4 Best Things to Do in Pinnacles National Park
From towering rock spires and hidden caves to wildflowers that blanket the hills of central California in the spring, Pinnacles National Park is truly hidden gem—especially when compared to other, busier National Parks in the state!
That said, visitors can enjoy these beautiful volcanic rock formations, which not only make for a great place to get out and explore, but also play a vital conservation role in protecting the once near-extinct California Condor—a species today which can be seen soaring high above the park today with relative ease!
This is all to say, Pinnacles National Park is best experienced by hiking one of the many beautiful trails around the park, where visitors of all ages can enjoy its rugged peaks and one-of-a-kind caves firsthand. I highly recommend coming to Pinnacles prepared to hike, but remember to plan accordingly for the current conditions, as summer temperatures often exceed 100º F (37.8º C) during the hottest times of the day—making the spring and fall months the best times of the year to see and enjoy all there is to do in Pinnacles National Park.
Pinnacles Planning Advice
As should be obvious from the National Park map below, almost all of the best things to see and do are centered around the High Peaks, which can be reached from either the east or west entrance.
This is why I don’t think it matters which direction you decide to visit from, as both sides of the park can be reached with relative ease on one of a number of trails through or around the High Peaks.
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.
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
