Shaka Guide's Pinnacles National Park Itinerary

Created by Shaka Guide, Modified on Wed, Jun 17 at 5:59 AM by Shaka Guide

Join Shaka Guide as we explore one of California's most underrated gems: Pinnacles National Park!

Explore a whimsical wonderland of rock formations and caves in this under-the-radar park just east of the Salinas Valley.

The unusual geological story of this place is the setting for some of central California's best hiking, and one of the national park system's most unique experiences: exploring the dark underbelly of the park's talus caves.

It's all here in this small national park, just a couple of hours south of the Bay Area.

Pinnacles National Park has two sections: East and West. Because of the rugged terrain in the middle of the park, the two sections are not connected by road within the park.

To go from one section to the other, you must drive about an hour to go around to the other side. Or, you can hike between the two.

Shaka Guide's Pinnacles National Park tour explores both sides of the park. It doesn't matter which you do first, but our itinerary begins with East Pinnacles and then continues to West.

There are 9 stops on the tour: 6 on the east side and 3 on the west.

Pinnacles Visitor Center and Campground Store
Bacon Family Ranch
Peaks View Picnic Area
Old Pinnacles Trailhead
Bear Gulch Day Use Area
Moses Spring Rim Trail Loop
West Pinnacles Visitor Center
Prewett Point Trail
Chaparral Trailhead and Picnic Area

This is a hiking-heavy park, meaning that if you don't get out on a trail, there isn't a whole lot to see and do. Not to worry, though!

We have found hikes for every level, including an ADA-accessible hike with a terrific view.

Itinerary

East Pinnacles

1. Pinnacles Visitor Center and Campground Store

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 10 minutes
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 9 am-4 pm daily

Pick up some supplies or ask about the latest information before venturing into the park.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 9 am-4 pm daily, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

2. Bacon Family Ranch

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 20 minutes
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 24/7

A flat, half-mile round-trip walk from the visitor center takes you to what remains of the Bacon Family Ranch, including the house and barn. You're not able to go inside the buildings, but the walk is pleasant with plentiful bird life.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 24/7, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

3. Peaks View Picnic Area

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 10 minutes
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 24/7

A few picnic tables and a vault restroom sit in front of a meadow along the Chalone Creek, making for a pleasant place to sit and look for wildlife.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 24/7, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

4. Old Pinnacles Trailhead

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 2-3 hours
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 24/7

A 5-mile round-trip, moderate hike takes you to the West Pinnacles area around Balconies Cave. The hike goes past brush and rock formations and crosses seasonal creeks.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 24/7, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

5. Bear Gulch Day Use Area

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 2+ hours
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 24/7

This is the most popular part of the park and includes a nature center, restrooms, and multiple trailheads. Condor Gulch begins at the trailhead across the street from the nature center, close to the road.

For the Condor Gulch viewpoint only, it's a moderate hike, one mile round trip, going uphill in and downhill on the return.

To complete the Condor Gulch to High Peaks Trail loop, it's over 5 miles round trip and considered difficult, requiring 3-5 hours.

Prepare for steep or narrow sections, and some ladders are built directly into the rock for steep ascents.

For the Moses Spring and Rim Trail Loop, continue on the path along the road to reach the trailhead.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 24/7, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

6. Moses Spring Rim Trail Loop

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 2 hours
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 24/7

The Moses Spring-Rim Trail loop is the most popular trail in the park, taking you into a talus cave and up to a reservoir. The hike is a little over 2 miles round trip and is considered moderate.

We recommend doing the loop clockwise for an easier entry into Bear Gulch cave. You will need a light stronger than a phone's flashlight in the cave, which takes around 10 minutes to walk through. It's possible to bypass the cave.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 24/7, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

West Pinnacles

7. West Pinnacles Visitor Center

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 5 minutes
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 9 am-2:30 pm Thurs-Mon. Hours may change depending on staffing.

Use the restroom, fill up the water bottle, and ask for the latest information before venturing further into the park. The trailhead to the Prewett Point Trail is located next to the visitor center.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 9 am-2:30 pm Thurs-Mon. Hours may change depending on staffing, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

8. Prewett Point Trail

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 15-30 minutes
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 7:30 am-8 pm daily

An overlooked gem! Prewett Point Trail is about a mile round trip and considered easy. The path is primarily dirt but is ADA accessible, and takes you to open views of the pinnacles and Gabilan Mountains.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 7:30 am - 8 pm daily, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

9. Chaparral Trailhead and Picnic Area

Matt Caracciolo

Duration: 2-4 hours
Entry Fee: None
Hours: 7:30 am-8 pm daily

This is the best trailhead in West Pinnacles. The Balconies Cliff and Cave loop trail is about 2.5 miles round trip and considered moderate.

It takes you past stunning pinnacles and cliffs, and into one of the park's talus caves. The cave requires a small amount of climbing and bouldering around rocks, and also requires a light stronger than a phone flashlight.

We recommend taking the loop clockwise for easier access into the cave, and you can climb up instead of down in the dark.

The Juniper Canyon Loop is over 4 miles round-trip and considered difficult. It goes up into the pinnacles and connects with the High Peaks trail for an even longer journey.

This is a free stop, making it an easy add-on to your visit. Hours are typically 7:30 am-8 pm daily, but you should always check current conditions before you go.

Conclusion

Are you game to explore Pinnacles National Park? Shaka Guide has you covered with turn-by-turn directions, trip planning advice, and storytelling to bring the park's history and nature to life.