pinnacles | CA | Find park

Balconies Cliffs as seen from the inside of the Balconies Caves

Light illuminates a tree on a rainy day, seen from the Resurrection Wall.

A Tarantula crawls in the wild.

A massive rock spire with California condors flying above the peak.

The best views of Pinnacles' rocks can be enjoyed from the west side with almost no effort required.

Rock formations appear behind a grassy hillside covered with oak trees and purple and yellow flowers

Native grasses and wildflowers cover hillsides in spring

Physical Address:

5000 East Entrance Road

Paicines, CA 95043

Mailing Address:

5000 East Entrance Road

Paicines, CA 95043

contact-details

Phone Number: 8313894486 Voice
Phone Number: 8313894288 Fax

Email Address: pinn_visitor_information@nps.gov
Description: Please include dates or season of your visit if applicable. We usually reply to emails within one week. For volunteer opportunities or service projects, please email pinn_volunteer@nps.gov.

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle: $30.00

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

Entrance - Motorcycle: $25.00

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.

Entrance - Per Person: $15.00

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.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: $15.00

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.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan: $30.00

The charge for vehicles with a seating capacity of 1-6 passengers is $30. This entrance fee is for commercial tours of one or more people traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Van: $40.00

This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 7-15 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational puposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passengers ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus: $40.00

This entrance fee is for commercial trous of vehicles with a seating capacity of 16-25 people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the sevice. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passengers ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: $100.00

This entrance fee is for commercial tours of vehicles with a seating capacity of 26 or more people that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. This fee is based on the seating capacity of the vehicle and not the actual number of passengers. Passenger ages or entrance passes do not affect the price.

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups: $0.00

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

Entrance Passes

Annual Entrance - Park: $55.00

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.

Around 23 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape that is now Pinnacles National Park. The remnants of these ancient eruptions have formed a striking terrain of rocky spires and deep canyons. Visitors can explore diverse environments, from chaparral and oak woodlands to the cool, shaded depths of canyon floors.

park designation:National Park

Directions:

Pinnacles National Park is accessible through highway 101 for the West entrance, and highway 25 for the East entrance. From highway 101 you must pass through the City of Soledad to find highway 146 which will lead to West side of Pinnacles. To enter East Pinnacles you must find highway 25 through the City of Hollister coming from the North, and King City through Bitter Water Road (G-13) when coming from the South. NOTE: There is no through road between the east and west entrance.

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

East Side Entrance

Entrance to the east side of Pinnacles National Park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays.

West Side Entrance

The west entrance to the park offers access to trails such as Prewett Point, Balconies, and Juniper Canyon. Note: this one-lane road is narrow and winding. Oversize vehicles should enter the park on the east side.

Weather Information:

Pinnacles National Park has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, and mild winters with moderate precipitation. The park is several miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. A wider variation in seasonal temperatures can be expected in the local area. Summers are hot with temperatures above 100 degrees. Winters are cooler with highs in the 60s. Big swings in temperature occur between day and night, year round.