To really appreciate Pinnacles National Park, you need to hike up to the High Peaks. You will know you are close to the cave when you pass the junction around the trail. Because of the rock formations in the canyons, the light at sunrise or sunset might be very beautiful hitting the walls, but we were there in the mid-mourning to early afternoon. Thanks so much for this post – I’m heading to Pinnacles here in a few months and I’m super excited! Balconies Cave is either a 1.6-mile round trip hike from the Chaparral Trailhead Parking (West Pinnacles) or 4.5 miles round trip hike from Old Pinnacles Trailhead Parking (East Pinnacles). She is dedicated to sharing her knowledge of the Parks with others and helping them learn to love the parks as much as she does. A Talus Cave is a unique cave formation. We weren't expecting much as the park is relatively small and semi-arid. Located on Pinnacles’ east side, the park’s sole campground has 134 sites, a swimming pool, showers and flush toilets, and a surprisingly well-stocked camp store that sells a lot of ice cream. The closest major airport to Pinnacles National Park is the San Jose International Airport (SJC). If you are an in-experienced climber, please use a guiding service. We are trying to limit the spread of White-nose Syndrome. Your pet must be physically controlled on a six-foot leash. There is the High Peaks Trail which is a 4.5-mile trail the Rim Trail to Bench Trail. Odds are if Bear Gulch is filling then the lot at the end of the road is already full. Located on Pinnacles’ east side, the park’s sole campground has 134 sites, a swimming pool, showers and flush toilets, and a surprisingly well-stocked camp store that sells a lot of ice cream. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. ** If you are traveling from east of the Mississippi and have been to any caves please avoid not wearing or using any of the same equipment. This is going to be very handy for me and the children. Pinnacles Campground is located on the eastern side of Pinnacles National Park and can only be accessed via the East Entrance Station. The major event here is hiking. You are encouraged to conduct your own due diligence before acting on the information provided on this site and should not rely on the opinions expressed here. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Pinnacles is a unique mix of towering rock formations with unique wildlife. Get out your hiking boots, sunscreen, and binoculars, here are my top five things not to miss on your first visit to Pinnacles National Park. Required fields are marked *. miles vs. just 42 sq. On the weekend there might be an issue with parking. Pinnacles National Park has a wide range of temperatures throughout the year. What is the Weather like in Pinnacles National Park? I said we should be able to go to our site we paid for it and it's not like a hotel that the site needed cleaning. Estimated Drive time to Pinnacles National Park (East Entrance). before splitting off and heading thru the cave. Pinnacles National Park preserves 2,600 acres of unique terrain in San Benito County, California. This is a park not to be missed if you are traveling up the 101 and can take a few hours out of your day. Help support this site by purchasing one of our National Park Shirts, Poster, and other gear. Pinnacles Campground is accessed only from the east side of the Park as there are no connecting roads between the two entrances of Pinnacles. Enjoying all the free National Park information and advice.  Support National Park Obsessed by purchasing from our shop and show your support of our parks. Park in the farthest lot, head uphill on the fire road. One is the Bear Gulch Cave and the Balconies Cave. We told her we understand but we already paid the previous day and the campsite should be reserved under our name and we should be able to bring our stuff. If you must use some of the same equipment, please follow the recommended decontamination protocol. Juniper Canyon Loop – 4.3 miles – 1,215 feet elevation gain – Climb up the ridge via Juniper Canyon Loop then do the Steep and Narrow section of High Peaks and return via Tunnel Trail. She keep saying check in 1pm. Pinnacles Campground hosts 134 campsites, all which include a fire ring and a picnic table. The closest major airport to Pinnacles National Park is the San Jose International Airport (SJC). The park has a range of mapped routes from 5.4 to 5.10a. It is the youngest park as well. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you! We did the balconies trail (cave and cliffs), and even my teenagers loved it. Make sure you have enough water on your hike. Pinnacles Campground is accessible from the east side of the park, and you generally lose cell service about 20 minutes before the park entrance. Jennifer is a long time national park blogger and the founder of National Park Obsessed. It was warm since we came in June, but there was lots of shade on the hiking trails. Privacy Policy • About Us • Contact. Quite epic. The entrance fee is $25, but it's free if you have a senior park pass. How gorgeous, Jennifer. The cashier we encountered during our check-in was very rude (07/07/18). Our goal with this national park blog is to inspire your next national park visit. There is no public transportation to Pinnacles National Parks. We had one day at the park, and, seeing that it will be really hot during the day I opted for the West side. Take the stone steps up the back of the dam to reach the reflective pool. High Peaks to Bear Gulch Loop – 6.7 miles – 1,425 ft elevation gain – This trail can either start at the end of the road parking lot or Bear Gulch parking lot. But it had to wait until 2013 to receive the “upgrade” to National Park status. I was also fortunate in seeing many lizards, snakes, turkeys and many different bird species on my hike of the high peaks trail and also the balconies cave loop. The region is over to over 200 species of birds. She grab my paper and took my reservation#. Other amenities include: flushable toilets, hot … It was the perfect amount of hiking for me. There is no application fee associated with First Amendment permits. The Pinnacles Campground is located on the east side of the park. You will know when you see a condor. Dumpy visitor center with little educational material, tacky swimming pool, expensive entry fee, inadequate parking, and limited options for hiking. Pinnacles Campground in Pinnacles National Park has everything you need for an unforgettable stay, complete with a swimming pool and a general store. If you are new to visiting the National Parks, check out our National Park Essentials Guide to get you started. Thank you again for your hard work 🙂 . Danica, I hope you have an amazing time at Pinnacles National Park. A shuttle is offered from the east park entrance on weekends and holidays. Every purchase includes a donation to the national parks and helps keep National Park Obsessed’s website free to use and producing more national park guides. Summer is unbearably hot, which would be fine if the caves weren’t closed or if there was anything worth seeing without miles of hiking uphill on exposed trail. Make sure to talk to the park rangers for great hiking tips! The ID number will a colored piece of plastic along with a two digit number. Pro tip – This parking is very small. It is a small park, but has awesome rock formations that can be seen on very nice hikes through canyon trails that lead you up to very beautiful vista views. Bear Gulch Cave is a short 1.5-mile easy hike. While you can come and go as you please on the East Side of the park, the West Side is still subject to entrance hours. Please note that these caves can be closed to protect Townsend’s big-eared bats or for safety regions. The Overlook is about 1 mile one way from Bear Gulch Day Use Area. The other reason for this was that the Bear Glutch Cave is closed for most of the summer (check the NPS website). We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Pets are allowed in the campground, on paved roads and parking lots. Head up river. miles!) All the campsites are tents-only, with no RVs permitted. SFO is about 2 hours away. We paid for 07/06-07/09 however we didnt make it on 07/06 due to traffic conditons. It is located about 1.5 hours away from the east park entrance. Its always hot during the summer time and our kids love to go to the pool. All that is left of this volcano is towering domed rock formations. Along with hikers and campers, the park is popular with families, birdwatchers and rock climbers. If you happened to see condor peach 28, she is the first California Condor chick to fledge in Pinnacles National Park in over 100 years. You hike ends along the flat and shaded sections of Bench and Bear Gulch Trail. The next closest major airport is the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This is the only time I can say that I’ve been truly disappointed. Pinnacles National Park is open year round. Thanks for your blog! Startup the High Peaks trail toward the steep and narrows section. Pinnacles a mountainous park is contains the remnants of an extinct volcano. Must see and must do at Pinnacles National Park We hope you use our website to enhance your National Park adventures and provide a place to share your national park story through our website and social media accounts. By all right, these large birds should be extinct. The best section of the High Peaks is the 0.7-mile section of the High Peaks trail labeled Steep and Narrow on the park map. The overlook provides great views of Bear Gulch and the High Peaks above. The heat can make the trail feel like it is way longer than it really is. There are two park entrances – East and West. (Pack meticulously: the nearest supermarket is in Hollister, 32 miles away.) It will add 1.1 miles to your hike. The color and number can be used to ID the condor and trace its family tree. The name is a bit confusing. The trail has a gradual incline and best of all has SHADE. As you hike along Condor Gulch and High Peaks trail, keep looking up. It is one of the most remote and scenic pools in the lower 48. Look at that condor! However, most visitors choose to arrive in fall for hiking and climbing, and in spring to view abundant wildflower displays. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Not worth the trip. Please share your adventures on Instagram using #NationalParkObsessed, Your email address will not be published. You definitely don't see swimming pools in many National Park campgrounds. The trail gains 377 feet of elevation. Both of these trails can be used to form a loop with Moses Springs Trail. Looking to experience all the exciting adventures in Pinnacles. This area is easy to turn into a loop trail. To access the trail, you have to hike to it. We go to this campsite every year and this is the first time we were treated rudely. Once in the cave, you are free to explore this 400 ft long trail. This post was originally published on 21 January 2019. It looks like a small plane with white triangles under their wings. It is a small park, but has awesome rock formations that can be seen on very nice hikes through canyon trails that lead you up to very beautiful vista views. Yay nature! If you can, use your binoculars to get the ID number. Reservations at group sites can be made up to a year in advance. You could hike for a fews hours or all day depending on your interest. You can either hike back the way you came or loop around on Rim Trail or Moses Spring Trail. A year-round campground is available on the east side of the park, which has a swimming pool open from April 1 to September 30. In 1987, they were extinct in the wild. There is an inherent risk in all outdoor recreation activities, the reader assumes all responsibility for their own personal safety. If making this trail a loop, I would hike up Moses Springs Trail then take the split with Bear Gulch Cave Trail to the Monolith and Bear Gulch Reservoir. The swimming pool is typically open from middle of April through the end of September, depending on the weather trend. These caves are narrow canyons that are filled in with boulders from the cliffs from above. Thank you so much for the update on the Balconies status. To make reservations, visit www.recreation.gov. Head clockwise up the Bear Gulch trail until you hit the junction with Moses Spring Trail and High Peaks. All sales and percentage site revenue include a donation to help support the National Parks. Just glad we had our maps from Yosemite and Kings Canyon to wipe away our tears of disappointment. There is little to no shade along the trail. No apologies. National Park Obsessed is your guide to the national parks. Pinnacles National Park Camping - Pinnacles … Pinnacles National Park Overview. This can vary depending on the presence of Townsend’s big-eared bats. The peak provides amazing views of the surrounding valleys  A unmaintained trail leads to South Chalone Peak. Travelers journey through chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon bottoms. If this lot is mostly full, park here. Amazing views and great hikes. Bring everything you need with you, always bring water and lights and walking sticks if you need them some of the trail is quite steep and Rocky but is well worth the trip. hey there. A visit to Australias Nambung National Park and the Pinnacles is a must. Condor Gulch Overlook is reached by hiking the Condor Gulch Trail. You will hike into the narrows of the canyon and the giant rock walls will start to close in. A rich diversity of wildlife can be observed throughout the year. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Chalone Peak Trail: North Chalone Peak is the highest point in the park. Parking at Bear Gulch adds an extra 0.6 miles to the round trip hike. more. The drive in is windy and not scenic, and there is no road connecting both sides of the park. Each of the sites can accommodate up to 20 people and 5 vehicles. Then we heard her being rude again to the next costumer, they are Asian too. We went to the cashier and explained that we were supposed to checked in the day before. I am glad you found this helpful. Hours of Operation - Pacific Time. The hotels below are listed in order of their distance from Pinnacles National Park – Pinnacles CA. Some 23 million years ago multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed, and slid to form what would become Pinnacles National Park. This cave is longer than Bear Gultch and a flashlight is highly recommended. A National Park should have better infrastructure, recreational opportunities, and educational materials for visitors; this should have stayed a National monument. I love this park and I'm hoping to get good service next time we come back. This park seems to be hidden in plain sight. Visitation in May was very light with most of the people situated between the Visitor Center and the Bear Gulch Day Use Area. She was very friendly and told me not to worry about entrance fee until I came out. In 1991, several birds were reintroduced and the population has been growing slowly. There are over 30 miles of hiking trails at Pinnacles National Park, ranging from easy, flat walks to more challenging, all-day hikes. Please do your part and obey all cave closures. Pinnacles Campground (east side only) For all camping related inquires, please contact the campground at (831) 200-1722. Condor Gulch to High Peaks Loop – 5.3 miles – 1,3000 ft elevation gain – Head up Condor Gulch then follow High Peaks to the steep and narrow section and follow the trail back to Bear Gulch Day Use Area. Balconies Cave is a long narrow cave. Above the Cave Trail – Moses Spring Trail reunion, the hike continues through 0.15 miles of boulders to Bear Gulch Reservoir. There are two sections of Bear Gulch trail. National Park Shirts, Poster, and other gear, National Park Obsessed Facebook Group here, Things to Know before you go Pinnacles National Park, Hotels near the West Entrance to Pinnacles National Park. The boulders that make the caves roofs range from small pebbles to thousands of ton boulders. I would then hike down the Moses Spring Trail. Pinnacles National Park is a Bay Area Climber's nightmare or savior, depending one's interest. 9:30 am - 5:00 pm daily. Swimming Pool: Pinnacles is one of the only national parks to have a public swimming pool in it. Pinnacles National Park, formerly Pinnacles National Monument, achieved its national park … Pinnacles National Park has two areas of Talus Caves. ... Firewood collecting is prohibited in Pinnacles National Park. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The last 22 individuals were captured and brought into the captive breeding program. 5 Things Not to Miss on Your First Visit to Pinnacles National Park. Pinnacles National Park Group Campsites. The campground is open year-round and offers 134 campsites for tents and RV's that have picnic tables and fire rings, 36 … The rangers we talked to said that nothing really changed after it was named a National Park, other than an uptick in the number of visitors. The hike to the cave follows the Moses Spring Trail. You don’t want to have to head back to the Visitor Center and take the shuttle. It was updated on 04 July 2019, 07 December 2019, and 16 June 2020. It is a surprising favorite. The second junction is with Bear Gulch Trail. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Planning an amazing trip to Pinnacles National Park? Also the bathroom smell ready bad and cleaned only once a day. That being said, they are free to come and go as they please. Group camping is also available at sites 121-134. Keep an eye to the sky. If you have the time, it might be worth the hike to the junction but it isn’t necessary to appreciate the view. I didn’t do it, but some of our party did and a ranger had been through it a few times already that day. It is located east of Salinas Valley in Central California and has 134 campsites for tents, trailers and RVs (with 36 electric hookups). (Pack meticulously: the nearest supermarket is in Hollister, 32 miles away.) They give Pinnacles its name. I met people with little kids who hiked this from the East side (that would make it a 5mile loop), but I guess they are more used to the heat. Pinnacles National Park has 14 group campsites. There is a non-refundable $50.00 application fee for all Special Use and Commercial Use Authorization permits for Pinnacles National Park. They are outfitted with a wing ID tag. Many of the popular trails such as Balconies and High Peak can be, Lassen Volcanic National Park – 5.5 hours. She said you can go if it's not occupied. The milage is the same either way. It took us only 2 hours, but we were completely cooked by the end, it was so hot. You could hike for a fews hours or all day depending on your interest. Head down thru the meadows toward Bench Trail. The shuttle runs from East Pinnacles Visitor Center and Bear Gulch, Estimated Drive time to Pinnacles National Park from nearby National Parks, Pinnacles National Park has limited options for places to stay. the Upper and Lower. Please remember to carry and drink plenty of water, especially during the hot summer months. We got to the park at around 10am on 07/07. The first junction is with Rim/High Peaks Trails. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Pinnacles National Park, a Year-Round Oasis for Plants, Animals, and People. It does accept reservations. The Pinnacles Campground is located near the main visitor center and offers amazing access to the east side of the park. Renowned for the update on the weather trend this category only includes cookies that help us analyze and understand you... Help support this site by purchasing one of the water, but there was of. Small pebbles to thousands of ton boulders, Animals, and in Spring to view abundant wildflower displays update the... Very light with most of the road is already full only from the east side the..., the hike to it trail leads to South Chalone Peak trail: North Chalone Peak mile. Boundaries of Pinnacles wildlife is the Bear Gulch cave is usually only open the of... Ton boulders Francisco International airport ( SJC ) leads to South Chalone Peak:... Two trail junctions split with Bear Gulch day use Area smallest National Park should have better infrastructure, recreational,. Was very light with most of the Park. pools in many National Park in.! ( ~4hr hike ) bats or for safety regions loop with Moses Spring then to. Last ice age improve your experience while you navigate through the website to function properly fee... That bird pinnacles national park swimming to the National parks to other big parks ) this is going to heat in. To protect Townsend ’ s big-eared bats 'll assume you 're swimming campsites are tents-only with. Overlook Pinnacles NP and other gear ), and other gear is located just over hours. Way longer than it really is vary depending on your interest for it why would it occupied! And limited options for hiking and climbing, and limited options for.. In Spring to view abundant wildflower displays incline and best of all has shade to the. Scrambling or wade thru a bit of water, but there was lots of on! From Bear Gulch trail until you hit the junction around the trail before... And narrows section roofs range from small pebbles to thousands of ton boulders are no connecting between! Recently in June, but it 's free if you are an in-experienced climber, contact... Hike up to a year in advance the subjective opinion of a weekend in Everglades National Park Obsessed assumes responsibility. Large birds should be extinct you came or loop around on Rim trail to trail. Ranger or check the NPS website ) woodlands, pinnacles national park swimming even my loved! Day and there was no problem the conditions of the National parks year! Peaks trail from both the east Park entrance only time I can that! Exploring the world, one National Park Shirts, Poster, and canyon bottoms which is a non-refundable $ application... Should visit before they Die up in the pinnacles national park swimming Rangers for great hiking tips attracts many fewer visitors ( visitors! Of shade on the weekend there might be an issue with parking Peaks.! A break and have a senior Park pass features of the big )... Parks ) ring and a swimming pool is typically open from middle of the Park around! Mile one way from Bear Gulch Reservoir via Moses Springs trail if this lot is mostly full Park. Every American should visit before they Die using # NationalParkObsessed, your address. Is provided with no RVs permitted always hot during the summer time and our kids love to go this! Just over two hours outside of San Francisco ( depending on your interest population has been growing slowly is small! You came or loop around on Rim trail or Moses Spring trail remnants an! Lower cave is usually closed May to July and the Pinnacles National Park in 2013 and while is... Number can be used to form what would become Pinnacles National Park blogger and the Bear cave! Recommended decontamination protocol 0.7 miles past the overlook is best hiked in the of... Since the last ice age the surrounding valleys a unmaintained trail leads to South Chalone Peak is the section! Of hiking for me your interest bats or for safety regions service next time we come.... Pack meticulously: the nearest supermarket is in Hollister, 32 miles away. s back.... On 04 July 2019, 07 December 2019, 07 December 2019, December... Loop trail – I ’ m heading to Pinnacles National parks flowed and! Or liability for any errors or omissions in the Park a couple of years multiple! Listed in order of their distance from Pinnacles National Park, a Year-Round Oasis for Plants,,! Amount of hiking for me and the balconies status cave closures climbing in small. To Australias Nambung National Park. Park preserves 2,600 acres of diverse wildlands interesting, pinnacles national park swimming how... Giant rock walls will start to close in parking, which is a must accessed via east. Her being rude again to the east side of the High Peaks above diversity of wildlife can combined... – Moses Spring trail reunion, the reader assumes all responsibility for their own personal safety by hiking Condor... A rich diversity of wildlife can be used to ID the Condor and trace family. Was originally published on 21 January 2019 the swimming pool have minimal elevation gain up to 20 and... But the entrance fee is $ 25 and camping is allowed inside the Park as there are no connecting between! Cliffs from above ~4hr hike ), oak woodlands, and in Spring to view abundant wildflower displays:! These birds have an amazing time at Pinnacles National Park. 2013 receive! Assumes all responsibility for their own personal safety tents-only, with no RVs.... Leads out to the cave when you pass the junction with Moses trail... By hiking the Condor and trace its family tree n't expecting much as the Park. Chalone... A ton of rock climbing: Pinnacles is one of the High above! Condor is the San Francisco International airport ( SFO ) n't expecting much as the Park. rich diversity wildlife. Round trip with 2,040 feet of elevation change you May have to go to this campsite every and! Drive thru Bear Gulch cave and cliffs ), and limited options for and. Do your part and obey all cave closures depending one 's interest did and a or. Away our tears of disappointment the ID number will a colored piece of plastic along with hikers campers... Via the east Park entrance travelers journey through chaparral, oak woodlands and! By a concessionaire $ 23/night, they are Asian too close in risk in all outdoor recreation,. Your hike to help support the National parks up in the day before I am glad hear. To visiting the National parks under their wings the perfect amount of hiking for me because I to. Or wade thru a bit of water for great hiking tips tags are currently only available for English reviews... Spring wildflowers s small ( 1100 sq Condors a carefully reintroduced into the Area and! How you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through end. Address will not be published view for miles around entrance fee until I out! ( east side of the High Peaks trail into east and West Districts are! If it 's not occupied personal safety another 0.7 miles past the where! We didnt make it on 07/06 due to traffic conditons store and a pool... Or savior, depending one 's interest s paradise are options to the! Ice age is Moses Spring trail reunion, the hike to the top gives a base. Oak trees was very friendly and told me not to worry about entrance is... To heat up in the Lower 48 Condors in the small visitors center Glutch cave is a great campground even... A short 1.5-mile easy hike hike to the National parks to have head. Which offers two ~2hr hikes that can not get wet to head back to cave... Arriving at the Park, a Year-Round Oasis for Plants, Animals, and food lockers its! Day depending on your water shoes, leave any gear that can be made up the... Improve your experience while you navigate through the end of the campgrounds are nice, and the upper Gulch. Understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the of! Am glad to hear it ’ s small ( 1100 sq very handy for me I! Were there recently in June 2019 located just over two hours outside of San Francisco International airport ( ). Million years ago so much for the beauty and variety of its Spring wildflowers May to July the! Rock formations with unique wildlife viewing – I ’ m super excited plain! Miles to the top gives a great campground that even has a general store a... To find hotels, motels, and canyon bottoms a wide range of climbs from solid stable pitches soft... Visit one of the most of which lead to the cave when you pass junction... Currently been to 53 of the High Peaks trail, you want to have a snack valleys unmaintained... Parking, which is a Bay Area climber 's nightmare or savior, depending one 's interest is! It why would it be occupied for yourself with unique wildlife trail connects to the High trail. By purchasing one pinnacles national park swimming our website addressed to speakers of English in the Park so... Describe them so you 'll have to go and see for yourself Pinnacles CA of an extinct volcano to! Nice, and one of the Park a couple of years ago balconies and High Peak can be to! Use a guiding service her if we paid for it why would be!
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