4 Best Things to Do in Pinnacles National Park
From the towering rock spires and hidden caves to the vital habitat that plays a crucial role in the survival of the near-extinct California Condor, Pinnacles National Park feels like a hidden gem compared to other, busier California National Parks, bolstering a remarkable story of conservation and volcanic origin!
That being said, Pinnacles National Park is best experienced from a number of its many trails, where visitors of all ages can explore its peaks and caves firsthand.
Therefore, I highly recommend coming to Pinnacles prepared to hike, but remember to plan according to the conditions, as summer temperatures often exceed 100º F (37.8º C) during the hottest times of the day!
Hiking Checklist - Pinnacles National Park
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Pinnacles National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
4 Best Things to Do in Pinnacles National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but more importantly, be sure to check out the National Park website prior to visiting, so that you are aware if caves will be open during your visit.
National Park Service: Status of the Pinnacles Caves
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Bear Gulch Cave (Sycamore-Moses Spring Trail)
Distance: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
The Bear Gulch Cave is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places to explore in Pinnacles National Park.
That being said, the cave is located right at the intersection of a number of neighboring trails, meaning that it’s very common to set off for the Bear Gulch Cave but loop back on a different trail.
With that in mind, the trail from the closest parking area at Moses Spring is, at a minimum, 0.8 miles (1.3 km) roundtrip.
AllTrails: Bear Gulch Cave
2. High Peaks Trail
Distance: 5.6 - 7.4 miles / 9.0 - 11.9 km
The High Peaks Trail is arguably the best and most beautiful trail in Pinnacles National Park.
That being said, the High Peaks Trail is often made into a loop with either the shorter Condor Gulch Trail or the slightly longer Blue Oak Trail that both begin and end off the East Entrance Road.
For this reason, the distance is variable, depending on what type/ how long of an adventure that you are up for.
AllTrails: HPT (Condor Gulch) / HPT (Blue Oak)
3. Balconies Cave Trail
Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
Much like the Bear Gulch Cave Trail mentioned above, the Balconies Cave Trail is another beautiful cave on the west side of Pinnacles that’s typically hiked via the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) Balconies Cave-Balconies Cliff Loop Trail.
However, this goes without saying that the Balconies Cave Trail is also subject to seasonal closures, which is why I highly recommend checking the status of the caves before visiting.
AllTrails: Balconies Cave Trail
4. Juniper Canyon-Tunnel Trail (High Peaks)
Distance: 4.2 miles / 6.8 km
From the west entrance, the Juniper Canyon/ Tunnel Trail are the two most popular trails in order to see the best of the High Peaks Trail.
By this, I mean that the 1.8-mile (2.9 km) loop formed by all three trails around the High Peaks is often regarded as the best part of the entire trail. This may be one reason to consider this shorter option via the west entrance over the Condor Gulch/ Blue Oak routes from the east.
AllTrails: Juniper Canyon-Tunnel Trail
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Some of the most common dangers in regards to Pinnacles National Park are related to the summer heat/ dehydration. In the summer, temperatures above 90º are commonplace come midday, which is why it’s important to be careful when picking your adventure during this time of year, considering that many trails have very few places to find shade.
On a different note, there is one venomous rattlesnake species in Pinnacles National Park: the Pacific Rattlesnake, and both Stinging Nettle and Poison Oak can be found throughout the park, which is why it’s important to stay on trail.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Pinnacles National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
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