultures, prairie falcons, acorn woodpeckers, wild turkeys, deer, bobcats and Townsend's big-eared bats near the caves.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Soledad (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in Hollister (opens in a new tab)California
- Hotels in King City (opens in a new tab)California
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Pinnacles
- HeadlampBoth talus caves are pitch dark and the floors are uneven and wet in places.
- Hydration packThere is no water on the trails, and shade is scarce on the High Peaks.
- Hiking shoes with sticky solesThe High Peaks steps and cave boulders are steep and polished smooth.
- BinocularsCondors often soar high above the spires and are easier to identify up close.
- Sun hatSummer temperatures often pass 100 degrees and the chaparral offers little shade.
A first day, start to finish
- Early start at Bear Gulch
- Condor Gulch Trail to the High Peaks
- Loop back through Bear Gulch Cave
- Picnic at Bear Gulch Reservoir
- Sunset and stars from the campground
Don't miss
- High Peaks TrailA strenuous loop of about 5 to 6 miles from Bear Gulch or Chaparral with steep, narrow steps cut into the rock spires and some of the best condor viewing in the park.
- Bear Gulch CaveA talus cave on the east side, about 1.5 miles round trip, where you squeeze through boulders with a flashlight up to the Bear Gulch Reservoir; it closes in part each year to protect a Townsend's big-eared bat colony.
- Balconies CaveA dark boulder cave on the west side, reached by an easy 2.4-mile round trip from Chaparral past the Balconies Cliffs.
- Condor Gulch TrailA 1.7-mile climb from Bear Gulch to an overlook facing the High Peaks, where California condors often ride the thermals.
- Bear Gulch ReservoirA small lake tucked among the rocks at the top of the Bear Gulch Cave trail, a good turnaround point and picnic stop.
Know before you go
Do
- Bring a flashlight or headlamp for each person, since both talus caves are completely dark inside.
- Carry at least a liter of water per person per hour of hiking, because there is no water on the trails.
- Arrive before 8 a.m. on spring weekends to get parking at Bear Gulch or Chaparral.
Don't
- Plan to drive between the East and West entrances; no road connects them.
- Hike in the middle of a summer day, when temperatures often top 100 degrees.
- Bring your dog on the trails; pets are only allowed in the campground and on paved roads.
The East entrance is open 24 hours a day, year-round, while the West entrance gate is open for day use only, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. No road connects the two sides, so pick one or plan about an hour's drive around through King City. The West Pinnacles Visitor Contact Station is open daily 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Pinnacles Visitor Center and park store at the campground on the east side is open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.), and the Bear Gulch Nature Center opens only intermittently.
Check the park's Talus Cave Status page the morning of your visit, then plan your hike around whichever cave is open.Trekker's tip