Intro
With over 30 miles of hiking trails, Pinnacles National Park is full of incredible scenic trails. I really believe that this national park is underrated. It doesn’t get nearly enough coverage as other national parks in California but it should. And my reason is because of the talus cave trails that are located on either side of the park, East and West. These ancient caves are the gem of the Pinnacles besides the Pinnacles themselves. Both of these caves you can hike and crawl through which was a very thrilling experience. But aside from that, the Pinnacles, while it was still busy, were very quiet. This national park was not only peaceful but offered some amazing hiking. Below are what I consider to be the best hikes in Pinnacles National Park. I will describe each one and hopefully they inspire you to add one or two to your Pinnacles itinerary!
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Table of contents
Best Hikes in Pinnacles National Park
Balconies Cliff-Cave Loop
- 2.4 miles round trip, 1 to 1-1/2 hours
- Elevation: 100 feet
- Easy to Moderate
This trail is located on the west side of Pinnacles National Park and was a blast to do. When you come to the switchback, stay to the left so you can enjoy the cliffside first and see the views of the Pinnacles before descending down into the Balconies Cave. If you turn right, you’ll be doing the Balconies Caves first which is great if you’re really eager to see it. But I will say that it’s worth the wait to save them for the end. I want to emphasize you need to be able to balance, climb and crawl on the rocks to get through. Some parts of the cave can be tight so be weary if you are claustrophobic. You need a flashlight/headlamp in order to safely get through. I would also be weary of super young children going through the caves due to the slippery rocks. Water also does flow through this trail so your feet may get wet depending on the time of year you visit.
Prewett Point Trail
- 0.9 miles round trip, 1/2 to 1 hour
- Elevation: 70 feet
- Easy
This is a very small .9 mile loop hike also located on the west side of the national park that takes you to a very scenic look of the Pinnacles and the vast wilderness surrounding it. This hike is a great choice for small children or those who want a flat hike. I personally did this one after hiking the Balconies cave and I really enjoyed the views. It felt nice for my body to just walk after climbing around on rocks. It’s a very easy trail to add to your visit that won’t take up too much time.
Moses Spring Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir
- 1.2 miles round trip, ½-1 hour
- Elevation: 314 feet
- Easy-Moderate
This trail is located on the east side of Pinnacles National Park. Like the Balconies, this is another fantastic hike that will get you through the upper and lower Bear Gulch Caves. And with that, the same cautions apply. Even though this cave is wider than the Balconies, it still gets narrow in spots and also wet! Water does run through both Balconies and Bear Gulch caves so be prepared. But you will be rewarded greatly with gorgeous views of Bear Gulch reservoir. I highly recommend packing a lunch and staying awhile to enjoy the view. Afterwards, you can go back through the cave or take the Moses Spring Trail to get back.
Visitor Center to Bacon Ranch
- 0.7 miles roundtrip, 15-20 minutes
- Elevation: 32 feet
- Easy
Starting from the Visitor Center on the East Entrance of the Pinnacles, walk behind the Visitor Center and towards the picnic area. You will follow a road that says “Authorized Vehicles Only” but it’s okay, you are allowed to walk on it. Follow the path up to a bridge and as you cross it, you’ll be able to see the ranch. This is another great hike for small kids and those who are interested in some homesteading history. I saved this short hike for the end of my visit on the east side of the Pinnacles after crawling through the Bear Gulch caves. It was nice to see a piece of history and to get a sense of what it would’ve been like to live in a remarkable place like the Pinnacles.
How To Find Trails for Pinnacles
AllTrails
All of these hikes can be found on AllTrails. I did carry the paper map you get when you enter the park as well. But what I really love about AllTrails is that you can download offline maps with the premium version. It will keep track of where you are on your hike, show you the elevation gain and time how long it took you to complete the hike.
I would say the only downside to running the offline maps is that it drains your phone battery pretty quickly. What I usually do is I use the offline map to see where I am then I turn it off until I get to a switchback. Then I take my phone out and click back to the offline map just to make sure I’m going the right way. You could also bring with you a portable battery to charge as you go.
But you don’t have to pay to access AllTrails. You can create an account and still find hikes for free! You just won’t be able to download offline maps. But it is still a great resource I would recommend looking into more.
Interested? Then click here to sign up for AllTrails!
National Park Service
You can also find some of these Pinnacles trails on the National Park Service website. It is still a great resource and it’s completely free.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Trails of Pinnacles
Hiking Tips
- Do not forget a headlamp or flashlight when going through the talus caves! It is pitch black inside and the ground is uneven. You will have a super hard time navigating the caves without one. As I was about to go into the Balconies, I heard a bunch of young girls screaming from inside the cave. As they came out, I noticed that not a single one of them had a flashlight and they were trying to use their cell phones. Trust me, it will not work.
- Bring lots of water. The reason I love hiking with a water bladder is because I can carry so much water and have it be evenly distributed in my pack. I don’t have to deal with clunky water bottles that sit at the bottom of my pack. Although I still carry an additional big water bottle for extra water. And this is needed when hiking through the Pinnacles because there is very little shade on some of these trails.
- Apply lots of reef safe sunscreen/bring hat and sunglasses. Again, there is not a lot of shade and you definitely don’t want to get burned. So make sure you’ve got proper sun protection.
- Only admire the wildlife. The reason I say this is because when I was at Bear Gulch Reservoir, I noticed quite a few squirrels who were staring at people looking for food. As adorable as they are, just make sure you don’t give in to their cuteness and feed them. These squirrels are super gutsy too and have no problem getting close to you.
What To Pack
Packing the right gear for a hike is just as important as knowing where you are going. When you are preparing for your adventure out on the trails of Pinnacles National Park, I would recommend having, at the very least, the following:
- Backpack
- Water bladder
- Liquid IV’s
- Water Bottle
- First Aid Kit
- Headlamp or flashlight
If you want the full list of what to pack for the Pinnacles, then check out my article for my Packing List for Pinnacles National Park!
Planning a Trip to the Pinnacles?
Are you planning a trip to the Pinnacles? Then be sure to check out my Ultimate Guide to Pinnacles National Park. In my article, I go into a lot more detail on camping, lodging, how to get to Pinnacles National Park and so much more.
Conclusion
Whether you’re camping in the Pinnacles or only make a day visit, I hope these hiking trails make it on your itinerary. I consider them to be the best that Pinnacles National Park has to offer. The talus cave trails are something that you don’t want to miss out on as they are the hidden gem of this park. This thrilling yet tranquil park offers a unique experience that you don’t want to miss out on. And don’t forget to check out my other articles on the Pinnacles to help with your future planning!
