Our thoughts on Pinnacles National Park? The underrated gem of California. If you haven’t heard much about this park, don’t fret. Here are our post-trip tips for anyone looking to make this park properly rated.
Start at the East Entrance and get there early, around 8 AM. If you go late, you will have to wait in a long line for parking. They only allow a certain number of people in the lot and space is limited.
It is very important to distinguish between a condor and a vulture. A vulture sways when it flies and has a slight V shape in the wings. There’s also white on the bottom part of its tail feathers. A condor has white on the top of its feathers and is much larger, with a wingspan of up to 9.5 feet. We identified around 50 condors before realizing they were all vultures. Still looking for the elusive condor to this day.
Bring waterproof shoes or two pairs of shoes. Your feet will get wet if you’re lucky enough to explore the caves when there is water flowing.
It’s worth it to just spend the $40 at the Pinnacles National Park campsite. We tried Laguna Mountain campsite, and we were only offered a spot due to the graciousness of the Santa Cruz camping population. Do not trust the astronomy teams that camp there, they hoarded multiple first-come first-serve sites.
Do the Balconies Cave Trail or the Bear Gulch Nature Trail as your last hike of the day. Your shoes will get wet and you will not want to hike High Peaks Trail with soaking-wet boots.
Every sign in this park is absolutely minuscule. I think they want you to take the road less traveled. Factor two hours of each day for getting lost and taking wrong turns.
The park can be split between two days. Start at the West Entrance one day (recommended for the second day) and do the High Peaks Trail and the Balconies Cave Trail. That will give you the best of both worlds (mountains and caves). The next day do the East side and hit up the Bear Gulch Nature Trail.
Comments