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National Park

Pinnacles National Park

  • West
  • 9 hikes
  • 3 places to see
  • 2 current alerts

Plan a Pinnacles trip Where to stay

Current alerts

  • Caution

    Fire Danger HIGH

    Fires are permitted in the campground and designated picnic areas, but please ensure that all fires are completely extinguished.

  • Notice

    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 arr…

From the National Park Service, as of November 1, 2026, 5:14 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.

About Pinnacles

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.

From the National Park Service.

Region
West
State
California
Designation
National Park
Entrance fee
$30, private vehicle
Hikes on this page
9
Places to see
3
Articles
5

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Pinnacles.

Entrance fees

  • $30 Private Vehicle 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.
  • $25 Motorcycle
  • $15 Per Person
  • $15 Non-commercial Groups

Passes

  • $55 Annual Entrance - Park

Hours

East Side Entrance

Open 24 hours a day, every day.

Entrance to the east side of Pinnacles National Park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Weather and when to go

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.

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.

Gateway towns
Soledad, CA · Hollister, CA
Nearest airports
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) · Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address
5000 East Entrance Road, Paicines, CA 95043
Official site
nps.gov/pinn

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Pinnacles

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

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Where to stay for Pinnacles

The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.

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Things to do in Pinnacles

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Trails

See every hiking trail in Pinnacles

Places to see

Visitor centers & lodging

See every place to visit in Pinnacles

Campgrounds in Pinnacles

Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.

  • Pinnacles Campground

    134 reservable sites

    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…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

Reading about Pinnacles

All 5 articles

What to pack for Pinnacles

Gear & Essentials

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The basics

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For this trip

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