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.
About under an hour from San Jose by car.
Alerts
- CautionFire Danger VERY HIGH
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.
- InformationNPS ↗Heavy Traffic and High Visitation Alert
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).
Fire nearby
- WildfireTimber
35 mi from the park's reference point · 25,350 acres · 97% contained
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private VehicleThis 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. | $30 | |
| MotorcycleValid 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. | $25 | |
| Per PersonThis 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. | $15 | |
| Non-commercial GroupsNon-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. | $15 | |
| Education/Academic GroupsSchool groups and other academic institutions may qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver. If not qualified, please check fees for large or commercial groups. | Free | |
| Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity | ||
| SedanThe 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. | $30 | |
| VanThis 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. | $40 | |
| Mini-busThis 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. | $40 | |
| Motor CoachThis 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. | $100 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkThe 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. | $55 | |
A park entrance pass is required year-round at Pinnacles National Park. Visitors entering the park have multiple pass and entrance fee options available depending on how they arrive to the park. We accept major credit cards and mobile payment services (we do not accept cash) when you arrive. If you are arriving in a private vehicle, you only need to pay the vehicle fee (not the per-person fee).
Hours
| East Side Entrance | Daily · All Day |
| West Side Entrance | Daily · 7:30AM - 8:00PM |
When to go
April draws the most visits here and September the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Pinnacles Campground | 134 sites | |
| $43 a night · The campground offers tent and group camping, along with RV sites. Each tent and group site has a picnic table and fire ring. · 134 reservable | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Pinnacles Park Store ↗Passport stamp
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, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, including holidays.
- West Pinnacles Visitor Contact StationPassport stamp
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 staffing.
- Bear Gulch Nature CenterPassport stamp
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 Gulch Nature Center. Please note that this visitor center may be closed seasonally due to available staffing.
Explore
Things to do
- Become a Junior Ranger at Pinnacles National Park10-30 Minutes
junior ranger programs
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Bench Trail to South Wilderness Trail3-4 Hours
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Bench Trail to Balconies Cave Trail4-6 Hours
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes, Cave Hike
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Bench Trail to Sycamore Trail1-2 Hours
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Moses Spring Trail to Rim Trail Loop1-2 Hours
East Side Trails, Moderate Hikes, Loop Hike, Cave Hike
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Jawbone Trail30-60 Minutes
West Side Trails, Moderate Hikes
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- Hike High Peaks to Balconies Cave Loop4-5 Hours
West Side Trails, Stenuous Hikes, Loop Hike
Opens on the Park Service site - Hike Bacon-Butterfield Ranch Trail30-60 Minutes
East Side Trails, Easy Hikes, Bicycle and pet friendly
Opens on the Park Service site - Biking in Pinnacles National Park
biking, road biking
Opens on the Park Service site - Birdwatching in Pinnacles National Park
birds, birdwatching
Opens on the Park Service site - Night Sky Viewing At Pinnacles National Park
night sky, stargazing
Opens on the Park Service site - Rock Climbing the West Side of Pinnacles National Park
rock climbing
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Ranger's Choice10/1701:00 PM · runs through Dec 27 · freeJoin us at the Bear Gulch Nature Center on the east side of the park.
- Prewett Point Guided Hike10/1710:30 AM · runs through Dec 27 · freeJoin us at the West Visitor Contact Station near the Prewett Point Trailhead on the west side of the park.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- Bear Valley SchoolBuilding · Paicines · 3.6 mi
- Los Coches RanchoSite · Soledad · 9.7 mi
- Community Church of GonzalesBuilding · Gonzales · 14.5 mi
- Gabilan Lodge No. 372–Independent Order of Odd FellowsBuilding · Gonzales · 14.6 mi
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for Pinnacles National Park and California's national parks
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Best Easy Day Hikes Pinnacles National ParkLinda Mullally and David Mullally, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthCalifornia Condor 2× · Western Screech-Owl 1× · Coyote 1× · American Barn Owl 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 159 birds, 55 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Barn Owl · California Condor · Cooper's Hawk · Ferruginous Hawk · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Northern Harrier · Northern Pygmy-Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-shouldered Hawk · Red-tailed Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech-Owl · White-tailed Kite · rough-legged hawk
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Coot · Great Blue Heron · Green Heron · Pied-billed Grebe · american white pelican · common merganser
Shorebirds & seabirdsCommon Snipe · Greater Yellowlegs · Killdeer · Least Sandpiper · Lesser Yellowlegs · Spotted Sandpiper · western sandpiper
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · California Quail · Mourning Dove · Rock Dove · White-winged Dove · Wild Turkey · mountain quail
WoodpeckersAcorn Woodpecker · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis' Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Nuttall's Woodpecker · Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsAllen's Hummingbird · Anna's Hummingbird · Black-chinned Hummingbird · Costa's Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift · black swift · calliope hummingbird
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Dipper · American Goldfinch · American Robin · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Barn Swallow · Bell's Vireo · Belted Kingfisher · Bewick's Wren · Black Phoebe · Black-chinned Sparrow · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-throated Gray Warbler · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Blue-headed Vireo · Brewer's Blackbird · Brown Creeper · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's Oriole · Bushtit · California Thrasher · California Towhee · Canyon Wren · Cassin's vireo · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-backed Chickadee · Chukar · Cliff swallow · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Common Starling · Common Yellowthroat · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Warbling Vireo · Fox Sparrow · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Golden-crowned Sparrow · Gray Vireo · Greater Roadrunner · Hammond's flycatcher · Hermit Thrush · Hermit Warbler · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Hutton's Vireo · Lark Sparrow · Lawrence's Goldfinch · Lazuli Bunting · Lesser Goldfinch · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · Macgillivray's Warbler · Mallard · Mountain Bluebird · Nashville Warbler · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Orange-crowned Warbler · Pacific-slope Flycatcher · Phainopepla · Pine Siskin · Purple Finch · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-winged Blackbird · Rock Wren · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rufous-crowned Sparrow · Sage Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Song Sparrow · Spotted towhee · Steller's Jay · Swainson's Thrush · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · Varied Thrush · Violet-green Swallow · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Scrub Jay · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · Wilson's Warbler · Winter Wren · Wrentit · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-billed Magpie · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-rumped Warbler · cassin's finch · clark's nutcracker · hooded warbler · oak titmouse · olive-sided flycatcher · white-throated sparrow
Small mammalsAmargosa Vole · Audubon's cottontail · Beechey Ground Squirrel · Black-tailed Jack Rabbit · Broad-footed Mole · Brush Deermouse · Brush Rabbit · California Deermouse · California Pocket Mouse · Desert Woodrat · Dusky-footed Woodrat · Elephant-eared Kangaroo Rat · Heermann's Kangaroo Rat · House Mouse · Merriam's Chipmunk · Narrow-faced Kangaroo Rat · Ornate Shrew · Prairie deer mouse · Valley Pocket Gopher · Western Harvest Mouse · pinyon mouse
PredatorsBobcat · Common Gray Fox · Coyote · Long-tailed Weasel · North American Badger · Striped Skunk · common raccoon
Hoofed mammalsblack-tailed deer
BatsBig Brown Bat · Big Free-tailed Bat · Black Bat · Brazilian Free-tailed Bat · California Myotis · Eastern Red Bat · Eastern Small-footed Bat · Fringed Myotis · Greater Bonneted Bat · Hoary Bat · Little Brown Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Pallid Bat · Pocketed Free-tailed Bat · Red Bat · Small-footed Myotis · Townsends' Big-eared Bat · Western Pipistrelle · Yuma Myotis
Also on the checklistCaucasian wildcat · Domestic Goat · Virginia Opossum · cougar · domesticated cattle · wild boar
Activities
Activity guides for this park Birdwatching in the national parks · Camping in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Rock climbing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
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 cooler with highs in the 60s. Big swings in temperature occur between day and night, year round.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Pinnacles?
Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. 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.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Pinnacles?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Pinnacles-only annual pass is $55.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Pinnacles takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
When is entrance to Pinnacles free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Do I need a reservation to enter Pinnacles?
No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Pinnacles. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.
Source: National Park Service
Is Pinnacles open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Pinnacles?
Yes. The Park Service lists 1 campground in Pinnacles: Pinnacles. 1 takes reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Pinnacles campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Showers: Pinnacles. Dump station: Pinnacles. Electric hookups: Pinnacles.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Pinnacles include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Pinnacles is $43 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Pinnacles right now?
2 active alerts as of October 14, 2026: Fire Danger VERY HIGH; Heavy Traffic and High Visitation Alert.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Pinnacles?
343,208 recreation visits in 2025, number 139 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Pinnacles?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G. No reported coverage for Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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