5 Things We Did Wrong at Pinnacles National Park
Are you planning a trip to Pinnacles National Park? Are you looking for hikes and advice for making the most of your trip? Read on for all our dos and don'ts for visint this beautiful National Park.
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The Balconies Cave Trail at Pinnacles National Park is one of my favorite hiking adventures ever.
So, what happened here?
Somewhere between walking through a knee-deep stream with our socks and shoes on, a serious case of hanger (hello, I am lady hobbit who needs a second breakfast), our trail buddy hitting his head so hard he bled through his hat (he was fine, ultimately). I thought to myself, “Hmmm, maybe someone could benefit from our soggy missteps here!”
Let me clarify that we had an amazing day in Pinnacles National Park.
However, this was a work trip for me. There was no way I was going to miss a chance to hit a National Park when we were staying a mere hour and 20 minutes away, but that meant our excess of baggage was crammed to the hilt with photography gear and business casual attire for my upcoming event, not the usual hiking gear I would pack for an outdoors excursion. It also meant that, since I knew we had limited time to visit the park, I didn’t research it as thoroughly as I would have if we were planning, say, a camping excursion.
(To view National Parks trips I DID do my research for, please view our trip to Yellowstone or the LeConte Lodge. To view another trip where I didn’t do my research, read about this weird-ass bath I took at Hot Springs National Park.)
You’ll also find my Know Before You Go Tips at the bottom of this post!
The stunning and ever-changing scenery at Pinnacles National Park will blow you away.
Pinnacles National Park: Things We Did Wrong
There’s no road connecting the east and west sides of the Pinnacles National Park.
Things I researched about Pinnacles National Park: the weather, the hikes, and the lodging options. Did I think to look up whether or not there was a road going all the way through the park? No, I did not. Why wouldn’t there be a road connecting the park entrances? Seriously? Probably because of the enormous boulders, mountains, and sweeping scenery.
Does it say this on the very top of the “Transportation” page in bold, red letters? …sighs deeply…
Anyhow, this meant that half of the hikes I had put on our list were actually only accessible through the eastern entrance to Pinnacles National Park. The more you know, folks!
Bring a flashlight if you plan to do the Balconies Cave Trail.
You need to bring a flashlight.
One of the huge draws to Pinnacles National Park is the caves. However, you know that expression, “It’s darker than the inside of a cave”? Someone invented it after attempting a cave trail at Pinnacles National Park without a real flashlight.
Can you use your phone flashlight? Um, sure. You’ll also find yourself crashing around in the dark, wondering if everything you touch is covered in bat guano, and having flashbacks to that horror movie The Descent.
We did the Balconies Cave Trail with the combined power of three phone lights, but it was pretty dicey, to be honest. We also almost lost the trail markers twice, and our hiking companion hit his head so hard he bled through his sun hat.
If you plan to do the Balconies Cave Trail, water shoes are a must.
You also should bring water shoes.
The reading I had done indicated that your feet might get wet during the Balconies Caves Trail, and let me assure you, the rumors are true. We wound up wading through water up to our knees, which was really fun albeit freeeeezing, but since our options were limp along the rocky bottom with our super tender feetsicles or just get wet and leave our shoes on, we left our shoes on.
That put an abrupt end to the other hikes I had my eye on for the day, and I really wished we’d had room for our water shoes in our luggage.
The views are unforgettable at Pinnacles National Park.
Definitely pack a lunch.
The fact that there are no restaurant options inside Pinnacles National Park is one aspect of this trip I did actually research, as a hungry, hungry hippo, but I underestimated how far we’d have to drive to get lunch, which may impact whether or not you’ll actually go back into the park after eating.
The visitor’s center does sell snacks, and I was deeply grateful for the extra granola bars and jerky by the time we had a couple of hikes under our belt for the day.
Every corner of Pinnacles National Park is gorgeous.
The weather changes very quickly.
Are you rolling your eyes at this one? I know, I know, this is a common warning for people who are just leaving their sofa to venture into the great outdoors for the first time. However, it doesn’t make it any less true or something to take lightly. We experienced dramatic changes in temperature, precipitation, and sun exposure within several hours, so if you’re someone who likes to be comfortable (also me), you’ll want the following:
sunscreen
sunglasses
water
snacks
water shoes
extra socks
layers of clothing
a light parka
Hiking between the enormous boulders will add an extra air of adventure to your visit to Pinnacles National Park.
Pinnacles National Park: Know Before You Go
Pinnacles National Park is absolutely stunning.
Pinnacles National Park is one of our nation’s smallest National Parks, but don’t let that fool you: it is gorgeous. Towering rocky outcroppings, unique caves, lush foliage, babbling streams, and panoramic views fill every nook and cranny of the 26,686 acres. Be sure to pack your camera for a selfie under the precariously positioned boulders!
There are lots of rock climbing opportunities.
I am absolutely not a rock climber, but I have to imagine the climbing routes in the designated areas at Pinnacles National Park are an absolute climber’s paradise. Do your research and pick a path that’s appropriate for your level of experience and training.
There are limited lodging options in Pinnacles National Park.
Unlike Yellowstone, which offers tons of lodging and one of my favorite National Park lodges, Pinnacles National Park does not offer hotels or lodges. You can tent and RV camp, however, or rent one of the “tent cabins” - a canvas-sided glamping cabin.
If you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you know I love a good glamping experience. Unfortunately, with this being a work trip, it was one thing too many to deal with bringing our own lines for the tent cabin experience. Next time!
Another view of Pinnacles National Park.
Caves are open seasonally.
The caves at Pinnacles National Park are home to endangered bats, including Townsend’s big-eared bats, and they close for pupping season so that the bats can raise their young in peace. You can check the status of the caves here.
The entrance fee is waived on certain dates.
Are you chasing epic adventures on a tiny budget? Been there, done that. Pinnacles National Park waives the entrance fee on specific dates, so it’s worth checking out their website as you plan your trip.
There’s little to no cell service in Pinnacles National Park.
This wasn’t shocking to me, but this isn’t my first time in a National Park - though you might think so, given my failures to read the “Transportation” page of the website. Lean into the joy of getting away from it all, but maybe let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
Additionally, I always recommend downloading trail maps for your hikes on AllTrails prior to heading out into the wilderness.
Parking can be in high demand during peak season.
The park gets crowded during peak season.
This is one of the things we actually did right: we visited Pinnacles National Park before the seasons turned, and we arrived early on a weekday for our adventure.
Per the park website,
“Pinnacles experiences extremely high visitation on weekends, holidays, and throughout the spring and anytime weather conditions are favorable. Expect long lines and delays getting into the park between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Visitors hiking the High Peaks, Condor Gulch, Balconies, or Moses Spring trail should arrive before 8:00am (This is just an estimate. Parking may fill earlier).”
“Unlike many national parks, Pinnacles is most popular in the cooler months. During the spring, when the grasses are green, and a variety of wildflowers can be seen along any trail, hiking is at its best. Fall and winter are also excellent times to visit.”
Bring an extra water bottle.
When in doubt, hydrate. It can apparently reach positively roasting temperatures at Pinnacles National Park in the summer, so plan accordingly… and visit in the cooler seasons. You’d also do well to bring a Camelbak-style water option. They’re so easy to hike with, and you can bring so much more water that way.
You’ll definitely want your camera and probably binoculars as well.
Somehow we always forget our binoculars whenever we head out to someplace with the best views, and I really wish we’d thought to bring ours. You’ll enjoy the long-range views so much more, and a night vision function would either be really fun or really terrifying in the caves.
Have you been to Pinnacles National Park? What are your favorite things to do in Pinnacles National Park? Drop your favorite hikes, activities, and lodging options in the comments below!
