-: Remnants of an ancient volcano form the towering rock spires and talus caves of this park, home to a reintroduced California condor population.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

A single day covers the main trails and talus caves, while 1 to 2 lets you add both the east and west sides of the park.

No special permit is required to enter.

Soledad and Hollister are the closest towns, each accessing a different side of the park.

The entrance fee is $30/vehicle (7-day), or purchase a National Parks Yearly Pass.

Why Visit?:

Pinnacles protects the eroded remnants of an ancient volcano, now towering rock spires and dark talus caves — genuinely unique terrain for California, and one of the newer additions to the national park system. It's also home to a reintroduced California condor population, giving visitors a real shot at seeing one of the rarest birds in North America.

A quirk worth knowing before you go: the park's east and west entrances aren't connected by any road inside the park, so pick a side based on which trails you want to hike.

Things to Do:

Hiking through Bear Gulch Cave or Balconies Cave (both talus caves formed by fallen boulders) is the park's signature experience — bring a flashlight, since sections are genuinely dark. The High Peaks Trail is a strenuous but rewarding loop through the park's dramatic rock spires, and your best shot at spotting a California condor overhead.

Rock climbers are also drawn here for volcanic rock routes less crowded than Yosemite's granite.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: San Jose International Airport (SJC) is about 1.5-2 hours away, depending on which side of the park you're visiting.

Nearby Attractions:

Pinnacles is roughly equidistant from Monterey and the Salinas Valley wine country, both worth adding if you're extending a Central California trip.