Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles protects the eroded remains of an ancient volcano, a maze of towering rock spires, sheer crags and dark talus caves rising from the chaparral hills of central California. Small, uncrowded and split by a ridge into two unconnected halves, it is a favourite of rock climbers, cave scramblers and anyone hoping to watch endangered California condors ride the thermals overhead.
Fast facts
- Established: national monument 1908; national park in 2013 (the newest in the lower 48 at the time)
- Size: about 26,600 acres (108 km²) of the Gabilan Range
- Origin: a volcano rifted and carried ~200 miles (320 km) north along the San Andreas Fault
- Wildlife star: the endangered California condor
- Gateways: Hollister (east) and Soledad (west), California
- Managed by: National Park Service
The landscape
The park’s heart is the High Peaks, jagged rhyolite spires and pinnacles left where erosion carved a volcanic field. Below them, boulders have tumbled into narrow gorges to form the Bear Gulch and Balconies talus caves, dark passages you scramble through by headlamp. Oak woodland and chaparral cover the slopes, home to condors, prairie falcons, bobcats, and a famous diversity of bees.
Best time to go
Spring and fall are ideal, wildflowers and mild temperatures in spring, comfortable clear days in fall. Summer is punishingly hot, often over 100°F (38°C), and best avoided beyond early morning. Winter is cool and green, though rain can flood the caves and force closures. Cave and condor activity vary seasonally, so it pays to check ahead.
Getting there and around
Pinnacles has two entrances that do not connect by road through the park, the east side off Highway 25 (with the campground and visitor center) and the west side off Highway 146, so choose your side before you go, or hike between them over the High Peaks. A vehicle reaches each entrance; from the trailheads, everything is on foot.
Things to do
Hike the spectacular High Peaks trail among the spires, scramble through the Bear Gulch and Balconies talus caves (bring a headlamp), and watch for soaring condors from the ridgelines. Rock climbers come for the crags’ distinctive volcanic routes, and the reservoir and shaded gulches make gentler outings for families.
Top 8 things to do in Pinnacles National Park →
Staying safe
Heat and dehydration are the main risks. Carry plenty of water, hike early, and skip strenuous routes on hot days. The caves are dark, low and can flood, so bring a light, watch your head, and heed closures. The High Peaks trail has steep drop-offs and narrow steps carved in rock, and ticks and rattlesnakes are present, so watch your footing and your hands.
Know before you go
A park pass is required, the campground is on the east side only, and the talus caves close seasonally for bat protection or after rain. Check current cave and condor status before you come. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current conditions, cave access and closures with the National Park Service before your trip.
- Coordinates
- 36.4863, -121.1734
- Magnetic declination
- 12.4° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 6
Park entrances
Visitor centres
Ranger stations
On the trail 13
Trailheads
Routes
Campground
Picnic sites
Sights 18
Viewpoints
Lake
Points of interest
Peaks 10
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Spring, Fall
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- Two separate entrances that do NOT connect through the park: the east (Hwy 25) near Hollister with the campground, and the west (Hwy 146) near Soledad. Reach the High Peaks on foot.
- Water
- Carry ample water; fill up at the visitor center or campground, as trail water is scarce, especially in heat.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Little to no cell service. Carry a map and a headlamp for the caves.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Contact park rangers or San Benito County dispatch; life-threatening emergencies: 911.
- Permits & regulations
- Per-vehicle entry fee (America the Beautiful pass accepted); talus caves close seasonally to protect bats or after rain, so check current cave status.
- Leave No Trace
- Stay on trails, protect roosting bats in the caves, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.
January
February
March
- Day-to-night swing of 30°F (17°C)Day-to-night swing of 17°C (30°F)
April
- Day-to-night swing of 33°F (18°C)Day-to-night swing of 18°C (33°F)
May
- Day-to-night swing of 37°F (21°C)Day-to-night swing of 21°C (37°F)
June
- Day-to-night swing of 42°F (23°C)Day-to-night swing of 23°C (42°F)
July
- Hot days
- Day-to-night swing of 46°F (26°C)Day-to-night swing of 26°C (46°F)
August
- Hot days
- Day-to-night swing of 46°F (26°C)Day-to-night swing of 26°C (46°F)
September
- Hot days
- Day-to-night swing of 44°F (24°C)Day-to-night swing of 24°C (44°F)
October This month
- Day-to-night swing of 40°F (22°C)Day-to-night swing of 22°C (40°F)
November
- Day-to-night swing of 33°F (18°C)Day-to-night swing of 18°C (33°F)
December
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Pinnacles National Park station, 1 miles (1 km)1 km (1 miles) away at 1,307 feet (398 m)398 m (1,307 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
-
Henry W. Coe State Park
Northern California's largest state park: 87,000 acres (350 km²) of steep, empty Diablo Range backcountry near San Jose.
-
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
California's oldest state park, rising again after the 2020 fire: ancient redwoods, waterfalls and a trail from the ridge to the sea.
-
Muir Woods National Monument
Old-growth coast redwoods on level boardwalk loops 11 miles (18 km) north of the Golden Gate Bridge, with trails up Mount Tamalpais.
-
Carrizo Plain National Monument
California’s largest native grassland, with spring wildflowers, Soda Lake and the San Andreas Fault in plain view.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
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