Pinnacles National Park

A great park to spend the day exploring the various trails and visiting some caves. If you want to go through the Balconies Cave Trail, be sure to bring a flashlight (phone works too) as it can get pretty dark down there. If you are a good hiker, we can recommend the route from Chaparral parking lot > Balconies Trail > Balconies Cave Trail > Old Pinnacles (> small detour to Old Pinnacles parking lot to get water) > Blue Oak > High Peaks > Tunnel and finally Juniper Canyon back to Chaparral. Amazing views from the top of High Peaks.

I'm glad we took a chance on this park during a longer camping trip. It's small and not well known, but it is a very special place. Plan for hiking very early since it gets hot there, but the trails are beautiful and varied. The trail signs have a lot of detailed info, such as grade, surface, and even cross slope, so you can tell how hard they will be. I was impressed by their dark skies policies, such as no lights or fires after 10pm. The stars are incredible, with dry air and no nearby large cities. It has some of the strongest wilderness ethics of any park I've been to, and it's well explained in the park signage. That said, they have nice amenities such as showers and a camp store. One thing to know about this park is that it has 2 entrances and no connecting road through. In my opinion, the west entrance isn't worth the drive (though it is a nice drive through vineyards). There are good views of the rock formations there, but to hike to them you'd have to get there very early (after the drive, because you can't camp on that side) and then hike on sunny trails with little shade. The east entrance has the campground and a road to one of the prettiest and shadiest trails. The nice thing is all the trails in the park connect up, so you could go anywhere from the East Entrance if you want a longer hiking experience There's a lot of wildlife, including very mischievous raccoons and all kinds of birds. My one complaint would be that some of the campsites have an unreasonably long walk to a bathroom (loop B in particular), so if that is a need for you, take a very close look at the campground map before reserving a spot

Pinnacles is a fantastic park that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. The hiking here is excellent — with a great mix of cave trails, ridge climbs, and stunning rock formations that make it feel both unique and approachable. Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll or a more challenging climb, there’s something here for everyone. The campgrounds are well-maintained, clean, and easy to access, making it a great choice for both first-time campers and regulars. No need for an off-road vehicle either — the roads are in good condition and fully paved all the way to the main parking areas. Overall, it’s a beautiful and well-kept park that’s perfect for a weekend getaway. Peaceful, scenic, and highly underrated — definitely worth the visit.

Pinnacles is honestly so underrated. It is one of the leases national parks in all of US and it literally is so beautiful. It is extremely quiet and not crowded at all. The trails are easy to moderate to difficult accommodating, all kind of Park goers. We did the cave route and it was so amazing. We just had a couple of hours, but still, we were able to cover a lot of ground. Definitely recommend coming here.

Great park. Not as big as other national parks in the state. It can get crowded and parking is limited so plan accordingly. The hike to the peak can also be challenging to beginners but the view and experience is worth it.

Good one day return trip from the Bay area with plenty of trails for hiking. Recommended to go early in the day preferably reach by 8-8-30 am as finding the parking is extremely difficult on the weekend especially at the bear gulch and Moses spring parking area. If you miss it, then you'll have to park at Peaks View parking lot and take Sycamore trail (1-1.3 mile one way) till the bear gulch area. We did the Sycamore trail, Bear Gulch reservoir(Moses spring trail), Rim trail, Condor gulch trail(only till the viewpoint), all were very good. The best part is many of the trail areas are covered with trees offering nice shade and it makes it a little easier even on the hot sunny days. Recommended to go fully prepared with lots of water and packed food, unfortunately no food options inside the park (besides some snacks at the camping area store). Trails such as Condor are mostly in the sun, so eyeshades, hats, sunscreen, proper hiking shoes are recommended. Check the park website if you are coming here for the caves specifically as Bear Gulch caves have a seasonal calendar and they are closed in the summer...yeah it's a bummer that bats in those caves are raising their young in summer. The hike to the reservoir is otherwise very nice, my kids loved it.

Pinnacles Natl Park was beautiful when we visited in Match of 2025. The vegitation was green and the scenery was beautiful. This is a great place to hike, there a many trails to enjoy. We went to the Bear Gulch caves which was a great experience. There are a couple narrow sections. I am 6' / 220lbs and had to shimmy through a couple spots. But worth the effort for sure. We recommend this park and we will return.

This park was quite a surprise! Was not expecting such a unique experience. We did the condor gulch to high peaks trail and it was super cool. Was busy on the trail in the beginning but got better farther you went. The caves were VERY busy on this trail and honestly wasn’t that great because there were so many people. We went to the west side in the evening and did the balconies trail and honestly was pleasantly surprised! Trail had no people, caves were better than the east side, and the trail was beautiful! Definitely check out this national park!

Pinnacles National Park -- a realm of raw, untamed beauty, carved from ancient volcanic fury. Towering spires pierce the sky, rugged canyons cut through the earth, and trails twist and climb through a landscape forged in fire. Every step here echoes with the power of time and nature. This is no ordinary hike. Whether you seek a peaceful wander through golden meadows or a pulse-pounding climb through shadowy talus caves and dizzying rocky heights, Pinnacles delivers. The trails offer a spectrum of adventure -- from gentle paths to brutal ascents -- testing both the body and the spirit. Here, every adventurer, from the wide-eyed beginner to the hardened explorer, can find their perfect path into the wild. But beware -- the land demands respect. The sun scorches without mercy, and the desert heat is relentless. Prepare, or perish: carry one to two liters of water per hour -- there are no shaded oases, no cool tree tunnels to save you when the heat bears down. And if you dare to descend into the caves -- the ancient underworld of Bear Gulch or Balconies Cave -- be ready. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, for these caves swallow the light whole, plunging you into utter darkness. There are no easy shortcuts here, no simple way out. Every climb through jagged stone, every step in the shadows, must be earned. Pinnacles is not just a hike -- it's a quest. Those who come prepared will be rewarded with awe-inspiring vistas, primal landscapes, and the unforgettable feeling of conquering nature at its wildest. Choose your path wisely... and never underestimate the wild.

Hidden among the hills of central coast you can find the remnants of old time volcano. Nice place for hiking, birding, and catching beautiful colors in the morning and at sunset. We came in through the less entered West side. We visited the visitor center, and then parked at the Chaparral trailhead. We opted for the high peak trail. It was nice. Next time, I would come earlier in the day. Or stick around for after the sun breaks. Also, best season might be in the winter. It's a bit dryer and warmer in the summer months. We enjoyed the experience.

We came to Pinnacle on purpose after seeing some pictures go viral on the internet which shows the narrow stairs right underneath the big rock ; locates in "Bear Gulch Cave". By mistakes, we started the trail in opposite side. All the way too far to reach to Bear Gulch Cave. It took us more than 5 hours from Condor Trail to High Peak Trails - Rim Trail and finally made to Bear Gulch Cave. Actually it's not a bad mistake. We glad that we did it anyway. The trails are so fun to complete. Some easy some really challenging. If you come here just to see the amazing stairs step big rock. You must stop and park at Moses Springs Parking area. From there you can follow the Moses Springs Trails to Bear Gulch Cave takes about 30 mins to one hour. Make sure you have on hand the flashlight to pass through very dark cave. The rest will be very easy and wonderful. Compare to Yosemite Park - Pinnacle itself so beautiful in different way with unique caves and a lot of trails to go through. Some maybe black and headlight /flashlights are mandatory required. There are not so many parking. Prefer to come here early to have enough time to make the long trail. Also there are many kinds of bird live here as you can see them flying everywhere very close to the trails. Especially condors, eagles and falcons. The park entrance fee for one day $30/ car or $80 / car ( annual fee for all national parks around USA)

Pinnacles National Park was one of our few remaining NPs for California, so we finally made the drive up. A was a little hesitant to visit this park so soon because it was just made into a national park in 2013, and I feel like it might not be as established as it will be in 10 more years. That being said, we decided to visit, and Pinnacles is more unique and (similar to Saguaro National Park), the park is divided between the east and the west side. Plan ahead - depending on what you want to do in the park will determine which side you go to, and they are about an hour drive apart from each other. We spent a day in Pinnacles and decided to focus on the east side. Their east side visitor center is within a mile of entering the park and is definitely small and shares a building with the local camp store. But it is still a nice little visitor center with a nice bookstore and friendly staff ready to help you plan your visit. They also have potable water here, so we filled up our bottles for our hikes. 100% recommend adding the Bear Gulch Cave Trail to your visit. Beautiful hike with some cave exploration ending at the Bear Gulch Reservoir. You'll have to squeeze through some tight, dark places, and you should have a flashlight to help you out. But it's a unique, fun, and worthy hike. Pinnacles is also known for its condor sightings. So great if you're looking for the chance to spot one of these rare birds. Overall, we really enjoyed our hike. But unless you're looking to spot some condors or visit all the national parks, I wouldn't make this one a priority. Fun if you live nearby - it is a wonderful piece of nature - but it's not one of the top national parks on my list.

What a great place to hike, there are many attractions- caves to walk through, several trails, rock climbing, reservoirs, picnic areas, boulders, groomed trails. This is a beautiful NP: birds, rivers, scenery, caves, variety of trails - with flat easy trails and steeper rugged trails too. We met so many nice people and families. There are several parking lots, get there early to park in the furthest lot from the entrance which is closest to the most popular trail head. Water filtration systems - are in the parking lots, Make Sure you bring a refillable bottle! AND carry water on hikes. Flashlights needed in caves. Near Entrance: Picnic benches and a small general store with food, snacks, treats, books and gifts. Large lawn with huge shade trees. The caves and steeper trails may be difficult for kids, make sure to stick to the trail, pull to the side to let others pass. Poison oak is next to many trails (it's GREEN in the spring, and easier to spot in the summers-it's Green & red!)

Pinnacles is huge and we got to explore a portion of it on a gloomy Saturday, but the weather was great as it was not hot at all. What an adventure! We got to do a hike that allowed us to witness beautiful rock formations, go through caves, and view a beautiful reservoir that has so many photographic points. It's an approximate 3 mile hike that anyone can do Beautiful views and wonderful adventure. Shuttle service available when parking is filled up at the trailhead. We were at the east side of Pinnacles and there is the West side to explore in the future. Parking was $30. Campgrounds provided with bathrooms and showers. A general store is also onsite and well stocked. Please come and creat your own adventure.

Cave New World Pinnacles is perhaps one of the most underrated--and newest!--National Parks in the country, and is one of NorCal's best kept secrets. Despite being a National Monument since 1908, Pinnacles finally achieved National Park status back in 2013, and hasn't looked back since. The Park is pretty massive (±27k-acres); sports two entrances (á la the Grand Canyon); and is centered around an extinct volcano. If that doesn't get your nature juices flowing, then it's time to check your pulse. The Good: *Campgrounds (East entrance only) *They have a Visitor Center at both entrances, but the East one might be a little nicer, if memory serves. *Trails are (at least in the west side) in good shape. It's been a few years since we've been to the east side, so I can't speak for them. *The Balconies Trail loop (west side) is amazing and takes hikers high up for great views and down thru the Balconies Cave. The best part is that it's only a little over three-miles (±5k) and a svelte ±500' elevation gain. *Flushable restrooms *Balconies Cave is really where it's at! I guess you can access it from the east entrance but so much easier from the west side. Just be careful when traversing thru the Cave, especially if it's rained recently, as the rocks can be very slippery as it is. Also, be sure to pack at least a few bright flashlights (bonus points for a headlamp)--and check the batteries! It's a little challenging, but if my old, fat ass can do it, then you can, too! *One of the few places you can see California Condors out in the wild (west side is better for this, as well fwiw). *Rock climbing (check website and signage for rules) The Meh: *$30 entrance fee (free with NPS National Park pass [$80/year]) *If you're in the South Bay it's 1.5hrs to the East entrance and ±2hrs to the West entrance. *Can get ridiculously hot in the summer, so bring plenty of hydration. *Good park to pack a lunch, as it's a long drive to get there and there ain't much around either entrance for food. Altho, the west entrance is kinda close to the City of Soledad which has some (mostly Mexican) restaurants. The Ugly: *Despite it being under the radar, it can still get very busy here, as there's not a whole lot of parking spaces near the trail entrances. Conclusion: Epic Park with epic views and a fun cave to go spelunking in.

Happy Earth Day! It was National Park Week this past week and wow did people take advantage of the free admission into the parks. We got to Pinnacles National Park around 9AM and all the lots were full except the campground which you then needed to take a shuttle to the other trailheads. The last shuttle leaves at 5:30PM so that's something to note and made us reroute our hike to ensure we came back on time. The national park was just established in 2013 so the trails are still kept up quite well! We did an 11 mile loops that went through High Peaks, the caves, and some valleys! It was an intermediate to difficult hike with some railings needs and elevation but the scenery was beautiful and I loved the variety of it all! Would love to come back and make sure to come before 8AM!

I don't think I could ever give anything less than 5 stars to a national park but regardless of that, Pinnacles is amazing! We have been to both sides of the park--the east entrance was several years ago. And the west entrance was just recently. We decided to check out the balconies cave trail. What an adventure that was! Lots of climbing through dark caves and exploring. We saw a condor flying! That was a cool moment. After our hike, we had a picnic in the picnic area. We knew there wouldn't be a lot of food options around so we brought a cooler to make sandwiches. Tips: *Make sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp. *And wear shoes with good traction. *Bring food and have a picnic after. *We always buy the annual pass ($80) every year because most parks cost $30 and we go to several parks. It definitely adds up. It's worth it if you go to several parks in a year like we do.

Another National Park we have visited! It was beautiful with a nice short trail of 1 mile round trip! Not to much to do after a hike! Short drive inside with the auto! But enough trails to keep you busy!

Small national park, just two hours away from Bay Area. We arrived at Saturday early morning 8am ish. Parking lot at bear gulch trail was almost full. Easy trail except the creeks along the way which you have to step on the rocks to cross the creek. It's kind of a good balancing act or you slip into the shallow water and get your shoes wet. Having a head lamp helps when you're in the talus cave. End of the trail is the beautiful reservoir. The old pinnacle trail was abit tricky, there is lack of signs and you may lost your way. It's a long trail. The balconies cave at the end of the trail is pretty hard to get through with lot of creeks in it.

Wow! Exploring the Pinnacles was an incredible experience. We camped at the campground on the east side. Also 5 stars. We woke up early to get a parking spot in the very small usually full parking lot at Moses Spring trail. Our plan was to hike to bear gulch caves and then the reservoir. Hopefully spot and photograph a condor. Deer greeted us at the trailhead and off we went! We were alone in the wilderness most of the morning. Walking felt like meditation. Talk about peaceful! We hiked through all different landscapes. The caves were so neat. Dark and wet and amazing. We had the reservoir all to ourselves. Just sat there and pondered for a long while. It was all so magical we just kept going and going. Up and Up. Switchback after switchback. Before we knew it we had reached the high peaks trail and then the STEEP and Narrow. That it what it is called! Now I had you tubed this hike before we came. There was no way I would even want to do this but here I was. CRAZY! Go ahead look it up! My husband gently encouraged me and I put on my big girl you can do this panties and I DID It!! I cried part of the time but still. I did it! Am I still afraid of heights? Yes. Am I glad I did it? Also, yes. Will I do it again? I think so. At the end of the day we covered a little over 9 very memorable miles. Every step we took had something of beauty and wonder to offer. The entire park! We ended up seeing so many condors we stopped taking pictures of them. I absolutely recommend you visit! We bought the annual pass and are already planning to come back for the Super bloom!

A beautiful park; off the beaten path so you have to really want to get here. Adding a bit more complication, there are 2 separate entrances with no road attaching the two. Come here in hopes of seeing a Condor - you are so lucky if you do! We didn't have time to do much hiking here; it was just a drive in and take pictures stop for us, but I am so glad we got to see it. As you can tell in the photos, this is a dry environment, so plan accordingly and bring more than ample water.

We entered from the west and consulted with a very helpful ranger on which hikes we should do. We did a cave hike--so thrilling but totally doable. You can purchase headlamps from the ranger station. We picnicked at a covered picnic table. Then we went on a strenuous hike (again, doable even for our 10 and 13 year olds) that climbed to a peak with beautiful views. It was a lovely visit with clean facilities. If your knees are good and you can handle some cardio, you can do this!

Absolutely stunning! Very helpful staff/rangers. Heads up though, the "moderate" hike is pretty intense. Especially if you're claustrophobic. Highly recommend bringing flashlights! Also a pro tip is getting there early, especially on weekends. It takes time to get inside to park! There are shuttle busses to get to the hiking spots. Super nice!

It was a great day trip from the Bay Area. Easy drive in general. Nice short and kids friendly hikes to one of the caves. It was nice and cool ac in February. Parking available, but it fills up fast by the time we left. Make sure to pack your lunch and plenty of water. No food available in the visitor center/giftshop. Nice restrooms with showers available by the giftshop. Outdoor swimming pool noted but it was closed down for construction. 4th graders get in feee with America Beautiful pass!

Sept 16th 2024 review Beautiful park and hike up to the reservoir Campgrounds clean and safe + kid friendly ! Restrooms are routinely serviced - we were at campsite 45B

Went camping here over the weekend. It is a really nice place, the shower provides shampoo, liquid soap and conditioner. Wildlife are active specially the raccoons, they are not really scared of people, if you don't shoo them away... they will be in front of you grabbing your food. We would be chatting and get jumpscare because a raccoon is trying to get close to us. We saw a lot of bluejay, quails, deers and wild rabbits. Hiked the Bear Gulch Cave and Reservoir and it was really beautiful. I can say my pictures did not do justice. If not for the abundant presence of the raccoons, I would have given it 5 stars.

Hello! Bear Gulch Cave Trail in Pinnacles National Park is the Route you would want to take if you're looking to go through the caves. Get there early Parking gets full quickly. Take snacks and Water. hiking shoes and enjoy the view. April 19, 2025

Second time coming to Pinnacles National Park this year and both times have been awesome. We did the High Peaks Trail the first time and there was so much water. It was so green and cool. This time around it was drier and warmer, we got to go inside the caves. I highly recommend coming during fall if you'd like to explore the caves, definitely worth it. There's a little souvenir shop with cute stickers and shirts!

Good national park, not a lot of shade Bring water Check NPS to see which caves are open before you come

I had a great time here. It isn't fancy but it has some fun hikes with caves, condors, and more. Bring a flashlight for the caves! Make sure to look up when hiking. I saw multiple condors flying over us. I stayed overnight in their campground, which was easy to get a reservation for. They have a little pool for swimming and a small general store. Everything was clean, but then this was before 2025. Not sure what changes are happening there. I took the shuttle from the campground to the hiking, but if I had been more ambitious, I could have easily walked the couple of miles through the meadow.

Nice park with a large variety of trails. We went to the East entrance on a weekend in November and arrived too late to park close to the Reservoir trail area so parked in the small Manzanita lot and did a circle hike along the Blue oak - Condor Gulch - Sycamore trails and took the quick and modern shuttle back to our car. If you have time for only one moderate hike, do the Condor Gulch up and back to see a large variety of geological features and views. We also enjoyed the fall color along the Sycamore trail and views of the Pinnacles at the intersection of Blue Oak and Condor.

We came here for a day trip on a Saturday in March since we live in San Jose and it was only about a 1.5 hour drive for us. We purchased a $30 parking pass online (or you can also pay upon entry when you get there). Pinnacles became a national park in 2013 so it's a more-recent national park that is less crowded than Yosemite or other popular national parks. I recommend coming in the morning if you're coming on a weekend to avoid a possible wait which can happen if you're coming towards noon/afternoon (the park can hit capacity and they form a car line outside of the park for one car out, one car in). We came around 1pm and had to wait for about an hour to get into the park, but we're really glad we waited it out because the park was well worth it. We did the Moses spring rim trail and it exceeded my expectations. It was a moderate ~2 mile hike where you get access to the Bear Gulch caves which was one of the most amazing caves I've experienced. There was a running waterfall in the cave since we've gotten quite a bit of rain in 2024, but I've heard in previous years it's been dry. Bring a flashlight for the caves (we forgot our flashlights and had to use our phone flashlight which wasn't ideal. Smart and prepared people had lights strapped to their heads and waterproof hiking shoes) After the Bear Gulch Cave, I thought it couldn't get better but later in the path we also came across the Bear Gulch Reservoir up close. It looked like a beautiful dreamy lake in the forest. This hike was extremely rewarding in terms of scenery and adventure. Although we didn't camp, there is a campground that can be reserved for tents online. There were a lot of campers that were there for the weekend and from someone we talked to, they were really enjoying the longer, more adventurous hikes as well. I absolutely hope to return again soon for another hike route or even would love to do the Moses spring rim trail again because of how beautiful it was. I highly recommend this national park if you're looking for a less crowded alternative to Yosemite. Keep in mind that pinnacles is not as staffed or built out on amenities as Yosemite, but it's great if you're looking for beautiful hikes and less crowds.

This is by far one of the most underrated National Parks in California! It's totally overshadowed by the bigger names National Parks, but it's a true hidden gem. The park is so much larger than anticipated, there's a West and an East entrance. Definitely get side has it's unique experiences and great hikes along the way. I really thought it was cool seeing the caves, definitely bring a headlamp and watch your head! The best part was seeing all the animals being so active! The trails are relatively easy paced and it's a great park to just leisurely enjoy all the sights.

Extremely underrated National park! It's fun and rewarding! Take a lot of water and start at the east entrance, where you'd go from Hollister and not Soledad! It's not an easy hike but a fun moderately difficult climb. If you take it slow and steady it's fine but just be forewarned if you are afraid of heights, be prepared. The caves are well maintained and you'll want a flashlight or a headlamp. They have bathrooms scattered through the park. The parking is the worst part, if you come early before 9am you will be golden. Just know it's very limited parking spots. Have snacks and plenty of water! It's $30 bucks per car. Look for the condors and the woodpeckers!

Beautiful to walk or hike through. Came through the east entrance and hiked up to the bear gulch. Parking was a bit of a nightmare, but not impossible Very clean! Lots of hookups, electric charging stations, And glamping sites. We'll be back soon!

It's a relatively small national park that's easy to miss in California. I lived there for so long and had no idea about this one. The pinnacles national park is a great place to hike in spring/fall - do not recommend going here in summer. The temp was 104 f when we went and the ranger asked us to not hike! It was so so so hot! What did you get to see in pinnacles - beautiful volcanic rocks on display atop each other forming pinnacles (like how?!) , if you're lucky - condors, and so many caves! It's a relatively smaller national park compared to its neighboring Yosemite! Nothing not to like though, you'll learn as you normally do from any national park :) give it a try

We did the condor gulch trail to high peaks trail. Very nice trail. A bit challenging. Got to see some California condors.

West entrance review. EAST and WEST sides do NOT connect by road! Great stop on the way down the 101! One and a half lane road into and in the park. We stopped at the little visitor center, clean restrooms and where you pay $30 park fee. They have hats, shirts, a few toys, postcards, magnets and such for sale. There is a map that shows the park boundaries, watershed... the desk employee was very nice as well. We drove up to the chaparral parking lot (more restrooms here) about 2 miles, and went down the balconies trail. TAKE A FLASHLIGHT or HEADLAMP! Your phone doesn't provide much light. There was some shade on the way. It is very rocky, take care to pick up your feet as you walk! It's .6 miles so not bad! Then I don't recommend for kids under 8, half our party didn't go. Go up and over and under rocks then down and around in caves. We just did the first portion and it was so fun and exciting! When it's 99 degrees outside is was much cooler and nice in the cave! Then we went back.

Yosemite's lesser-known cousin which is spectacular. This is such an incredible spot and I am surprised that not enough people talk about it in the Bay Area especially considering that it's half the distance to Yosemite from the Bay Area. We had a fantastic visit today! The hiking, the views, the caves, the streams...just incredible. I will be back soon.

I've personally enjoyed this one every time I've been there but I know not everybody is a fan of the heat. We have been on three different trails here - Condor gulch - Pretty short straightforward set of switchbacks to a nice view at the viewpoint which is about a mile in. Pretty much uphill the whole way so prepare to climb. Bear gulch reservoir (loop through caves and rim trail) Surprisingly challenging terrain when wet - we were here on a mist-turned -rain. There's some narrow low clearance areas leading down to the reservoir and in the caves but both are interesting And worth the visit. The reservoir area is gorgeous and so peaceful. Lots of rock scrambling leading up to the reservoir. Wear hiking boots as the whole trail is rocky. Caves will have wet ground to cross in parts. High peaks - Great views and a breathtaking climb with railing using footholds. Definitely exciting but very exposed, probably one of the hottest hikes I've done in springtime. Other notes: Has actual bathrooms with toilets and sinks. Parking can be limited in the lot closest to the trailheads, was already filling up by 730 am.

Their trails are clean and they are well kept! We came here on a weekday after Christmas and the parking lots were still full!! It was lady bug mating season so watch out they are everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE once you get up to Bench trail area. Bathrooms are pretty decent too!

Entrance fee was $30 (I think that is the going price for National Parks). But my friend has a membership which was a great treat for us. Parked at Bear Gulch lot at 8:45. We hiked a 5.6 mile loop - Condor Trail to High Peaks Trail to Tunnel Trail(detour) back to High Peaks Trail to Rim Trail to Reservoir to Bear Gulch Cave to Moses Spring Trail to our parking lot. Upon reaching the top of High Peak, we were treated with views of the mountain rising above the clouds.  Photos just cannot capture the beauty of what our eyes can see. Also at the top, we met a Ranger who taught us about Condors and Turkey Vultures. Along the lower elevations, we spotted lots of small wildflowers, reds, yellows, oranges, and purples.  The reservoir was full, in fact, Moses Spring had a heavy water fall and the lower sections of the cave trail was flooded. Spring is a great time to visit Pinnacles.

Great hikes but very small for a National Park. It rates as just a Monument in my book. Two days of hikes and you're done. Saw Condors and loved the High Peaks trails. That's it. Nothing else special deserving of National Park status. I get it protects the Condors etc. but this is no Yellowstone.

I would give this rating 5 stars if it weren't for the raccoons ! But then again, we were technically camping on their territory... My friend had booked this part-cabin, part-tent for us, making it very cold in the fall. Even though I brought along one of my pricier sleeping blankets, it did not keep me warm enough and I barely slept, but that's kind of on me. We were camping in quite a pretty area though. Plus, the advantage of camping at Pinncaples is that you can find parking more easily when you start your day to hike since you're already there earlier. Unfortunately, we did not get to see any condors as my friend and I are not early risers, but the park still has such unique scenery. There's a lot of rock, but also some very beautiful vista points. At certain parts of the hike, you are also hiking through rock or clinging onto it to move along. As you continue through the hike, you also will run into a man-made dam that looks like quite the oasis, plus the route will take you down some caves. Towards the end of our hike, my friend and I started getting lost, but fortunately a small family led us back to a parking lot. I don't know if I would come here again, maybe to try and see condors, but I'm glad my friend set up this once in a lifeetime camping and hiking trip for us !

Easy Day Trip -- Hiking is the main thing to do here We arrived at the park around 8:30a and already there was a line of cars at the entrance. Fee is $30 per vehicle but we used our annual park pass. We entered through the East Entrance, got my National Parks Passport stamped and headed out to do some light hiking. We are not avid hikers but we wanted to get our steps in. The east entrance is probably the better option if you are visiting Pinnacles National Park for the first time. We parked at the Peaks View Area because most of the parking areas up ahead were already full. We took the park shuttle and it dropped us off at the Bear Gulch Parking Area. Pinnacles National Park trails come in varying lengths and difficulty levels. Hubby and I are not spring chicken... we studied the different trails and we decided we would just do the easiest option which was the Bear Gulch Cave Loop Trail. The weather in the morning was a bit chilly but as we got to the end of our short hike it got a little warmer. We will come back another time to do the West Entrance which is near the town of Soledad. Pinnacles National Park is the youngest and the smallest of California's national parks. It doesn't get as crowded as the other national parks in California. Happy trails! Review #2992

Wasted a trip. Paid $30 in advance online a when we arrived around 11:30AM on a March Monday there was no parking inside the park. The only option was to park outside at the camp store and walk 4 miles to the visitors center! Too many people, inadequate parking facilities, clearly. I later heard that parking fills up at 8:30 in the morning. PREPARE FOR FRUSTRATION IF YOU DECIDE TO GO!

Blue wild turkeys, the occasional roadrunner, and many sorts of songbird here. A word in for the turkey vulture. It looks like a small version of the California Condor, "many" of whom are living in this national park. Please don't mistake the vulture for vermin. Vultures eat things that cause anthrax, usually before they develop a human-killing version. Vultures tend to like to keep their beaks and feathers clean, certainly relative to their human counterparts. But what they mean by that is, don't bother them. They're busy doing what the Earth generated them for, eating things before they become contagion. Separately, they do have mountain lions here. They're very protective of their territory and sort of hungry. Driving from the Peninsula through Gilroy here is quite challenging. My particular challenge is passing certain reservoirs. California is all about "water conservation". The part about water-saving toilets... okay. But... Water gets collected into the reservoir, rain adds water inventory, and as people use water in their daily lives, water is drained from the reservoir. The reservoirs are different from human toilets --- ideally. In Oregon, if you human waste into the reservoir, sometimes they dump the entire thing as a show. In California, if it rains too much, they simply waste the water savings --- by dumping water from the reservoir into nowhere. Now my clogged toilet doesn't feel like "saving the environment" and people feel like moving to Oregon. Home economics this is not. Be nice to the birds and other natural wildlife at Pinnacles.

About eight years ago, I was researching new trails to hike and happened upon a photo of Bear Gulch. Perhaps it was love at first sight, cause the desire to visit floated around my head ever since. Fast forward to the present, an itinerary was finally set up to venture up Central Coast. We arrived at the West Entrance on a Friday afternoon and noticed the ticketing booth had a "Sorry We Missed You" sign. Alas! even the visitor's station was closed, so we were kinda late. Luckily, we did pay for the parking pass prior online, since signal at the park was spotty at best. The whole work week had been clear and sunny, meaning the ground was firm even as grey clouds filled the sky. A weekday visit meant less parking woes and crowds. We opted for the Balconies Cave Trail, going through narrow openings and climbing up conveniently laid boulders, either by nature or by man. Having a flashlight was necessary to avoid bumping our heads as we went deeper into the caves. By the time we made it out to Balconies Cliff, the moon was the only visible source of natural light. Many mini frogs were spotted along the path, stopping their croaks as we passed. The second day's visit returned us to the West Entrance. Saturday morning was moderately light on rain, and the sky cleared up eventually toward the afternoon. This day was mostly spent exploring, including Machete Ridge where a tree had fallen onto the path. The rain also created a sizeable waterfall off the side before the Balconies Cave/Cliff split that wasn't there the day before. Pinnacles is known for its many rock-climbing routes. Along Balconies Cliff trail, there were some stairs that lead up to rock walls away from the usual route. It was a beautiful and secluded area with hills embedded with pink and black minerals along with dried moss. On our last day, we finally made it to the East Entrance where we were met with sudden bursts of rain followed by sunshine. Although parking was full, we waited it out at Moses Spring parking area and was rewarded with a somewhat closer starting point. Today's trek was the personally much-anticipated Bear Gulch and High Peaks. Lots of hikers that passed by were thoroughly soaked which would be our eventual fate. With that said, the wet weather enhanced the overall experience, going through the caves with waterfalls roaring and echoing from within. From the caves up the stairs through to the reservoir and eventually up the rocky peaks, today's trip was quite an adventure. The drive back to LA was a peaceful, sometimes foggy drive through the farmlands and open fields of Coalinga and King City before getting onto the Grapevine. Happy to say this weekend exceeded my expectations. Can't wait to come back as seasons change.

Awesome hike! Would do it again. Took the high peaks loop trail and went on the first day of spring which was the perfect time since the caves were open! Climbing to the highest peak with the stairs and railings were the best part. Breathtaking views and super worth it. About 8 mile hike and easy to find your way through.

An absolutely amazing national park. You must read up on the geology before visiting. You'll be shocked to learn that pinnacles is a volcano that erupted almost 200 miles to the south. The trails are shocking and amazing, but, oh my gosh, I've done the high peaks trail twice in 100° weather, and it's borderline death defying.

I loved visiting this park! We stopped by in late April and enjoyed all the stunning wildflowers. You could do Pinnacles National Park in a day. It's not too far from Big Sur or the other big National Parks near Fresno. We came on a Saturday, late morning and there was about an hour wait to enter the park. Once we entered, we found a parking spot near the gift shop and took the shuttle to our hike. We hiked the Condor Gulch Trail. It was a very hot and dry day. I highly recommend wearing a hat and bringing enough water. The views were spectacular both on the hike and at the top. Seeing the pinnacles themselves was also such a treat. I'm so happy we got to check out this National Park.

Beautiful place! Had camp grounds 71/72. We had both sites next to eachother but we were oke group so we decided to put all our tents on one site and park the cars on the other. Park ranger advised we could only park two cars on each site. Lol. So we moved two cars back while the other site remained completely empty with just two cars. Strange. Most of the sites had access to portable restrooms but if you drove to the general store you do pass two actual bathrooms. There is oddly a pool on the grounds and free 24/7 showers at the bathrooms near the general store. We did one of the trails where you go through caves and come up near monolith climbing walls. Definitely recommend. The reservoir was beautiful and picturesque. We also attempted a trail at the old Pinnacles trail but it was very difficult. Elevation gain was large and the whole part we did was uphill before we just turned back. Definitely one you have to start early. Do note, I went during a busy labor day weekend. They crowd controlling the roads that drop off at the trail head for bear gulch. Most of the time they'd let you though only if you were doing a drop off as the parking was pretty much full.

This review is for Condor Gulch Trail To High Peaks Trail Loop which was a ~5.6 miles round trip that took ~4.5 hour to complete. Steep inclines especially near High Peaks but safe with stair railings. Bear Gulch Reservoir and the caves were a nice addition on the way back to the parking lot. Unique rock formations throughout the hike! Limited parking spots in the vicinity of the trail. Plan ahead. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/eZN1YIYX3pI

Not only is this park less than 2 hours away from my home, but it offers something unique in the way of caves formed from large boulders falling into relatively narrow crevices. In October, there were a moderate number of visitors and lots of teen group camps and flies. When the sun is shining, expect flies to be constantly buzzing around your face, ears, nose, and everywhere else to seemingly no end. Wearing head netting or a simple face mask makes life bearable. If the bookstore sold the head netting, I know they would have more income from the netting alone than any other product in their store. At the Visitor's Center, the gal at the bookstore was exceptional in helping us understand which hikes she recommends in regards to the duration and the elevation. For our first hike, we went on the "most bang for your buck" hike to Bear Gulch Cave via Moses Spring Trail with an extended hike to the Bear Gulch Reservoir. On the second day, we hiked the Old Pinnacles Trail (shady in the beginning, but sunny coming back) to the Balconies Cave Trail and added the Balconies Cliffs Trail. While I enjoyed both hikes, the Balconies Cave was exceptional, but requires you to be able to climb up boulders and squeeze into some tight spaces inside the cave. At the beginning and end of the hike, we saw several people turning around because they didn't bring a headlamp or flashlight thinking their phone would be enough, but it isn't so don't be disappointed and bring a light greater than your phone. Near the camp store, we saw condors flying way up high on the ridge, turkeys crossing scratching for food, quail crossing the road, and the expected deer and squirrel. At night, stargazing was good considering we weren't at high elevation and had the good fortune of seeing a few shooting stars. While I highly recommend this park for the caves, make sure to bring a head net to thwart those pesky flies.

Good fun hikes but it's kind of crazy it's $30 to get it by myself no others and it's a 7 day pass supposedly that's all they have when I asked for a 1 day pass. And the park people at the front desk were just rude.

There are 9 total national parks in California and a pretty small one compared to the other 8. But still gorgeous and a great 2 day, 1 night camping trip. We visited the park in late October and it was a great trip with nice weather (around 70 degrees) and great/diverse hike. We stayed at a campground inside the park, right next to the visitor center and is 20 minutes from the hike. There were only two hikes I was interested in: -Balconies Caves (unfortunately CLOSED due to vandalism -______-) -High Peaks & Bear Gulch Loop Trail (6.5 miles loop) There are probably other hikes around the area but those two are the most well-known and since Balconies Cave was closed, we'd hike High Peaks early which takes a big chunk of time and you can enjoy your campsite afterwards. The park has service but there are spotty areas. From LA to Pinnacles, it's about a 5 hour drive. Don't expect to see any restaurants or gas stations nearby so once you pass a little town (probably 30 minutes before arriving), I'd recommend getting your snacks/groceries/gas. There is a small store with grocery items next to the visitor center but it will be a little overpriced.

So beautiful, with lots of varied terrain. The Moses Spring and Rim Trail loop is really fun, with cool rock formations, caves, rock climbers, the reservoir, and picnic areas. Take the loop clockwise, and come with headlamps for the caves. If the ranger tells you to park behind the camp store, take a chance and check for spaces in the parking lots closer to your trailhead. It's a good idea to download trail maps ahead of time, since there's very little cell coverage in the park.