Best Hike in Pinnacles National Park: How to Make The Most Of Your Day Trip

I don’t know if you have heard or read this online before, but we have seen folks say that Pinnacles National Park isn’t worth visiting. What?! We think otherwise! Yes, maybe it’s not as grand as Yosemite National Park, but it still deserves to be on the list.

The best hike in Pinnacles National Park is the Balconies Cave and High Peaks Loop. Spend your day here enjoying the scenery! If you are looking for more fun, learn more about our 16-day California itinerary here.

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Need to Know Info

• Pinnacles National Park is a fee site, so you will need to pay for entry. Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.
• Get here as early as you can because the summertime heat can be absolutely brutal.
• When we arrived around 8 am, there were plenty of parking spaces. Spots were also available when we left after our hike.
• There is a Visitor Center just before the trailhead, and there are additional restrooms at the trailhead location with running water.
• Roads do not go through the park! The West entrance is close to Salinas, while the East entrance is near…well, nothing really! The closest large town is Hollister. Start your hike at the West entrance.
• Bring a headlamp or flashlight so you can make your way through the cave.

Weather and Safety in Pinnacles National Park

• Cell phone coverage is not good here. You may not have service.
• It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Ditch those water bottles and carry a water bladder!
• Make a plan to tell at least one person where you plan to be on each day in case something happens. Doing so may help in a rescue situation if you are unable to get help or find cell service.
• Let’s face it – it will likely be hot! If you visit in the summer, prepare for extreme heat and plan accordingly. Be aware of heat-related illness. Additionally, fire danger grows as the summer progresses.
• The sun and UV index can be intense in California, so apply plenty of sunscreen!
• Poison Oak is present. Familiarize yourself with what this plant looks like, so you don’t ruin the rest of your vacation.

Animal Safety in Pinnacles National Park

There are many animals present, including bats, mountain lions, California Condors, deer, bobcats, raccoons, and snakes, including the western rattlesnake.

This is one of the best places to see the California Condor. California condors are the largest land birds in North America, and it’s said that they can live up to 60 years! Learn more about California Condors here!

Best Hike In Pinnacles National Park: Balconies Cave and High Peaks Loop

The best hike in Pinnacles National Park will take you on an adventure through a dark cave, up a mountain ridge, and to the high peaks. This hike is a 9-mile loop with an elevation gain of 1,700 feet and change. It’s fairly strenuous and can get very steep in certain spots.

Begin Your Hike

As mentioned before, start your hike at the West entrance of Pinnacles National Park in the Chapparal parking area. Begin your journey by heading north (turning right) at the junction of the Balconies Trail just past the trailhead. This will lead you to Balconies Cave first. Hike on this trail for about 1 mile, and you will reach the boulder section.

If you turn left before this, it’s the wrong way, and you will bypass the caves via the Balconies Cliff Trail. That being said, if you are afraid of caves, this other route is for you!

When you are at the boulder section, it’s so wild to hike under the massive boulders that have fallen and are leaning up against the cliff walls. It almost feels as if one could roll away. Eventually, you’ll reach the Balconies Cave entrance just after this point.

Balconies Cave

There it is! The seemingly tiny entrance to Balconies Cave. It really looks like you’re going spelunking now.

At this point, get your headlamps or flashlights ready, because it’s going to get dark. As you descend into the cave, watch your footing here as you’ll need to keep climbing down to reach the bottom of the cave.

As you continue to explore, your eyes will adjust, and you’ll begin to see the light again as you reach the other entrance to the cave. Head out through the gate in the rocks and continue your hike. Keep in mind that when water levels are high, Balconies Cave might be closed, or you’ll need to get wet to explore this area.

If the cave is closed, backtrack to the Balconies Cliff Trail and use that as a bypass.

Head Toward the Old Pinnacles Trail Parking Area

The next section of the trail that leads you to the Old Pinnacles Trail Parking area is very flat and enjoyable. Enjoy the lack of elevation gain here and get hydrated because the inclines are coming!

This section of the trail crosses a few riverbeds and has plenty of Poison Oak along the sides of the trail, so be very careful. This section of the hike is about 2 miles. Once you reach the junction, take the Bench Trail straight ahead. Eventually, you will reach the Blue Oak Trail on your right – turn here.

➡️ Read next: How to take a Spectacular Channel Islands Day Trip: How to Explore Anacapa Island

Blue Oak Trail

Get those lungs working and those legs burning because it’s time to climb! This section of the trail is probably the hardest and features every hiker’s favorite – switchbacks. As you climb the dusty, dry trail, be sure to drink water and make plenty of stops along the way.

The views behind you while you are climbing the mountain are amazing! There is very little shade on this part of the trail, but keep your eyes peeled for the California Condor. After about 2 miles along this trail, you’ll reach the High Peaks Trail. Here, continue straight ahead.

High Peaks Trail

Continue on this trail, and eventually, you’ll reach a junction with the Tunnel Trail on the right. If you want to bypass the most fun part of the High Peaks Trail, take the Tunnel Trail and link up with the Juniper Canyon Trail to return to the Chapparal Parking Lot where your car is located.

We highly recommend staying on the High Peaks Trail! This part of the trail is really fun, and you’ll have to climb up some very steep and rocky sections with handrails and guardrails along the way. This section of the trail offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. Enjoy the views here and take your time on the steeper section of this trail.

If you need a restroom stop, you are in luck! The Scout Peak Pit Toilet is located at the end of the trail. This one, let’s be honest, was very, very stinky! But aren’t all pit toilets like this in the wilderness areas of our parks?

Finally, link up with the Juniper Canyon Trail and hike back down the switchbacks to the Chapparal Parking area/West entrance. This is about a 2-mile trek. Congratulations on finishing the best hike in Pinnacles National Park!

Where to Stay

Depending on where you plan to stay in preparation for visiting Pinnacles National Park, we recommend staying in Monterey or Salinas, CA. Check out some options below:

• Monterey Bay Inn – ocean views on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary & breakfast included!
• Hotel Abrego – enjoy a night in a Craftsman-style inspired guestroom in Monterey.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Salinas – can you go wrong with free breakfast? Nah!
• Best Western Salinas Monterey Hotel – a classic Best Western with breakfast included in Salinas.

Final Thoughts

This adventure sealed the deal for us as the best hike in Pinnacles National Park. The Balconies Cave and High Peaks Loop will give you the best of both worlds, including caves and high peaks. If you have one day to spend here, this is the perfect trail to complete to check this great national park off your list!

This seems to be a less-visited park, so parking was a non-issue for us here, which was a welcome surprise compared to some of the other national parks. After this hike, drive 4 hours to Ventura in preparation for your visit to Channel Islands National Park.

🛏️ If you are still looking for lodging near Pinnacles National Park, book a stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Salinas.