Category: | National Park |
Address: | California 95043, USA |
Phone: | +1 831-389-4485 |
Site: | nps.gov |
Rating: | 4.6 |
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Sophia Yuen
To be honest, I was really skeptical of wanting to come hike here as I saw some pictures of snakes on Yelp and it freaked me out as I’m super afraid of snakes. I’m glad I took the chance and still came here though as I think this might be one of my favorite hiking places! Protip: Come early for parking. There is also overflow parking which is close to the visitor center, but you need to take a shuttle to the start of the trails (it comes every 20 minutes). We got there around 10am on a Saturday morning and we had to park in overflow. We initially wanted to do an easier hike (check their website for trails and levels), but decided that since we drove all the way (all of 1.5 hours, haha) that we should just go for it and hike the longer for scenic trails. We decided on the high peaks trail which was a total of about 6 miles and to our surprise, it went by faster than we thought. Another protip: grab a map! And be careful because the trail names on the map do not always match the markers on the actual trail. We went through the caves which were pretty cool. We wish there was more though! People say to bring a headlamp, but I felt that it was fine if you didn’t have one if you’re hiking in the day as a lot of natural light shines through and there’s a lot of people so you’ll be able to figure out where you are. Then we passed by a stream which was really nice and that giant rock that everyone takes a picture with that they pretend to hold up. There are a lot of stairs involved but you’ll soon reach a really pretty reservoir, which is nice to take a break at or just look at. The rest of the trail is pretty much all uphill until it loops back down. We were just amazed at all the rock formations and the scenery. Towards the top, it gets “steep and narrow” and there are poles that you use to help guide you up. Come back down was a bit easier as you just follow the trial. Overall, we were surprised that the hike wasn’t as strenuous and we thought it was going to be. It had a good variety of areas to walk and explore and the scenery is beautiful!
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Mihir Meghani
My wife & discovered this national park just a few weeks ago while scouring Google Maps! An unsung hero locally, we loved our 3 day visit here. We spend a night in Soledad & one night in Salinas. We hiked 2 days from the west entrance side & one day from the east entrance side. We found the lack of major crowds appealing, and the rustic feel of the area, as opposed to the touristy feel of Yosemite and Yellowstone. We did the Balconies Cave trail from Chaparral one afternoon. The next day we went from Chaparral to the High Peaks. The 3rd day day from the other side of the park we did the Bear Gulch cave & reservoir. We took lots of water & our own food. We purchased trail guides from the visitors centers as well. The caves & rock formations are nice. We went from March 10-12 & wild flowers were not in full bloom, yet but we saw enough nature that we were satisfied & felt physically good.
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Jairo Lopez
I have been going to Pinnacles National Park for over 15 years. It is a beautiful park with amazing views. There is a lot to do. My greatest recommendation is to visit this park in different seasons of the year. The view changes based on the season of the year. This winter has been a really wet season; therefore, if you are visiting the Bear Gulch caves carry water proof shoes; there will be water up to the ankles. When it is not raining, the weather is pleasant, which allows one to hike with less heat. During the summer, it can get really hot; therefore, carry plenty of water to prevent dehydration. The weather tends to be in the upper 90s. Places to visit include: Bear Gulch Caves, High Peaks, the Reservoir, and the East Side Caves. You will be captivated by the amazing views.
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J Chien
To take some time to go to the supermarket to buy dry food and water, ready to use climbing afternoon. After lunch we should rush Spirestone National Park (Pinnacles National Park), from camel over the last 1 hour and took about four hours in this park hill climb some rocks. This night stay in Soledad. Spirestone National Park recently been certified to a large number of needle-shaped stone named after the hiking trails here is pretty good.
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Russ Man
An amazing location with geographic, geologic and natural beauty accessible to many! Hiking, biking, walking, camping and more are all on the list of this park. The newest jewel(2013) in the crown that is or national park system. A highlight was doing a 7 mile night hike to high peaks and two caves with an unfettered view of the night sky in a way most humans have beer never seen. Zero light pollution. During our Scout Troop campout we stayed in a group camp site in September 2017. No fire allowed due to extreme fire conditions, bring propane, butane or white gas stoves to cook on.
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Luz Garcia
A wonderful esperiencia visit this place. Too bad when we went had a closed area and we could not know the whole place. I hope if I go to find information about whether they have everything available for visitors to visit their web site.
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Christopher Ching
Great caves to explore. Bear Gulch Cave is a must see when visiting. The High Peaks are worth the views as well. Just be ready for a moderate-strenuous uphill hike. It does get crowded during the weekends so be prepared to park in the parking lot and take a shuttle to the trailheads. However, my friends and I did wonder why it was so popular because its views were not as good as those in Yosemite, BUT it is so close and well worth the time it takes to visit the place.
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Japan The Real Far East
Here it is wonderful. It seems terrain made by past volcanic activity. There was also a cave, but it seems to be a thing became a cavity in the erosion of the water rather than the limestone cave. Early days it would like from becoming a national park. It is quite possible day trip by car from San Francisco.
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Kay Weber
This small park is a well hidden secret. The hikes are moderate and beautiful, the scenery surprisingly dramatic. Huge cliffs and large rock formations are breathtaking, the Balconies Cave is dark, narrow and in part quite adventures. There you even need a flashlight or a phone search light to find your way. Back in daylight the colors of trees and rocks are even more vibrant. A great nature experience!
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Mary Uebersax
Western entrance provides excellent access from 101. Having a Park Pass makes this trick easy and rewarding from SLO County for a natural escape, diversity of landscape and exhilarating hike. The park staff are excellent guides and knowledgeable on the history of the Park and the animals, including the protected Condors, that inhabit the surrounding parks. Visiting the Park provides blessings year round.
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Franck Murialdo
Worth spending two/three days exploring the various trails. We went in the fall, the day time hiking conditions were perfect while it was obviously quite cold at night. We had a great campground on the back loop. Plan on taking the shuttle to go the main trailheads at Bear Gulch, limited parking there, it fills up right away even at low season. There are a bunch of rock climbing spots along the trails.
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Val Perez
Some 23 million years ago multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed, and slid to form what would become Pinnacles National Park. What remains is a unique landscape. Travelers journey through chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon bottoms. Hikers enter rare talus caves and emerge to towering rock spires teeming with life: prairie and peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and the inspiring California condor.
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Lobos Docent
One of the newest National Parks, off the beaten path, hidden in Central California. The rock formations are the attraction and the hiking can be difficult, if not especially strenuous. Quite warm in the summer months, go now in April while the wildflowers are still in bloom. Rock climbing is allowed in many areas and the Condors are hovering on warm days. Worth the effort to get there.
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Sandeep Kundra
Really good national park, camp in the park if you can. Really hot in the summer. If you go for a hike in the summer, need a lot of water, at least one liter per person per hour in the summer. It was 99 degrees air temperature, 109 degrees ground temperature, be careful. Also many animals, keep your distance, the raccoons are especially bold, one tried to grab food from our table.
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江野裕太
National Park just a short day trip from Silicon Valley. Stop on the west side of the parking lot, trekking about 1 lap one and a half hours. Scale of such as, but is the smallest national park in the United States Oiwa is large, I enjoyed very.
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Jeff Downing
Anytime you get to go to a National Park, do it. This one is the closest to the SF Bay and does not seem like it will be much as you drive in. However, once you get out of the car and start on a trail, you are met with surprise and amazement at the geological features that transport you to a Disney ride. Lots of well marked trails, caves, and rock climbing.
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APRIL THOMISON
Rugged and rocky, this place has picturesque hiking with trails that are well maintained. If you have the time and energy to hike up, there are spectacular views from the summit. Camping down near the park entrance is pretty typical- fire pits and flat spots for tents. Clean bathrooms with flushing toilets. Rangers are informative and helpful.
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saranya krishnan
Wonderful national Park to visit in spring and winter offering lots of activities including hiking, climbing and 2 talus caves too. Park wildlife is unique. Camp sites, especially in loop C are almost like private sites, since there are bushes separating each sites. Lots of space to pitch tents and enjoy a nice evening in the park.
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Brandon Jernigan
Love the hiking and views here. The east side is a little harder to get to but has better caves and more hiking options then the west. The high peaks trail is one of my favorites but is not for the faint of heart! For a longer day trip the hike to Chalone Peak offers fantastic views of the Salinas valley.
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Yi Tam
Beautiful park. The bear gulch cave is very cool and kids friendly. The reservoir is beautiful too. However, other than the cave, most of the trails is very expose and very hot out there. Bring at least 1 liter of water per hour if you plan to hike during this summer time.
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Steven dosRemedios
Enter from the west side (Salinas) and take Tunnel Trail from the Chaparral Trail to the summit overlook for expansive views and a chance to see condors soaring on thermal breezes. Bring LOTS of water, even in winter. Trails are in very good condition and are well marked.
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Eric Swanson
I remember back when this place was just a National Monument....so glad it got promoted to Park status! Awesome hikes that take you through scrub forest, rock spires, and even caves. Some "good" climbing in the area, if you like climbing on at-times loose conglomerate.
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Stephen Starr
This was a great, close detour from the highway. The caves were much more interesting than I thought they would be. Note- you really do need a flashlight. Phone flashlight will work- you only need the light for 5 minutes, but there is a section that is pitch dark.
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Luke S
Holy smokes this place is amazing. You can hike down into the cavern, but you will need a flashlight. The water is freezing cold too. Bring a change of shoes or be prepared to walk barefoot. The views are gorgeous and you can go rock climbing or have a picnic.
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Daniel Alvarez
Camping was a good expirence. Not being able to have a fire killed it tough. But safety first. Got to here every animal in the park at night, not sure what animals were the ones that were walking next to the tent. Recommend camping only to the adventurous.
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Eugene Alexeev
Great place to camp and hike. It gets hot during the summer. At night there is no light pollution and if the sky is clear, hours can be spent just looking. Lots of photo opportunities -- an almost alien landscape with a unique and interesting history.
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Chad Reynolds
A very cool park with great views and hikes for all fitness levels. Just be aware no dogs are allowed on the trails! There are caves you can hike through on some trails and a dog would have trouble doing some of the very moderate climbing inside them.
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Emmanuel Valenciano
Did the 9 mile or so loop starting from the west entrance, and was able to explore both the caves and saw the reservoir. The hike was easy at first but by the time I got to the High peaks trail it got harder, since the climb up had barely any shade.
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wolf zinke
Out of the void of the dry grassland of California you get into the youngest national park. It is a nice scenery and has some interesting, partly a bit challenging trails. Park personal was very friendly and helpful, the park itself was fun to hike.