Intro

Pinnacles National Park is an underrated one. While a lot of popularity goes to its surrounding park neighbors such as Yosemetie, Sequoia and even the Redwoods, I believe Pinnacles National Park deserves some spotlight too. It is a magical place. With the tall rock formations of the Pinnacles surrounding you, it offers a very cozy and intimate park experience. 

This park was a treasure for me when I visited. I had an amazing time exploring the talus caves, learning about the homestead history and enjoying the lush forests within this park.

I loved it so much that I wanted to create a guide to help future visitors like you make their plans for visiting this beloved park. This guide is meant to provide you with all the information you will need to know when planning your visit to Pinnacles National Park. From picking the best hikes, to narrowing down your accommodations and everything in between, this guide to Pinnacles National Park will keep you informed and hopefully gets you excited to visit this beautiful place yourself!

*Note* This post does have affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, I would make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s not required, but it is very much appreciated!

Brief Overview

Pinnacles National Park is located in Paicines, California. The park is divided into two sections: East and West. There is no road that connects the two together. This is super important to remember as you are planning your visit. Depending on where you stay, one side of the park could take much longer to reach than the other.

For thousands of years, the indigenous people of the Chalon, Mutsun, Chapana and Pagsin people (or Ohlone) inhabited the region of what is now Pinnacles National Park. As colonization began, the Pinnacles saw waves of settlers flocking to the region. But it wasn’t until one prominent homesteader began advocating for this land that the Pinnacles became a national monument in 1908. The Pinnacles finally became a national park in January of 2013!

The Pinnacles also have some of the largest and most accessible talus caves in the entire world! Talus caves are formed when nearby boulders fall into nearby narrow canyons, creating unique caves that offer space for wildlife. This is why I love the Pinnacles so much and feel they are underrated. Nobody gets how incredible these talus caves are! It’s a very thrilling and adventurous experience to be able to crawl and climb through them and if you’re able to, prioritize hiking to and through at least one of these caves.

Best Hikes & Trails

Pinnacles National Park has some amazing hikes. There are over 30 miles of hiking trails in this park. While I know you don’t get dramatic waterfall views, you do, however, get a really thrilling experience of hiking into two different talus caves! And if you’re on the East side of the Pinnacles, you are able to relax and enjoy views of Bear Gulch Reservoir. 

My personal favorites and what I consider to be the best hikes in Pinnacles National Park are:

• Balconies Cliff-Cave Loop
• Prewett Point Trail
• Moses Spring Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir
• Visitor Center to Bacon Ranch

All of these hikes offer a little bit of everything. You get to hike into Bear Gulch and Balconies talus caves, see Bear Gulch Reservoir, get a lovely view of the Pinnacles and walk to an old homestead and learn a little homesteading history. 

These trails you can find on AllTrails which is what I used as my map while I was hiking there. Don’t worry, I still had a paper map. AllTrails is a great platform for finding hikes and if you upgrade to the premium version, you can even get offline maps downloaded on your phone. 

You can also read about hikes on the National Park Service page. It’s a great reference that I did use, but AllTrails helped me more by giving me an actual map of the trail, providing elevation gain information and I got to see so many photos of what the trails looked like beforehand which was super helpful!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: To see other hikes, you can head over to the National Park Service page here.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you want to read more about these hiking trails, check out my article on the Best Hikes in Pinnacles National Park!

Camping & Accommodation

A great way to elevate your visit to Pinnacles National Park is to camp!

Pinnacles Campground

Located on the East Side of Pinnacles National Park is the Pinnacles Campground. This is the only campground in the park. Camping spots at this campground are available by reservation only. They do not have any first come first serve spots. Pinnacles Campground offers tent sites, RV sites and tent cabins.

Pinnacles Campground Amenities

On top of having beautiful views, the campground also has the following amenities:

• Showers
• Flush Toilets
• Drinking Water
• Food Lockers
• Picnic Table
• Fire Pit
• Swimming Pool (Open from April-September)

To see a full list of Pinnacles Campground amenities, you can visit the Recreation.gov page here.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: To read more about camping in Pinnacles National Park, you can check out the camping page on the National Park Service page here.

RESERVATIONS: If you’re ready to reserve your camping stay then head on over to the Recreation.gov page here.

Hotels/Airbnb/Vrbo

If you aren’t planning on camping then you will be looking at either getting a hotel or booking an Airbnb or Vrbo property.

When I visited the Pinnacles, I stayed in Hollister because it looked like there were more Airbnb/Vrbo options available compared to other towns. Hollister is about 45 minutes from the East Entrance of the Pinnacles and about 1 hour and 20 minutes from the West Pinnacles Visitor Center. So it’s a semi-even journey to both sides. Hollister also has a lot of food options and creature comforts if you are in need of something while on your trip.

There are towns closer to either the East or West side of the park but they are much smaller and isolated. Not at all saying that is a bad thing! Just be prepared that if you are staying somewhere more rural, certain resources may not be as readily available. And if you are staying really close to one side of the Pinnacles, then that means traveling to the other side will be much longer.

HOTELS: To look at more hotel options around Pinnacles National Park, you can check out Booking.com here or Tripadvisor here.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: To learn more about additional lodging options on places to stay, check out the National Park Service page here.

My Stay Recommendation

I opted for a Airbnb/Vrbo stay because I wanted to stay somewhere peaceful and serene. Plus I usually prefer the extra amenities you get with booking an Airbnb or Vrbo over a hotel.

This was the exact home I stayed in when I was visiting Pinnacles National Park. This is a gated home so it is very safe. There is also a pool and hot tub you are allowed to use. The host here has an adorable cat named Orange that I saw a few times. Orange even allowed me to pet him! You will hear lots of birds and a few frogs at night. There are orange trees on the property and the host will allow you to have some of the oranges. 

The host is very friendly and she is super respectful of your privacy. I enjoyed talking to her and was very grateful she shared her property with my fiancé and I.

I think the only downside to this property for me personally was that the bed felt really firm so it was a little uncomfortable to sleep in. But that’s honestly it. And it’s also impossible for a hotel or host to be able to accommodate every single person’s unique needs. Some people love firm beds and some don’t. I happen to prefer plush beds but it’s whatever. Just because the bed wasn’t comfortable to me doesn’t mean I wouldn’t stay there again. I would absolutely stay there.

You can book this stay on either Airbnb or Vrbo. I booked through Airbnb but I have a link to it through Vrbo because I would make a commission through Vrbo and not Airbnb. But you can really use any platform that you prefer.

BOOK YOUR STAY: To book your stay at this wonderful property on Vrbo, click HERE.

Wildlife Watching

While I did not see any wildlife other than a few squirrels (although I did see some bobcat scat off Prewitt Point Trail), that doesn’t mean you won’t see anything during your visit! Pinnacles National Park is home to several animal species such as frogs, quails, condors, owls, various fish, insects and reptiles, deer, bobcats, and so much more.

Pinnacles is a sanctuary for these animals. Due to increasing human development, this park is one of only very few places they have left. 

Remember to pick up your trash, keep your boots clean and refrain from feeding wildlife. Keep your distance and always admire from afar. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: To read more about the wide range of wildlife in the park, you can check out this page from the National Park Service here.

How To Get To Pinnacles National Park

Unfortunately, this park is not accessible by public transportation and you will most definitely need a rental car.

Enterprise Recommendation 

As usual, I recommend Enterprise for your rental car because they are usually well priced and they do not mess with customers. There are no tricks or hidden fees unlike another car rental companies I have experienced. I have used Enterprise multiple times in four different states and have had the exact same positive experience. Employees have been nice, relaxed and I love how they let you pick the car you want from the options they have in the lot.

Airports

If you’re wondering which airports are the closest to Pinnacles National Park, let me break it down for you:

• San Jose International Airport (SJC) – 82 miles from Pinnacles
• Oakland International Airport (OAK) – 110 miles from Pinnacles
• San Fransisco International Airport (SFO) – 112 miles from Pinnacles

Of course you can fly into any airport in California, especially if you are here to see other national parks or other major cities. I would recommend flying into any international airport that has the cheapest flights and then make the drive from whatever airport you arrived at to the Pinnacles.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you are looking for driving directions to Pinnacles National Park then you can check out the National Park Service page here.

Best Time To Visit & Weather Guide

When is the Best Time to Visit Pinnacles National Park in California?

I would say the best time to visit the Pinnacles is during the spring or fall to avoid the summer heat temperatures.

I visited the Pinnacles during spring break which was in late March and it was still very warm with temperatures around high 60s to low 70s in Fahrenheit. While I was still sweaty, it was a significantly more pleasant experience compared to hiking in peak summer heat.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: To read more about the weather in the Pinnacles, you can read more on the National Park Service page here.

Best Time to Visit Talus Caves

Pinnacles National Park has two talus caves: Bear Gulch and Balconies. They have a schedule for when they are open and closed due to the protection of the endangered Townsend’s big-eared bats.

The National Park Service has a schedule posted for the closures of these caves throughout the year. The talus cave with the most strict schedule is Bear Gulch. There is an upper and lower section of the cave. Your best chance at being able to see and go through both of them will be either March or October. The entire cave closes for part of the summer with the lower section being open towards the beginning and end of summer.

However, the talus caves are subject to closure at any time. As I was about to leave for my trip, the Pinnacles received an enormous amount of rainfall and had essentially flooded the caves. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to go in but after several days, the water levels were safe enough for people to hike through. There was definitely still a lot of standing water though but it just made it more fun.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: To check out the talus cave schedule (and make sure you continue to do so leading up to your trip), click here.

What To Pack and Travel Tips

When you’re visiting the Pinnacles, it’s important you remember to pack what you need to be prepared for weather changes and any potential emergency.

I have already written a packing list for the Pinnacles that you can read about here, but I will still go list off some of the most important items.

When packing for the Pinnacles, I would highly recommend bringing:

• Backpack
• Water Bladder
• Liquid IV’s
• Water Bottle
• First Aid Kit
• Paper Map or AllTrails
• Headlamp or Flashlight

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you want to see the full version of my packing list, then check out my article, Packing List for Pinnacles National Park!

Travel Tips

Visiting Pinnacles National Park in California was an absolute blast for me. I had so much fun exploring the park and enjoying the serenity of the landscape. There were certain things I did that I felt really elevated my experience in a positive way. And I want to share them with you so that you feel prepared and can also enjoy this park as much as I did! When traveling to the Pinnacles consider:

• Making sure your car has plenty of gas as there are no gas stations inside the park
• Make sure you bring a headlamp or flashlight for the talus caves! This is something you seriously do not want to forget. The caves are pitch black inside and the ground is uneven. The more light you bring in, the better.
• Bring an extra pair of wool socks in your pack. My feet got soaked while going through the caves and was very grateful to have a dry pair waiting for me in the car.
• Pack a lunch or lots of snacks if you hike through the Bear Gulch caves so you can enjoy the views of the reservoir afterwards!
• A lot of the trails do not have shade so apply lots of sunscreen prior to hiking and don’t forget sunglasses and a hat.
• Dress in layers because weather can always be unpredictable.
• Pack in what you pack out and don’t leave trash behind.
• Keep the flora and fauna inside the park where it belongs

Conclusion

By now you should have a good sense of Pinnacles National Park and how to start planning your trip. I really believe this park is an underrated gem. It was a beautiful trip and I’m very grateful I got to explore both talus caves and be immersed in this national park. Whether you are only staying for a day or staying awhile, I hope you have as much fun as I did. Please be sure to check out my other articles on the Pinnacles to help with your future planning!

Additional Information

Packing List for Pinnacles National Park

Best Hikes in Pinnacles National Park

FAQ

Got questions about Pinnacles National Park? Check and see if I have an answer for you!