Pinnacles National Park

Overview

Pinnacles National Park was formed by fire, sculpted nearly 23 million years ago when multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed, and slid to create this unique landscape. Take in the views of the towering rock spires teeming with life - Prairie and Peregrine Falcons, Golden Eagles, and the inspiring California Condor. Visitors can journey through chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon bottoms and enter rare talus caves while enjoying the impressive diversity of the park.

To learn more about Pinnacles National Park, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Visitor Centers:

• Pinnacles Visitor Center: 9:30 am to 5 pm. Open daily.
• Bear Gulch Nature Center: 10 am to 4 pm. Open weekends January through May.
• West Pinnacles Visitor Contact Station: 9 am to 4:30 pm. Open weekends and some holidays.

Visiting Tips

The East Entrance of Pinnacles National Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The West Entrance is gated, and the gate is open from 7:30 am to 8 pm for entrance to the park. The gate will automatically open for visitors exiting the park after hours. There are no connecting roads between the two entrances.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Camping & Lodging

The Pinnacles Campground is only accessible from the East Entrance. The campground offers tent and group camping, along with RV sites. Tent and RV sites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance, and group sites can be reserved up to 12 months in advance. For reservations, please visit recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777. Camping is prohibited at West Pinnacles.

Food & Drink

There are no restaurants located in the park. There are a variety of dining options located outside of the park in the nearby towns.

Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles

Guided Tours:
Ranger-led talks, guided hikes, and evening programs are offered each spring on the east side of the park. Night programs are occasionally offered on weekends in spring, summer, and fall months. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here.

Shuttles:
The park operates a shuttle from Pinnacles Visitor Center to Bear Gulch Area. The hours of operation vary by season, and current hours of operation can be found at the park's website.

Other Activities

People come to Pinnacles National Park to hike, rock climb, watch and study wildlife, view wildflowers, and experience nature. Pinnacles offers solitude, challenge, and escape from the urban lanscape of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. Unlike many national parks, Pinnacles is most popular in the cooler months - spring, fall, and winter are excellent times to visit. Visit the park's website to learn more about the many ways to explore Pinnacles.

Maps & Guidebooks

To download a variety of free brochures to help plan your visit, click here.