Pinnacles National Park

Volcanic spires and condors inland from the coast

⏱ Half to full day👤 All ages$

The rock formations that give Pinnacles its name are the remains of an ancient volcano that formed along the Pacific coast millions of years ago and was later split by the San Andreas Fault, with half of it carried many miles north-west of its original position. Erosion then carved the survivors into the towers, cliffs and gorges visitors walk through today. Congress made Pinnacles a national park in 2013, and its separate east and west sides are linked only by trails, not a road, which shapes every plan for visiting.

Hiking is the main event. The Bear Gulch and Balconies areas feature talus caves, formed when boulders wedged into narrow gorges and created natural roofs, and walking through them with a flashlight is the park's signature experience; the caves can close for bat-protection or conditions, so check the park's current conditions page before you plan around them. Longer loops climb to the High Peaks for views of the whole formation, the Salinas Valley and, on clear days, the Pacific. Pinnacles is also famous for rock climbing and for California condors, the huge scavengers reintroduced here, which you can sometimes see soaring along the cliffs. The park is excellent for wildflowers in spring, when the hills are green.

Practicals: from Monterey, the west entrance near Soledad is the closer approach and takes roughly an hour, while the east entrance is a longer drive around. Remember there is no road across the park, so decide which side you want before you go. The park's own guidance stresses bringing plenty of water, at least a liter per hour of hiking, and avoiding strenuous hikes in the summer heat. Spring, fall and winter are the comfortable seasons. Entry is by park fee, so check the National Park Service page for current fees and conditions. Fit: hikers, climbers, wildlife lovers, photographers and families with school-age children who like caves and rock scrambles. It is a long day, so start early.