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Best trails in Pinnacles National Park

Best trails in Pinnacles National Park

4.5(31,580 reviews)

·

United States
#15 of 60 national parks

Want to find the best trails in Pinnacles National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 34 great trails for hiking, birding, and walking and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 10 easy hiking trails in Pinnacles National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 3 to 5,308 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Pinnacles National Park.

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Visitor info

Hours & contact
Passes & fees
Starting at $0
Accessibility
East Side Entrance
Every day • Open 24 hours
West Side Entrance
Every day • 7:30 am–8 pm
Phone
(831) 389-4486
Entrance pass
Education/Academic Groups

School groups and other academic institutions may qualify for an Educational Fee Waiver. If not qualified, please check fees for large or commercial groups.

$0
Motorcycle

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.

$25
Purchase pass
Non-commercial Groups

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.

$15
Per Person

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.

$15
Purchase pass
Private Vehicle

This pass is valid for 1-7 days and includes everyone traveling in a single vehicle to Pinnacles East Entrance and West Entrance.

$30
Purchase pass
Annual pass
Park

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.

$55
Purchase pass
All U.S. national parks

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.

$80
Purchase pass
2025 Fee-free days

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

Overview

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.

Facilities

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

Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.

Trail reviews for Pinnacles National Park

39,353 trailgoers Busiest in April
Apr 19, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

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

Conditions: Well maintained
Condor Gulch Trail to Overlook
Apr 2, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Nice off-season hike in pinnacles national Park

Condor Gulch Trail to High Peaks Trail Loop
Mar 29, 2025Hiking
Not crowdedGreat views

This was my first trip to Pinnacles National Park. My intention was to see condors as a first priority; I was hiking solo. I arrived early to secure a parking spot at the Bear Gulch area from the east entrance. I made a false start up the Condor Gulch Trail (which would have also taken me to the High Peaks Trail) but following suggestions on this app, I backtracked and used the Moses Spring Trail (a short walk from the Bear Gulch parking and nature center) to connect to the High Peaks Trail. Despite the consistent drizzle and fog, I made my way up the scenic trail which climbed relentlessly upward. The trail was trouble free to about the pit toilet then the trail narrows and gets quite steep in both ascent and descent portions over large boulder areas. I saw lots of wildlife and the landscape was wondrous. I saw lots of ravens, turkey vultures, and other birds and small wildlife. Being alone and quiet probably helped. The first condor I saw was hunkered down on a large boulder in the rain and a bit later I saw another condor perched in a tree alongside the trail on the way up to the High Peaks area. Once I arrived at the highest section of the trail, it was foggy and drizzling with most of the visibility gone. These were disappointing conditions for me as I had carried my heavy camera along in hopes of photographing condors. Almost immediately upon arrival, a condor soared right over my head and about ten condors were circling within sight. Then, just as quickly, light rain and fog enveloped the area. I could have accepted those brief glimpses of condors as my condor experience for the day, but I decided to wait out the weather for a while as rain was not in the forecast. I sat in the rain for about an hour and the fog and drizzle eventually cleared out giving way to much better visibility. I ended up staying in the High Peaks area for a couple of hours. I was rewarded with many condors sightings. I observed many soaring condors from many vantage points and a nesting area with lots of condor family mini-dramas. I took a lot of fantastic photographs and enjoyed myself immensely. The other hikers who passed by were friendly all day. The descent back down to the parking area was, for the most part, an easy trail with good footing, the trail between Blue Oaks and Sycamore Trail was often surrounded by brush limiting views, so I was glad I tackled the challenging parts of the loop first where the scenery was stunning and when I was fresh for the ascent. Along with numerous small wildlife I saw about two dozen different types of wildflowers. It was a full and fabulous day. In total, I hiked about 8.5 miles that day with the loop and my back-and-forth wandering at the highest level. My only disappointment was seeing pistachio nut shells in many places along the trail. Dear fellow hikers, please pack out what you pack in.

High Peaks and Bear Gulch Loop Trail
Jun 7, 2025Hiking
Great conditionsGreat views

Got to the trail at around 9:30 and got one of the last spots in the first parking lot. Trail itself is pretty easy, all the incline is at the end and is pretty gradual. The only slightly tricky section is the caves themselves because you do need a headlamp / flashlight to see and if there weren’t other people going in the opposite way it would’ve been a lot harder to follow the trail through there. Some shade on the beginning part, less in the back. But overall a super cool trail, pretty easy and would recommend for pinnacles.

Conditions: No bugs, Well maintained
Old Pinnacles Trail to Balconies
May 30, 2025
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Great views, but super strenuous mountain hike with extremely steep inclines! The peak has you going through one of the pinnacles near vertical enough to consider it a rock scramble. It’s a long hike but there’s a septic bathroom at the peak. If you’re lucky and go in the early morning you might see a condor! Would not recommend this hike if you are fairly new to the activity. Getting up to the peak puts you in a lot of sun exposure which can lead to heat exhaustion if you under pack on water. Small injuries can make big problems when on a huge mountain; make sure to pace yourself with your body’s needs!

Condor Gulch Trail to High Peaks Trail Loop
May 25, 2025Hiking
Great conditions

Extremely crowded. Very limited parking. Frustrating getting into Pinnacles NP. GO before 10 am or risk waiting 1-2 hours to get into the park. Dusty and Caves were closed but still overall a cool hike.

Difficulty: Moderate
Moses Spring and Rim Trail Loop
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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Pinnacles National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Pinnacles National Park is Condor Gulch Trail to High Peaks Trail Loop, which has a 4.8 star rating from 8,546 reviews. This trail is 5.3 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,633 ft.

What is the longest trail in Pinnacles National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Pinnacles National Park is North Chalone Peak, High Peaks, Balconies, and Condor Gulch. This trail is estimated to be 20.2 mi long.

How many trails are in Pinnacles National Park?

There are 34 trails in Pinnacles National Park. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 31,580 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Pinnacles National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Pinnacles National Park has you covered. North Chalone Peak, High Peaks, Balconies, and Condor Gulch boasts the most elevation gain with 5,308 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is High Peaks Trail to Old Pinnacles Trail to Condor Gulch Trail Loop, which will get you 3,254 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Pinnacles National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there is 1 camping trail in Pinnacles National Park which is Bench Trail with an average 4.5 star rating from 279 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Pinnacles National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 10 running trails in Pinnacles National Park and the most popular is Condor Gulch Trail to High Peaks Trail Loop with an average 4.8 star rating from 8,546 community reviews.