About Pinnacles National Park
Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have formed a striking terrain of rocky spires and deep canyons. Visitors can explore diverse environments, from chaparral and oak woodlands to the cool, shaded depths of canyon floors.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Pinnacles National Park has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, and mild winters with moderate precipitation. The park is several miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. A wider variation in seasonal temperatures can be expected in the local area. Summers are hot with temperatures above 100 degrees. Winters are…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: California. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle up to 15 passengers to Pinnacles East Entrance and West Entrance.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles, scooters, or similar motorized vehicles with up to 4 total passengers to Pinnacles East Entrance and West Entrance.
This entry fee is for a single person traveling on foot or by bicycle. It is valid for 1-7 days to Pinnacles East Entrance and West Entrance.
Non-commercial groups traveling in vehicles that have a capacity of 16 passengers or more pay $15 per person up to the maximums listed for commercial groups with comparable passenger capacity ($40 or $100). People 15 years old or younger, anyone with a pass that may be used for park entry, and drivers hired for transportation only are exempt from the per person fee.
The charge for vehicles with a seating capacity of 1-6 passengers is $30. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of one or more people traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.
This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 7-15 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational puposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passengers ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.
This entrance fee is for commercial trous of vehicles with a seating capacity of 16-25 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the sevice. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passengers ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.
This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 26 or more people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.
School groups and other academic institutions may qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver. If not qualified, please check fees for large or commercial groups.
Operating Hours
Entrance to the east side of Pinnacles National Park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Activities
Current Alerts
Actual temperatures in the park may be up to 6℉ (3 ℃) higher than forecasts provided by the National Weather Service (NWS). Temperatures in rocky, exposed areas may be up to 10℉ (6 ℃) hotter than the actual temperature. Please plan accordingly, stay hydrated, limit strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, and be prepared for extreme heat conditions.
Wood-burning fires and charcoal grills are prohibited. Propane and gas stoves allowed only in campground and picnic areas for cooking food. No smoking on trail. No roadside parking. Fireworks are always prohibited.
Limit strenuous hiking to early morning and late evening hours. Expect temperatures in the High Peaks and Chalone Peak to be at least 10 degrees hotter than parking areas. Drink plenty of water and carry at least one liter of water for each hour of hiking. Bring salty snacks, a hat, and sunscreen for the hike. Know the signs and symptoms of heat related illnesses. In case of a heat related emergency get to a cool place and seek help immediately.
Pinnacles experiences extremely high visitation on weekends, holidays, and during favorable weather, especially in the spring. Expect long lines and delays between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. If you're planning to hike the High Peaks, Condor Gulch, Balconies, or Moses Spring Trail, it’s recommended to arrive before 8:00 am (parking may fill earlier). Additionally, campground access may be temporarily delayed during peak periods of visitation when ALL incoming traffic is held.
Getting There
Pinnacles National Park is accessible through highway 101 for the West entrance, and highway 25 for the East entrance. From highway 101 you must pass through the City of Soledad to find highway 146 which will lead to West side of Pinnacles. To enter East Pinnacles you must find highway 25 through the City of Hollister coming from the North, and King City through Bitter Water Road (G-13) when coming from the South. NOTE: There is no through road between the east and west entrance.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
The Pinnacles Annual Pass is available to U.S citizens and residents only. It is valid only at Pinnacles and may be purchased online or in person. It is valid for 12 months from purchase month. This pass admits up to two motorcycles (including passengers), or up to 15 passengers of a single, private (non-commercial) vehicle to Pinnacles National Park.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Become a Junior Ranger at Pinnacles National Park
junior ranger programs
Hike Bench Trail to South Wilderness Trail
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes
Hike Bench Trail to Balconies Cave Trail
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes, Cave Hike
Hike Bench Trail to Sycamore Trail
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes
Hike Moses Spring Trail to Rim Trail Loop
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes, Loop Hike, Cave Hike
Hike Jawbone Trail
West Side Trails, Moderate Hikes
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Hike High Peaks to Balconies Cave Loop
West Side Trails, Stenuous Hikes, Loop Hike
Hike Bacon-Butterfield Ranch Trail
East Side Trails, Easy Hikes, Bicycle and pet friendly
Biking in Pinnacles National Park
biking, road biking
Birdwatching in Pinnacles National Park
birds, birdwatching
Night Sky Viewing At Pinnacles National Park
night sky, stargazing
Rock Climbing the West Side of Pinnacles National Park
rock climbing
Rock Climbing the East Side of Pinnacles National Park
rock climbing
Wildlife viewing in Pinnacles National Park
wildlife, wildlife viewing
Hike Juniper Canyon Trail Loop
West Side Trails, Strenuous Hikes, Loop Hike
Hike Prewett Point Trail
West Side Trails, Easy Hikes, Accessible Trail
Hike Old Pinnacles Trail to Balconies Cave
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes, Cave Hike
Hike North Wilderness Trail Loop
West Side Trails, Strenuous Hikes, Loop Hike
Showing 18 of 24 NPS Things to Do records available for Pinnacles National Park.
Visitor Centers
Pinnacles Park Store
Get your passport stamped and buy the official park souvenirs, all at the park store! Located in the Pinnacles campground, the store is open everyday,…
West Pinnacles Visitor Contact Station
Get your park souvenirs and plan your visit all in one place! Please note that this visitor center may be closed seasonally due to available…
Bear Gulch Nature Center
Hey ranger, what plant is this? Hey ranger, what do condors look like? Ask questions, get information and view our park film inside the Bear…
Campgrounds
Pinnacles Campground
Pinnacles Campground is run by Pinnacles Recreation Company. The campground offers tent and group camping, tent cabins, and RV sites. Each tent and group site…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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