california

Nov

2024

Camping Near Pinnacles National Park

Escape to Pinnacles National Park, where towering rock formations and star-filled skies await (maybe even a few California Condor sightings). Sleep within this unique landscape with the best options for camping near Pinnacles National Park.

Whether you choose the park’s campground or venture to nearby BLM land, remember to tread lightly and leave no trace. This guide will help you plan an unforgettable camping adventure while minimizing your impact. So grab your gear, embrace the Leave No Trace ethos, and discover the magic of Pinnacles National Park.

Check out the best hiking trails in Pinnacles National Park, so you can see everything waiting in this unique landscape!

My experience Camping near Pinnacles National Park

We drove down to Pinnacles National Park from Sacramento and planned to spend the night.

We left the city in the mid-morning and arrived at the East Entrance around 11:00am. There was an extremely long line that we had to wait at the gate, further limiting our time in the park. Once we got in, we decided to explore the east side, and then drive up and around the park to the west entrance to car camp.

We thought we might just be able to car camp at the NP or in Pinnacles Campground, but with only 130 sites and it being mid-spring, those spots were all booked (even though we went mid-week!).

We hiked the Old Pinnacles trail to see more remote corners of the park. We saw a really beautiful owl, some birds (not condors), and didn’t run into anyone on the trail!

For sleeping, we decided to drive the 1.5 hours around to Soledad, grabbed some Taco Bell, and then camped on the side of the road on 45. Since we car camp, we had more options, but I wouldn’t recommend this spot again. Leaving Soledad southwest towards the park, there is a spot on iOverlander, it’s very descriptly called the “Roadside Parking”.

On the bright side, this spot put us really close to the Western Entrance on Day 2, where we did much more hiking, saw the condors, crawled through caves, and did some star gazing.

Pinnacles Campground

Pinnacles Campground is the place to be to stay closest to the heart of the park. This is the only campground within the park boundaries! The campground has over 130 sites for tents, RV’s with 30-amp hookups, and a few group sites! Plus, some glamping cabins for the fancy. At the campground, you’ll find flush toilets, drinking water, and hot showers. Plus, there is a camp store on the property with extra s’more supplies, firewood, and cheesy magnets to remember your trip to Pinnacles. Price: Tent ($23/night) / RV ($33/night) / Group Site ($55/night). Dogs: allowed in the campgrounds on a 6-foot leash, not allowed in the NP. Fires: Allowed in designated fire rings, subject to seasonal restrictions. Fires are typically restricted by July due to wildfire risk. Internet coverage: pretty spotty, especially if you have AT&T. Reservations: Should be made in advance, especially in the summer which fills up pretty early, and must be made on Recreation.gov.

Local HipCamps

HipCamp can be a lifesaver when camping somewhere new – it’s the AirBnB for camping. The site allows land owners to list their yard space, yurt, RV, or actual text sites on HipCamp. There are more unique options, and you won’t have so many neighbors.

Since Pinnacles National Park doesn’t have much nature around it, it’s mostly small towns and highways, HipCamp is a perfect way to still camp without the perfect setting. Even up near Monterey (1.5 hours away from Pinnacles), there are beautiful Yurts, treehouse camping, and more!

Check HipCamp for campsites near Pinnacles National Park that fit exactly what you’re looking for!

Apps available for: iOS and Google

HipCamp is one of many apps I use to find the best places to stay, things to see, and to stay connected. Check out the full list of Essential Travel Apps!

Wild Camping Near Pinnacles National Park

Wild Camping is my favorite way to explore the landscape of California. Over 15% of CA’s land area is designated as BLM Land – land that is owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and in general, free to be used for dispersed camping.

Near Pinnacles, there are 2 BLM areas that are generally close, and a great place to camp out under the stars.

Laguna Mountain BLM Recreation Area

This area is about a 50-minute drive, southeast of the NP near Hernandez Reservoir. Here, you’ll find rolling hills, oak woodlands, and abundant canyons – perfect for hiking, stargazing, and being pretty far from any major roads.

I have not been to this area, but it is free with limited restrictions. There are 2 designated camping areas, one fits about 4 sites, and the other holds 5-6 sites. There are picnic tables, fire rings for use, and a vault toilet!

The road getting in is paved, but the consistent heat and windy route has made it more of a journey. The sites are next to a creek which runs with cool refreshing water seasonally.

Google Maps Laguna Mountain BLM Recreation Area

If for some reason Laguna Mountain BLM area doesn't work, there is another area about 25 minutes further south! It's called Condon Peak BLM Rec. Area.

Wild Camping Etiquette

Leave No Trace

When exploring in the backcountry, be sure to pack out all trash, litter, and toilet paper. Don’t start fires where not allowed (in California, this is pretty much everywhere), and don’t disrupt nature! Leave No Trace means NO TRACE – don’t drive over plantlife, don’t disrupt the lives of animals, and don’t take anything out that you didn’t bring in.

When Nature Calls

Even in the backcountry, nature calls! Pack out all sanitary items, toilet paper, and everything else that is not natural. And for what is natural, bury it! When it’s time for business, find a spot that’s over 200 feet away from water and dig a hole about 6-8 inches deep, and a few inches in diameter.

Check Restrictions

BLM land – while great for wild camping – can also have some restrictions to know. Check the area for any restrictions for sensitive habitat, animal migration or mating, and fire risk and restrictions.

Be Prepared

Don’t be “that guy” that went camping with no water, too much shitty beer, and plans to “catch your dinner”… your negligence will end up as work for someone else. Bring plenty of water or a filtration device, food, and some recovery gear! BLM land is full of surprises, and burying yourself in some clay or sand isn’t off the table.

Summary - Camping Near Pinnacles National Park

This National Park isn’t like neighboring Yosemite or Sequoia, where there is thousands of acres of woodlands around. It’s in the central valley, between a few small towns that are stop-offs on I-5. Camping is sparse, but what is available has beautiful open skies, desert wildlife, and unique rock formations.

Camping at Pinnacles campground is ideal, but I always prefer to be in the wild further away from people. If you can spare the time to head to Laguna Mountain BLM land, it’s probably worth it! However, I also think the Western entrance is better than the East, and camping is very limited on the west.

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2024

3 Best Hikes in Pinnacles National Park

I feel that Pinnacles National Park is the most unrelated NP in all of the US. The unique rock formations, the caves create by boulders giving you an intense perspective of scale, the protected breeding grounds of squeaky bats, and of course, the California Condors. Luckily, these 3 best hikes in Pinnacles National Park allow you to see it all.

In 2021 I got to witness condors take flight at sunset, and it will forever be a core memory of mine. I witnessed them mating, saw their nesting sites, and felt hope for our conservation efforts as a country.

3 Best Hikes in Pinnacles National Park

Choosing the best hikes in Pinnacles National Park for you all comes down to what you want to see the most. There are the high peaks where Endangered California Condors nest, the flowing Balconies Cave, and Bear Gulch Cave and the resident bats.. not to mention such unique geology throughout it all.

Your hiking trails are determined by where you park your car. Since the hiking trails are essentially 3 big loops, you can create the perfect route for you that considers your starting location.

1. Condor Gulch & High Peaks

Starting: Bear Gulch Day Use Area (East)
Condor Gulch Trail
5.6 miles / 3.5 hours / moderate

Starting: Chaparral Picnic Area (West)
Juniper Canyon Trail
8.4 miles / 5 hours / difficult

What you’ll see:
– Maybe condors (evening, in high peaks)
– A lot of people
– Overlooks

The name of the area says it all – if I planned a perfect experience for you with hikes at Pinnacles National Park, it would be here, just before sunset, on a cool summer night. This is the busiest and most central location in Pinnacles, so you can expect to see a good amount of people. Parking runs low at Bear Gulch Day Use Parking, so plan to arrive early!!

Add just 0.4 miles onto the Condor Gulch Loop to see Bear Gulch Cave and Moses Spring... and maybe some rare endanged bats?

2. Balconies Cave

Starting: Chaparral Trailhead (West)
Balconies Cave Trail
2.6 miles / 1.5 hour / moderate

Starting: Old Pinnacles Trailhead (East)
Old Pinnacles Trail
5.3 miles / 2.5 hours / moderate

What you’ll see:
– Bats in the Cave
– Water flowing in the spring
– Hopefully an open gate
– East entrance: very few people

Balconies Cave is a really unique feature at Pinnacles NP, especially for the rock nerds and geologists (aka extreme rock nerds). The features are immense, the balancing and wedging of some boulders are unsettling – especially when they’re overhead – and the darkness adds an element of intensity.

Hiking through the caves can require some crawling, crouching, climbing, and general maneuvering to move through. That’s why it’s so fun – because you have to get into it, and it isn’t a simple walk through the park.

Water levels can get knee-deep in the spring, and can pose a risk. The gate may be locked during unsafe conditions, but prepared to get your feet wet! Check park closures on the official NPS website.

3. Bear Gulch Cave

Starting: Bear Gulch Day Use Area (East)
2.0 miles / 1.5 hours / easy
Moses Spring and Rim Trail Loop Map

What you’ll see:
– endangered bats
– fresh water spring
– unique cavernous rocks
– many people
– a chill spot to swim in the reservoir!

Bear Gulch Cave is pretty easy to access, with parking close (and toilets), and well paved trails leading down through the cave, to the reservoir. The cave is cool because well, caves are cool in general, but, this one is special thanks to the roosting of big-eared Townsend Bats. From the Bear Gulch Cave, you should take the Rim Trail to get spectacular views, and a killer calf workout. This trail connects back with the

This is the largest maternal colony between San Francisco and Mexico, and was only discovered in 1997! Of the 23 species of bat in California, 14 of them live in Pinnacles NP. I wonder who else is occupying the park, still undiscovered…

To conserve this bat colony's breeding schedule: The entire cave is CLOSED mid-May through mid-July. The entire cave may be OPEN the last week of March. If the cave is closed, you may still access the reservoir by trails above the cave system.

BONUS: Pinnacles Greatest Hits Loop

Starting: Anywhere
Pinnacles Greatest Hits Loop Map
12.8 miles / 7+ hours / difficult

If you only have one day, aren’t afraid of getting after it, and want to see what this park has to offer – this trail is for you. It’s no joke, especially under the hot sun, carrying all of your food and water, but damn it will be worth it.

You don’t have to leave any stone left unturned, and can go from wherever you pull in! Get there early, and enjoy the views!

Conservation & Preservation at Pinnacles NP

Pinnacles National Park plays a crucial role in the ongoing recovery of the California Condor. These birds (with their impressive 9.5 foot wingspans) were once on the brink of extinction. In the 1980s, only 22 individuals remained in the wild. Thankfully, a captive breeding program and intensive conservation efforts have helped bring them back from the edge, with now more than 600 California Condors in the wild.

Pinnacles National Park is one of the few places where you can witness these majestic birds soaring through the sky. The park’s rugged cliffs and diverse landscape provide ideal habitat for condors, and its location within the condors’ historic range makes it a vital part of their recovery.

Captive Breeding: Pinnacles works with other organizations to breed condors in captivity and release them into the wild. This has been instrumental in increasing the condor population.
Habitat Restoration: The park is restoring and protecting condor habitat by removing invasive species, reducing human disturbance, and monitoring nesting sites.
Lead Poisoning Prevention: A major threat to condors is lead poisoning, which they can get from ingesting bullet fragments in animal carcasses. Pinnacles is working to educate hunters about the use of non-lead ammunition and provides a safe food source for condors through a feeding program.
Research and Monitoring: Scientists at Pinnacles track condor movements, monitor their health, and study their behavior to better understand their needs and protect them.

With binoculars you can see the tag color and number attached to each bird (check the wings). Record who you saw, and then check out their history with this database! See each birds’ age, sex, partner, parents, hatchlings, and where they were bred and released.

California Condor Database

Logistics before you go to Pinnacles NP

Two Entrance Locations: Know which entrance you want to go to based on your planned hikes at Pinnacles National Park. They are on opposite sides of the park, and 1.5 hours to drive between them. Many hikes start at Bear Gulch Day Use Area on the East side.
Entrance Cost: It costs $30 to enter/vehicle, or for just $80 you can get the Keep America Beautiful and access state and national parks – unlimited!
Accommodation: Campsites are available at Pinnacles Campground, North of the park, in nearby BLM land or car camping spots outside of Soledad. Click the link below for a full guide to camping near Pinnacles!
If you’re interested in Condor Conservation, swing by the visitor’s center to learn before you explore!

Check out a full guide to the best camping near Pinnacles National Park.

What to Bring to Pinnacles NP

Headlamp – if you’re going in the caves – you’ll want your hands free to traverse boulders
More than enough water – It is dry, hot, and these hikes look much smaller than they are. Constant elevation change will have you sweating bullets, don’t put yourself at risk!
Sun protection – The sun is HOT on this red rock
Good Footwear – The hikes here look short and pretty easy, but you’re often traversing boulders, loose gravel, and steep steps up or down. Dress well!
A warm jacket – no matter how hot it is all day, you’ll want to stay late to see them as much as possible.
Binoculars – If condors are your thing (if they’re not yet, they will be), be binoculars to see the number tagged on each bird and get to know them 🙂

Summary - 3 Best Hikes at Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park is the most underrated park in California (IMO). The conservation successes, unique rock structures, and central location makes it an ideal destination. The hikes at Pinnacles National Park are very doable, stunning, and can all be done in a day (2 days would be best)!

Which trail are you most excited to hike at this park?

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Camping Near Pinnacles National Park

Table of Contents

My experience Camping near Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles Campground

Local HipCamps