Eight things you need to know before visiting Pinnacles National Park (Oct 2022)

After visiting Yosemite and Joshua Tree, Sophie and I were on a bit of a national park streak. Pinnacles National Park popped up on our radar because it is relatively close to the Bay Area — just a couple of hours drive southeast of San Jose. I will be upfront: it does not have the jaw-dropping grandeur of Yosemite or the otherworldly feel of Joshua Tree. But it has its own charm, and the Bear Gulch area turned out to be a genuinely fun adventure, especially for a kid who likes climbing over rocks.

Here is what I wish I had known before our visit.

1. What is Pinnacles National Park?

Pinnacles National Park is in central California, about 80 miles (130 km) southeast of San Jose. The park protects 24,000 acres of pinnacles, rock spires, and canyons — all formed by the erosion of an ancient volcano. Coming from Singapore, where the oldest geological features I ever visited were basically coral reefs, this kind of deep-time geology is fascinating to me.

2. How was it formed?

Over 24 million years ago, the Neenach Volcano erupted and spewed lava for miles. That lava cooled, hardened into rock, and then wind and water spent millions of years carving out the pinnacles, spires, and canyons we see today. Sophie asked me if the volcano could erupt again and I had to admit I did not know the answer at the time (it cannot — the volcanic activity has long ceased).

3. When should you visit?

The best time is mid-spring to mid-fall when the weather is milder. The park is open year-round though, and each season has its own character. We went in October, which was comfortable temperature-wise. I would not want to hike here in summer — there is very little shade on the trails.

4. What can you do there?

There are over 30 miles of hiking trails, plus rock climbing, birdwatching, stargazing, and ranger-led programs. I have to be honest though — compared to Yosemite or Joshua Tree, Pinnacles is a tier below in terms of visual spectacle. That said, it is still worth dedicating 4-5 hours to explore, and the hiking is legitimately engaging.

Of everything in the park, Bear Gulch Reservoir is the standout. The views up there are the best in the park, and the hiking routes vary enough to keep it interesting.

There are two routes to get there: the Bear Gulch Cave trail or the Moses Spring trail. If you have a young child (under 9-10 years old), I strongly recommend the Moses Spring trail. The Bear Gulch Cave trail is genuinely difficult for little ones — at certain points inside the cave, you literally need to get on your knees and crawl through. Sophie thought it was exciting, but there were some spots where I was not entirely comfortable with her navigating them.

Here are some pictures so you can get a sense of what the Bear Gulch Cave trail is like:

5. What should you bring?

This is important — there are no services inside the park. No food, no drinks, no shops. And to make it more fun, there is no phone signal in many areas either. So pack plenty of water and snacks before you enter.

Bring a hat and sunscreen (very little shade on the trails). If you plan on doing the Bear Gulch Cave trail, bring flashlights — the cave is quite dark inside.

The good news: toilets are available at stops like Bear Gulch, so at least you are covered there :)

6. Is there an entrance fee?

Yes — $30 per vehicle or $25 per motorcycle, good for seven days. But like I mention in every national park post, if you plan to visit multiple parks within a year, just get the America the Beautiful pass for $80/year. It covers one vehicle at all national parks and it paid for itself after our second visit.

7. How do you get there?

Pinnacles is about 80 miles southeast of San Jose, or about 200 miles north of Los Angeles. The closest towns are Soledad and King City. There is no public transportation to the park, so you will need a car.

The drive itself is lovely — California countryside, rolling hills, the kind of scenery that makes you forget you were sitting in Bay Area traffic an hour ago.

8. Where can you stay nearby?

There is no lodging inside the park, but there are campgrounds and RV parks in the area. Check the Pinnacles National Park website for details. We did it as a day trip, which worked fine for our 4-5 hour visit.

Overall, I would say Pinnacles is a solid "B+" national park experience. Not the headliner, but a really enjoyable day out, especially if you live in the Bay Area and want something closer than Yosemite. The Bear Gulch area alone makes it worth the drive.

Have you been to Pinnacles? I am curious whether you did the cave trail or the spring trail — and how the kids handled it.

Cheers,

Chandler

P.S. Read our complete guide: The Expat Family's Guide to US National Parks (2026) — covering all 26 parks we have visited, road trip routes, costs, and tips for international visitors.