Best trails in Pinnacles National Park
Comprised of impressive rocks, caves, cliffs, and peaks, Pinnacles National Park showcases the results of ancient volcanic activity on landscape. The park provides spectacular heights that attract many rock climbers. The park has an abundance of hiking, in fact, the two sides of the park are only connected by foot; there is no road connecting the two sides. Please note the park is often very hot in the summer months.
Top trails
Visitor info
School groups and other academic institutions may qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver. If not qualified, please check fees for large or commercial groups.
This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling on a motorcycle, scooter, or similar motorized vehicle 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.
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.
This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle to Pinnacles East Entrance and West Entrance.
This pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase. It covers the entrance fee to Pinnacles National Park for the pass signee and accompanying passengers entering in a single, non-commercial vehicle. Pinnacles Annual Passes are available at park entrance stations.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
Both visitor centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms.
Audio-described and text-only park brochure formats are available.
Additional information about accessibility at Pinnacles National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
Both visitor centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms.
The picnic areas are wheelchair accessible with assistance and have packed, level paths and surfaces.
There are fully accessible restrooms at the West Pinnacles Contact Station.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Pinnacles National Park
Considering the whole area, Pinnacles national park is more of a state park, but beautiful. This hike gives you the summarized view of the whole park. The whole trail is rocky and dirt, and the summit has some adventurous stone cut steps, which I liked the most. Its a loop so you can go either ways. I did it clockwise, as the person at the visitor center said it more steep, Carry lots of water. It gets really hot and most of the trail is exposed.
Overall the trails from the east pinnacles national park were great, very well maintained, bathroom at the peak and trailhead with amazing views and one of a kind experience
Outstanding trail! I arrived at 6 AM (yes the gate was open) and it was 60°. I took the trail, counterclockwise, getting the uphill climb completed early before the heat and arrived at the saddle about an hour later.. I have to give kudos to the people who built the high peaks trail, It is spectacular.. I took my time hiking through that section as it is very beautiful with lots of condors to look at. Once through the high peak section it’s a fairly easy walk down to the old pinnacles trail which is also very easy, but also very beautiful. Having started at the chaparral trailhead. I took the high balconies trail first then backtracked through the cave and back. The cave is awesome, but you definitely need a headlamp., a flashlight will work, but it’s better to have your hands free for climbing through. I finished up about 1030 and it was already 82°., so make sure you start early unless you like hiking in the heat. The only bummer was the visitor center was closed as it would’ve been nice to learn a little about the history. Definitely a must do trail..
Got to the park at 8 am and there was no one else around. It wasn’t until we were up on High Peaks that we saw other cars in the lot and people coming the other way on the trail. The gate worker described Pinnacles as a ‘weekend park’ and that we would have no trouble parking. Trail was excellently maintained. Would not want to start it any later because the shade from the rocks in the morning was perfect
A fantastic hike! We had done it once before in the spring. It’s really spectacular at that time of year after winter rain when the grass is green and there are wildflowers everywhere. It’s still lovely during the dry season, just not quite as magical. This hike has everything no matter when you go - distance, elevation, views, caves, wildlife (California condors), even a lake, which is rare in CA. The park has so many wonders and is very underrated, in my opinion. Pictures don’t do it justice! Instead of doing Balconies, we did the caves route just below it. I’m not a cave person so I prefer Balconies, but it was good to experience I guess. Bring a headlamp because there’s a good portion of these caves that are completely dark. Some people had flashlights, but the climb in the dark is pretty steep so I recommend using something hands free. We had seen rattlesnakes during our previous 2 visits to Pinnacles. Luckily we saw none this time which was ideal.
It gets hot in Pinnacles but wear long sleeves and long pants. There is poison oak all over this trail, sometimes on both sides. The cave is not as curates as the Bear Gultch cave but my 10yr old and I did it. It involves climbing and rocky descents depending on which way your going.