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Pinnacles, Muir Woods, and the Grand Canyon were all set aside as national monuments in the span of seven days in January 1908 by Teddy Roosevelt.

Pinnacles National Monument began as a volcano that first erupted about 195 miles south of its present location. It has traveled northward along the San Andreas Fault, and currently moves at a rate of about 2 – 3 centimeters per year.

The night sky is vital to many plants and animals that call Pinnacles home and it holds many meanings for many cultures. An unpolluted night sky is especially valuable to humans wishing to experience natural darkness, shooting stars, or the Milky Way.

The monument is open for day use every day of the year. The east side of the monument is open 24 hours a day for hiking. An automatic gate at the west entrance of the monument opens each morning at 7:30 and closes each night at 8:00 pm. Park visitors will be able to leave the park after the gate is closed, but cars will not be able to enter. This will allow for late hiking and climbing. Please remember that camping is not allowed on the west side of the park. Upon arrival at the park, please check in at an entrance station, visitor center, or ranger station to get a receipt for the windshield of your vehicle. The monument’s visitor center was relocated to the entrance of the campground, in the building that was the campground store. If you’d like trip planning information, rangers will be available in the new visitor center. The historic visitor center will now be called Bear Gulch Nature Center, and will be open whenever staffing is available. The relief map, seismograph, and other exhibits will remain there. A new contact station is in the works for the west side of the park, but is still years away from completion. The visitor contact centers and restrooms on both the east and west sides of the monument are fully ADA accessible. Parking areas have marked handicap spaces convenient to facilities. Picnic areas can be wheelchair accessed with assistance.

The green rock that the Bear Gulch Visitor Center is made from is pumice lapilli tuff that was quarried from within the monument, but until recently, no one knew what gives it its green color. In 2002, samples of the rock were analyzed and found to contain glauconite, a green mineral that is known to occur in marine environments where sediment is deposited along a continental shelf.

From the first settlers of Bear Valley and a group of World War I Veterans to several different government agencies, Pinnacles has had early, continuous and prudent protection for over a century. The result is a glimpse into an ecological island relatively undisturbed and unencumbered by current land use practices, commercial development, and invasive plants and animals.

Anthropologists believe Pinnacles was intermittently occupied by small groups of Native Americans. Evidence in the form of arrowheads and acorn grinding stones has been discovered within the Monument. Native Americans called Costanoans (a word derived from Spanish for “people of the coast”) inhabited western central California. Two local subgroups of the Costanoans, the Chalone and Mutsun, visited Pinnacles. Subgroup populations ranged between 50 and 500 people. The Chalone lived west of Pinnacles in the Salinas River valley and the Mutsun lived to the north and east in the San Juan Bautista area and along the San Benito River.

Because Pinnacles gets extremely hot (temperatures over 100 degrees F) and dry during the summer months, the Chalone and Mutsun likely did not live at Pinnacles year-round. They probably came and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather, rebuilding their brush huts, weaving baskets using the strong leaves from the Santa Barbara sedge that grows in the Bear and Chalone Creek stream beds and gathering grass seeds, leafy parts of plants and plant bulbs. They returned in the fall to gather acorns.

Acorns were a major food source for the Chalone and Mutsun. After gathering and transporting the acorns in baskets and then drying them in the sun, some were then ground into meal and the rest then stored in granaries. Rabbits were hunted for food and the skins were cut into strips and woven into blankets and capes. Deer, elk, antelope, and possibly fish from the Salinas Valley were also major food sources.

The Spanish had a dramatic impact on the Native Americans who frequented Pinnacles. They traveled into California from Mexico and eventually established 21 religious missions between 1769 and 1823, stretching from San Diego to Sonoma. The mission closest to Pinnacles was built in Soledad in 1791. The Chalone Indians lived in the area east of Soledad Mission — close to what is now the western side of Pinnacles National Monument.

Willingly or not, many of the Chalone and Mutsun people became neophytes (baptized mission workers); however, the mission way of life was devastating to Indian people. A combination of diseases brought by the Spaniards and harsh changes to their way of life killed many Chalone and Mutsun people, and damaged their cultures. In 1770 the Indian population in California, which was already dropping from the effects of European diseases, was estimated at 300,000. By the mid-1800s, it was cut in half.

There is no known evidence of Native American habitation in any caves, though extensive archeological work is yet to be done, and local Native (Mutsun and Chalone) stories have largely died with their tellers. Non-Indian legends that have survived refer to the use of the caves as a hideout by the notorious central California bandito Tiburcio Vasquez, whose brutal contribution to local history ended with his hanging in San Jose, California, in 1875. Stories of hidden treasure and robber’s roosts still cycle through campfire stories and local lore, but the location of Tiburcio’s hides seem speculative.

In 1891 Schuyler Hain, a homesteader, arrived in the Pinnacles area from Michigan. During the next twenty years he became known as the “Father of Pinnacles” leading tours up through Bear Valley and into the caves. Hain spoke to groups and wrote articles urging preservation of the area and acted as unofficial caretaker for many years. His efforts proved fruitful with the establishment of Pinnacles as a 2500 acre national monument in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt. It now encompasses about 26,000 acres in the southern portion of the Gabilan Mountains, one of a series of parallel northwest-trending ridges and valleys that make up the Central Coast Range.

Horace Bacon established a ranch opposite the eastern entrance and was the school master at Bear Valley School (located on Hwy 25 one mile north of the Hwy 25 and Hwy 146 junction) for twenty years.

In 1920 a one-way dirt road was constructed up to the Bear Gulch area making access to the caves easier for the increasing numbers of local residents who enjoyed camping and picnicking in the monument.

In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps established a camp in what is now the Old Pinnacles trailhead area. From 1933 to 1942, during cooler winter months, the CCC accomplished many projects. The dirt road up to Bear Gulch was widened, paved and completed in 1934. The CCC improved many of the trails that had been established by the early homesteaders, including the exciting steep and narrow trail that winds through the High Peaks. They constructed the dam that forms the Bear Gulch reservoir and improved the trail into the caves, adding concrete steps and guard rails. The Civilian Conservation Corps built trails through the caves in the 1930′s and these trails have endured many storms and travelers. The stairways and bridges they constructed were needed to navigate the caves without the use of ropes and ladders. Beginning in 1936 the CCC boys guided visitors through the caves using lanterns.

Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California’s Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. The formation consists of rocks such as banded and massive rhyolite, some andesites and dacites and various pyroclastic units.

Pinnacles National Monument, located near the San Andreas Fault along the boundary of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, is an excellent example of tectonic plate movement. The pinnacles themselves are the remnants of a Miocene volcano that is in an advanced stage of decomposition. The Pinnacles Rocks are believed to be part of the Neenach Volcano that occurred 23 million years ago near present-day Lancaster, California, some 195 miles (314 km) southeast. The giant San Andreas Fault split the volcano and the Pacific Plate crept north, carrying the Pinnacles. The right lateral movement of this giant transform fault has carried the Pinnacles north at a rate of approximately 0.59 inches (1.5 cm) per year. Later activity developed central vents, and explosions from these vents built up a vast thickness of pyroclastics above the earlier lavas. The work of water and wind on these volcanic rocks has formed the unusual rock structures seen today.

The faults within the Monument mark distinct boundaries in geology. The Pinnacles Fault juxtaposes granitic basement rock west of the fault and the Pinnacles Volcanic Formation east of the fault. The Chalone Creek fault juxtaposes the Pinnacles Volcanic Formation west of the fault and the Temblor Fanglomerates east of the fault. The Chalone Creek Fault, still active, runs parallel to the major drainage along the east side of the Monument and is thought to mark the position of the San Andreas Fault in the Miocene – at the time the Neenach Volcano erupted. Today, the San Andreas Fault has shifted its location 4 miles (6 kilometers) to the east of the Monument. The large faults of the Pinnacles area are roughly parallel to this master fracture and were probably caused by major movements of this important fault. Complex fault movement has buried the Pinnacle volcanics for much of their northbound journey, only recently unearthing these easily weathered and erodable rocks.

The granitic basement is the Santa Lucia Granite and Granodiorite. These granites formed when masses of molten lava slowly cooled as they rose through the earth’s crust to a point where they completely solidified. A slow cooling process allows individual crystals to grow fairly large. Subsequent uplift from faulting and erosion of overlying material exposed these rocks at the earth’s surface. These are the oldest rocks in the park. They form the basement upon which the rest of the rocks at the Monument lie.

Rhyolitic breccia is the rock that the High Peaks and other rock formations at Pinnacles are made of. Rhyolite breccia is composed of lava sand, ash, and angular chunks of rock that were explosively ejected from the Pinnacles Volcano. The layers of breccias are thought to have formed as the result of material slumping off the sides of the volcano near the vents causing large landslides. The volcano was likely near water and the landslides traveled as massive turbidity currents under water that spread the material considerable distances until coming to rest near distant edges of the volcano. Volcanic ash and rhyolitic lava flows are inter-layered with these breccias. Subsequent burial and compaction hardened these layers into the consolidated rock we see today. Recent faulting, fracturing and erosion have sculpted these rock layers into vertical cliffs and spires sometimes several hundred feet high.

The Temblor Formation east of the Chalone Creek Fault is a fanglomerate unit (conglomerates deposited in an alluvial fan setting) composed of granitic and to a lesser extent volcanic detritus shed from the Santa Lucia granitic basement and the Pinnacles Volcanics.

Grand caverns and solution formations usually come to mind when caves are mentioned. Pinnacles, though, has a much different type of caves in structure and formation. Fault action and earthquakes also account for the talus caves that are another Pinnacles attraction. The talus caves of the Monument were formed when steep, narrow canyons filled with a jumbled mass of boulders from the cliffs above. The canyons are the result of faults and fractures in the central area of volcanic rock. Deep, narrow gorges or shear fractures were transformed into caves when huge boulders toppled from above, and wedged in the fractures before reaching the ground. These boulders became the ceilings of the talus caves that now entice not only people, but also several kinds of bats.

Pinnacles National Monument has two main areas of caves; the Bear Gulch Caves are near headquarters in the East District, and the Balconies Caves are near Chaparral Campground in the West District. A few poorly documented areas of small talus caves are scattered around. The rock fall that filled the fractures is thought to have occurred during the last series of ice ages. Despite the age of this formation, the process of rock fall and weathering continues. The boulders range from a few ounces to thousands of tons. Much of the rock matrix is supported by gravel and sand that has become lodged between the boulders, or has formed at the contact points of the stones over the centuries. These smaller particles are particularly susceptible to erosion during the flash floods that occasionally rush through the caves.

The topography of Pinnacles is not all spire and crag, however. Elevations range from 824 feet along South Chalone Creek to 3,304 feet atop North Chalone Peak, and much of the Monument consists of rolling hills.

Small to moderate earthquakes are frequently felt within the Monument. Seismic activity continues to be monitored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). There is a seismometer along the Chalone Creek Fault and a corresponding seismograph in the Bear Gulch Visitor Center which provides a continuous record of seismic activity. Visitors are often able to see the seismograph to confirm their suspicion of previously felt ground movement. The purpose of continued monitoring is to learn more about earthquake phenomena along the San Andreas Fault. The information provides the Monument staff with data to illustrate and interpret the natural processes still shaping the Pinnacles area.

Expression of seismic activity abounds. Streams show characteristic offsets as they cross fault bounds. Valley bottoms and terraces are evidence of localized uplift; the nearby town of Hollister contains several sidewalks torn by fault creep. Because this segment of the San Andreas Fault is a “creeping” segment as opposed to a “slipping” segment, major or severe earthquakes are considered less frequent along it. Still, moderately intense ground shaking is likely in the near future whether it originates from faults nearby or locked fault segments far north or south. A study in the Bear Gulch Cave, initiated due to safety concerns following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, has detected no movement of boulders following moderate earthquakes.

Weather profoundly influences vegetation, and broadleaf chaparral is one of the vegetation types adapted to the Monument’s summer heat and drought, as well as to the daily temperature extremes. Composing about 80% of the Monument’s vegetation, the chaparral ecosystem is not one thing, but many, with subtly varied vegetation composition quilted together over the land. Along with chaparral, there are woodland, riparian, grassland, and rock and scree habitats here, all also subtly intergraded. It is the variability of Pinnacles’ topography, weather and microclimate, and the location of the Monument at the edge of intersecting ecosystem zones, that allows for the diverse vegetation and intricate mix of habitats found here.

Pinnacles is a refuge for species representative of the central California coast not only because of the many ecological niches here, but also because of its long-term protected status. The bottom line of the soils and vegetation has been protected, maintaining a relatively high proportion of native plants. In fact, chaparral vegetation at Pinnacles is a showcase example of this ecosystem that elsewhere up and down coastal California has largely been extirpated or is losing ground before urban expansion.

The Monument preserves a typical inner coast mountain Upper Sonoran zone. There are buckeye trees and Digger pines. In the spring, wildflowers subtle and bold decorate the land. Many wildflowers grow her such as dodecatheon and dentaria. Some particularly good butterfly flowers at Pinnacles include wallflower, California buckeye, thistles, California buckwheat, wooly yerba santa, summer mustard, milkweeds, vinegar weed, exotic mints, shrubby butterweed, coyote brush, and heliotrope. The best months to see wildflowers at Pinnacles National Monument are March, April, and May. These are also the busiest months, so if you visit the park on a weekend, plan on parking in one of the overflow lots, or try visiting on a weekday. Santa Barbara sedge grows in the Bear and Chalone Creek stream beds.

Bees visit many different kinds of flowers at Pinnacles, but certain flower species are far more frequently visited than others. Three of the plants here that are popular with a variety of bees are California buckwheat, deerweed, and woolly yerba santa. These plants thrive in areas that have been affected by natural disturbance such as fire or flooding. Other popular bee flowers include California poppy, clarkia, Chinese houses, summer mustard, chamise, ceanothus, goldfields, popcorn flower, and willow.

Poison oak is a common plant in California and at Pinnacles in particular. It is common along most trails. The secret to avoid encountering poison oak is to learn to recognize the plant. Poison oak can be a shrub, vine, or even a small tree. Its leaves can be red, green, or any color in between. The leaves sometimes have a waxy coating, but this is not always apparent.
The best way to identify poison oak is by the way its leaves are arranged in groups of three. Remember: leaves of three, let it be!

Stinging nettle is also found in various areas of the monument. Watch for this tall plant in moist areas and along stream edges. It is common at the east entrance to the Balconies Cave and along the trail just below the Bear Gulch Cave. Touching the plant will cause a burning sensation with all leaf hairs sticking to the skin. Fortunately, the stinging sensation will disappear within an hour or two, unlike poison oak, which lasts for days or even weeks.

There are two caves to explore at Pinnacles, Bear Gulch Cave and the Balconies Cave. The Bear Gulch Cave provides a home to a colony of Townsend’s big-eared bats as they hibernate in winter and raise their young in summer. Townsend’s big-eared bats are listed as a “sensitive species” by the state of California, and we are required to protect them. The colony in the Bear Gulch Cave is the largest maternity colony between San Francisco and Mexico.

The lower half of the Bear Gulch Cave is usually open from mid-July through mid-May each year, depending on the presence of the colony of bats. The entire cave is closed from mid-May to mid-July while the bats are raising their young. During especially warm springs, however, it’s possible that the entire cave will be closed before mid-May if the maternity colony is present. The entire Bear Gulch Cave will also be open twice a year for at least one week and up to four weeks each March and October, depending on the presence of the colony of bats. Check the status of the two talus caves at Pinnacles before trying to enter them. Flashlights are required for hikes through the caves.

Pinnacles National Monument offers a variety of rock climbing routes that range from easy top ropes to the multi-pitch climbs along Machete Ridge. The rock at Pinnacles is volcanic breccia. If you are used to granite, it is wise to take a cautious approach. If it will be your first trip, you should lead well below your usual level to get used to the weak rock and often questionable or non-existent protection.

On the Bear Gulch Side, the closest climbs are at Tourist Trap and Discovery Wall. These areas are 10 and 15 minutes up the trail respectively. Access trails to these areas are marked with 4×4″ post with a locking carabiner. On the Chaparral Side, the closest climbs are routes in the area of Passion Play and Game Show. They are approximately 15 minutes along the Balconies Trail from the Chaparral parking lot.

On the Bear Gulch Side, some of the more popular easy/intermediate climbs are routes on First Sister (5.4 and 5.5), Portent on Discovery Wall, Ordeal (5.8) and Wet Kiss (5.9), also on Discovery Wall. On the Chaparral Side, Chockstone Dome has popular climbs in the 5.3 – 5.8 range, Destiny (5.8) on Machete Ridge. There are also Tilting Terrace (5.8) and Bits ‘n Pieces (5.9) on the Flumes Formation. In the High Peaks, you can find Unmentionable (5.7), Pipsqueak Pinnacle (5.5), Photographer’s Delight (5.2), South Finger (5.5), 5.2 and 5.6 routes on the Sponge, and Burgundy Dome (5.7). Although many of these routes have ratings that show that they are easy or intermediate, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the safest. Some of these routes can be run out or have aging bolts. Please use your best judgment when selecting a route.

There are only a few areas on the East Side where top-rope systems can be set. These are Top Rope Wall for routes in the 5.4 – 5.9 range, Back Door for routes in the 5.9 – 5.12 range, and on Upper Crust for routes in the 5.8 – 5.12 range. Most other formations require someone to lead first.

There are very few bouldering opportunities at Pinnacles. You can check out Bouldering Rock on the West Side or the base of the rocks at Long’s Folly in the High Peaks. Always keep your safety and the safety of those around you in mind. If you will be soloing or even climbing in a small group, sign in on the climbing registers listing your climbing destinations for the day. There are registers at the Moses Springs trailhead (east side) and the Balconies trailhead (west side). In this way, Rangers will be better able to assist in the event of an emergency. The majority of routes here involve steep, bolt protected face climbing. Generally, climbs below 5.10 are “run-out” and relatively poorly protected. It is not uncommon for climbers who lead 5.9 routes in other areas to find 5.6 routes at Pinnacles unacceptably dangerous due to brittle rock and poor pro.

There are over 30 miles of hiking trails at Pinnacles, ranging from easy, flat walks to more challenging, all-day hikes. Many trails intersect, and you can plan a short loop or a longer all-day trip. Popular destinations are Bear Gulch Reservoir, High Peaks, and the Balconies area.

The South Wilderness Trail is an easy to moderate hike up to 3 miles one-way. This level trail is a good choice for hikers who are looking to get away from the park’s more popular trails. You can hike to the park boundary, or simply meander through the grove of valley oaks. This trail is an excellent choice for bird and other wildlife viewing.

Hike 4.3 miles one way from the visitor center to Balconies Cave. Hike 2.3 miles along the flat and easy Bench Trail to the Old Pinnacles Trail junction, and after the trails merge, it is another two miles to Balconies Cave. Flashlights are required in the cave, and be prepared to scramble through talus passages. On the way back, double back over the cave on the Balconies Cliffs Trail for views of the largest rock formations in the park.

The Moses Spring–Rim Trail Loop is a good choice for rock formations, talus caves, and the reservoir on a short hike and also a good choice for children. Bear Gulch Cave is open seasonally. Flashlight required in cave.

Walk through the heart of the Pinnacles rock formations on the 5.3 mile long Condor Gulch–High Peaks Loop. See spectacular views of the High Peaks. Add the Rim and Moses Spring trails to extend the loop to 6.1 miles. Climb into the High Peaks and descend along the ridge through meadows of grasses and, in spring, wildflowers on the 6.7 mile long High Peaks–Bear Gulch Loop. Many other trails are available for viewing this unique monument.

Night Programs are offered occasionally on Fridays or Saturdays in spring, summer, and fall. These programs include full moon and dark sky hikes, bat viewings, and astronomy programs. Space is limited, so reservations are required to allow more groups the opportunity to participate in night programs. Any group is limited to six spots per program. Reservations can be made in person or by calling 831-389-4486 ext. 243. Guided hikes, ranger talks, and evening campfire programs are offered each spring on the east side of the park.

Wildlife viewing is another great pastime. Binoculars are a great tool for observing all sorts of wildlife from butterflies to frogs to falcons, because they provide a close-up view from a distance that does not disturb the animals. If you have an interesting wildlife sighting, please take careful notes on where, when, and what you saw and report it to a Monument employee.

Junior Ranger booklets can be obtained at the visitor center. Complete activities in the booklet to earn a Junior Ranger Badge. Check out an adventure pack for your hike! The Bear Gulch Nature Center has packs that you can take with you on the trail. The packs come with trail and natural history guides and kid-sized tools to look at plants and wildlife.

Every major riparian corridor in Pinnacles National Monument contains a trail, active road, or inactive road. A comprehensive study, by NPS-WRD and PINN, indicates that many of the roads and trails are negatively affecting natural dynamics of the creeks at Pinnacles. This has a many fold effect.

Many of these problems became evident during a 40-year flood event in 1998. In areas where the creek was confined by the road, significant scour and extremely high sediment loads were observed. Erosion monitoring markers, placed 1 meter deep into the stream bed, were all eroded out. Downstream of this section, the channel aggraded with massive deposits of sand and gravel, channel sinuosity increased, the channel widened, and significant bank erosion occurred. Without the “pressure relief valve” of the floodplain, this altered stream behavior will continue to occur. The changes in stream behavior are partly to blame for the destruction of a road bridge in 1998, and the subsequent $1.5 million cost of rebuilding. The increased channel scour and fill destroyed nearly all of the summer pools required for year-round inhabitation by the California Red-legged frog. The rapid channel bank erosion also destroyed much of the vegetation and shelter in the riparian area, reducing the habitat value tremendously. In this section of creek, approximately 100 trees were uprooted from the banks.

Flooding of alluvial channels is often dynamic since the bed is more easily mobilized. However, there is evidence that this dynamism exceeds historical ranges. Many of the cut banks were comprised of well developed soils and fines that have been in place for 1,000-10,000 years. Air photos dating back to the 1950’s show a trend towards widening channels and loss of riparian cover. Park documents of past flood damage, flood “control” projects that entailed blading of the streambed, and historic ground photos support this trend.

Chalone Creek is the principal drainage of the Pinnacles Formation, an uplifted block of erodible volcanics. Considering its tectonic setting, rapid increase in stream order (bifurcation ratio), and flashy watershed slopes, finding an analogy or reference stream to Chalone Creek is difficult. However, the visual and quantitative data existing for large flood events in 1983, 1995, and 1998 show an evolutionary trajectory. Geomorphic evidence and large live oak root crowns have been used to track changes in bank height, historic floodplain surface, and floodplain/channel relationships. Additionally, some reaches show less dynamism than others, and provide an additional reference comparison.

The yellow star thistle is one of many invasive (non-native) plants threatening the ecosystems of Pinnacles. Many seeds are accidentally transported into the park on shoes and gear; you can do your part to prevent the spread of these pests by cleaning shoes, socks, and gear before visiting the park.

Climbers today are learning to minimize their impact on park resources by using camouflaged bolts, using dark colored slings to blend with surrounding rock and using chalk balls or other alternatives to eliminate damaging chalk accumulation. Please use the least intrusive means possible to improve the park for all visitors. Also, keep in mind that chipping or chiseling holds or destroying plant life by scrubbing moss/removing vegetation from a route are prohibited activities.

What does Pinnacles National Monument do to ensure that butterflies will be here for all to enjoy for many generations to come? The number one threat to butterflies everywhere is loss of habitat. A decline in a particular butterfly species is often a direct reflection of a decline in habitat for its host plant. By protecting natural processes and habitats across the wilderness landscape, Pinnacles goes a long way toward protecting butterflies. (One part of that protection is to prohibit collecting butterflies, wildflowers, or anything else within the Monument.) In order to keep track of how butterflies are doing over the long term, they conduct an annual Pinnacles National Monument Butterfly Count. The information from this count can be compared to data from previous years to help them detect species declines.

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are abundant within the Monument and cause extensive damage to the native vegetation. Based on several years of research, a decision was made to construct a fence around the Monument’s perimeter. Pigs within the fence will be removed, and new pig incursions will be prevented.

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) were first observed at Pinnacles in the late 1960s. In 1769, Spanish explorers introduced domestic swine to California as a food source and to clear land. Allowed to roam freely, these domesticated pigs inhabited various parts of California as feral or wild hogs. The European wild boar was imported to Monterey County in 1925 for hunting purposes, and has successfully interbred with feral hogs already established. These hybrids have spread throughout much of California, both naturally and with the aid of hunters and landowners. The wild pigs that have invaded Pinnacles are a combination of European wild boars, feral hogs, and hybrids of the boar and hog. Wild pigs are not native to California. They are considered exotic species.

Wild pigs consume an abundance of plant matter including acorns, grasses, forbs, berries, roots, and bulbs. They also feed on ground dwelling insects, worms, reptiles, amphibians, fish, small mammals, and carrion including other pigs. Wild pigs spend much of their time rooting or digging with their noses in search of these food items. Wild pigs have a high reproductive rate. If there is a sufficient supply of food to accommodate a sow, she can have two litters a year. Litters range from 4-14 piglets. Pigs can adapt to harsh environments and have few natural predators, making them difficult to control.

Rooting by pigs disturbs natural plant communities by destroying native species. The soil is uplifted by this rooting behavior, causing it to dry in the heat of summer. Plants have to work harder to find water and their chances for survival are decreased. Areas that once had native plants become susceptible to the establishment of exotic plants. These exotic species compete with native plants for available space, ultimately compromising the natural order of the plant community. Pigs also consume large amounts of fruits, nuts, and seeds, which decreases the ability of new plants to germinate.

Pigs compete with deer and other wildlife for acorns, insects, and other food sources. Pigs also prey on a number of animals and insects, directly threatening their survival. Besides competing with and preying upon animals, wild pigs have the potential to infect animals, as well as humans with a number of diseases and parasites. Rooting behavior also adversely affects the habitat of ground dwelling animals such as amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and ground nesting birds.

Pig rooting significantly increases the rate of erosion. Pigs root near stream banks causing the soil to loosen and wash away during rains. When soils wash into streams and creeks the water quality is decreased. Poor water quality has a negative impact on many aquatic animals including the threatened California red-legged frog.

The National Park Service has a policy of conserving, protecting, and restoring native plants and animals. Park managers at Pinnacles National Monument are required to control or eradicate non-native species that have a negative impact on its resources. In 1984, the Monument staff had considerable concerns about the increasing number of wild pigs and the destruction they were causing to the Park. After several years of research and testing, the Monument decided to construct a fence around the perimeter that would prevent pigs from invading the park.

The fence is designed to prevent pigs from rooting underneath, while allowing animals of various sizes to pass through, or jump over. Completed in 2003, the fence surrounds more than 14,000 acres of parkland and stretches a distance of roughly 24 miles.

Upon completion of the pig-proof fence, the Monument contracted wildlife biologists from the Institute for Wildlife Studies (IWS) to eradicate exotic pigs within the fence-enclosure. Using ground-hunting methods, trained dogs, and traps, and subsequently monitoring for pig sign, IWS staff deemed the fence-enclosed area of the Park free of pigs in June 2006.

Park staff will continue to regularly patrol the fence to ensure that pigs cannot immigrate due to structural instabilities. If damage to the fence occurs due to natural and/or unforeseen circumstances, routine maintenance activities will be conducted and any necessary repairs made. If pigs do enter the fenced-enclosed area of the Monument, measures will be taken to eliminate pigs from within. Now that exotic pigs have been eliminated from the core area of the Park, routine monitoring and maintenance measures are crucial to maintaining a pig-free environment.

Good water quality is important for the plants and animals of the riparian community. Fish, aquatic insects, amphibians, and perhaps endangered species could easily be affected by poor water quality. High bacteria counts have been observed in the Monument. In 1972, E. coli counts as high as 16,000 ppm contributed to a die off of several mammal species. The US Public Health Service identified the culprit as infection due to the bacterium genus Arizona (closely related to genus Salmonella).

Riparian areas are the most heavily used by visitors and are where most structures are located. Human impact such as littering and human waste can adversely affect long reaches of stream. Routine limnological surveys of the Monument’s surface waters are one potential monitoring solution. Aquatic insects and amphibians may also be utilized as indicator species of overall surface water quality.

Good water quality is also important for visitor and resident safety. The east side headquarters and residence area is serviced by a well that taps the valley alluvium near the east entrance. That source is reliable and recently replaced a well near the old Chalone Creek campground. The west side offices and residences are serviced by a deep artesian well that requires no pumping. Those sources are treated regularly to guard against public health threats. An analysis of an east side well in 1959 yielded chemical data on a domestic water well. That data showed that the water had a pH of 6.7, moderate hardness, specific conductance was 407, and contained 280 ppm of dissolved solids.

Spring, fall, and winter are the most popular times to visit Pinnacles National Monument. During the spring, high temperatures are usually in the 60s and 70s, though nights can be chilly, with lows in the 30s and 40s. Fall temperatures are similar. Due to the absence of the ocean’s warming effect, winter temperatures at Pinnacles often drop below freezing while coastal temperatures remain moderate. Snow occurs in small amounts at higher elevations almost every year between mid-December and January. Summers are hot and dry, and hikers need to be prepared for extreme temperatures. If you do come in the summer, please be prepared for highs in the 100s. Temperatures can swing as much as 60 degrees during the day, and cool mornings can turn into extremely hot days. Plan short hikes in the mornings or evenings, wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing, and above all, carry and drink plenty of water.

Current Park Weather

There are no concessionaire services within the Monument, so you will need to bring everything that you will need for your visit. This includes drinking water, food and beverages, flashlights and hiking equipment. Bottled water and flashlights are available at the Bear Gulch Visitor Center and Chaparral Ranger Station.

Please remember that camping is only allowed in the Pinnacles Campground on the east side of the park. Backpacking is not permitted.

Due to increased wildfire activity, Pinnacles has imposed strict fire restrictions. No wood, compressed wood or charcoal fires are allowed. Be aware of these restrictions before you visit the park. Stoves fueled by petroleum or liquid Propane Gas (LPG) fuels are allowed only in designated picnic or campground fire areas. Check with the campground store for current fire danger conditions.

Never feed wildlife. Store all of your food and scented items in your vehicle when not in use. Act immediately to scare animals away if they approach your food. Dispose of food properly. Camp only in designated sites. Camping or sleeping in vehicles is only permitted in designated campsites. Camping is not allowed outside the boundaries of the Pinnacles Campground. Respect quiet hours. Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am. Generator use is prohibited at all times.

Leftover food and trash is not only an inconvenience for the next camper to use your site, it can also pose a danger to campground wildlife. Garbage and recycling containers can be found throughout the campground. Please leave your campsite cleaner than you found it.

Pets are not allowed on trails. They are allowed in the campground and in paved and developed areas, and must be on a leash at all times. Pets cannot be left unattended, in or out of vehicles. If you plan to hike, it may be best to leave your pet at home. Dogs cannot be tied to an object and left alone or left in the open bed of a pickup truck.

Everything is protected within your national monument, including rocks, animals, and pine cones. Please leave them where you find them for the next park visitors to see. Wood gathering for fires is prohibited.

If you are lucky enough to find an amphibian at Pinnacles, give it some space and take time to watch it. Their moist skin is very sensitive, much like that of your eyes, so the salts, oils, sunscreens or soaps on your hands can cause them harm. Please do not turn over rocks or logs to watch them, or attempt to catch them.

Short cutting established hiking and climber access trails causes erosion, kills plants, and is strictly prohibited. Look for the sign of the locking carabiner mounted on 4×4″ posts. This sign marks many of the designated climber access trails.

An area of Pinnacles is closed to the public for the reintroduction of the California condor. This closure will help the condors learn to live in the wild without becoming accustomed to humans. About 960 acres are closed, which is less than 4% of the Monument. No hiking trails are affected. The closed areas are marked with “Area Closed” signs. Check at the visitor center for further information.

Natural and climber-caused rock fall is extremely common at Pinnacles. Remember to yell “Rock” when you knock a piece off. Climbing is not allowed on routes where rock fall or dropped gear might injure people using established hiking trails. This ban includes but is not limited to routes 58 through 68 and 339a (as numbered in the Climber’s Guide). This does not apply to routes above climber access or social trails.

No power drills may be used for bolting. By longstanding tradition, the first ascent ethic at Pinnacles is “ground up”. Rappel placed bolts are not part of the Pinnacles first ascent ethic.

Disturbance caused by climbing near nesting birds and bats is strictly prohibited. A voluntary program of closures is in place to protect nesting prairie falcons and other raptors. Some formations may be closed from January through July in order to protect nesting falcons and eagles. Seasonal closures for nesting raptors affect many formations in the Monument. Please check with park staff for current closures at the Visitors Center or the climbing information boards on both sides of the park. Climbing in these restricted areas can cause the death of young birds. Please! Do not climb in these sensitive areas. While the closures are voluntary, climbers or hikers who disturb nesting birds or other wildlife will be fined.

The raptor advisory does not affect hiking along the Monument’s primary trail system. All designated trails will remain fully accessible by park visitors. Climbers should continue to use designated “Climber Access Routes” in all areas of the Monument. Special care is requested for those areas most heavily impacted by climbing: Discovery Wall, Elephant Rock, Machete, Upper Crust, the Camel, and the Sisters.

The use of brown or gray webbing for anchors to reduce the scenic damage caused by webbing left behind on climbs is highly recommended. Also, the use of “chalk balls” instead of loose chalk is recommended to minimize the amount of chalk left on hand holds.

Here are a few safety precautions to keep in mind while climbing. Tap potential holds hard with fingertips. If it sounds hollow, there is a good chance it will pull off in your hand. Keep in mind that many of the bolts at Pinnacles are old, damaged, or incorrectly installed. Inspect them carefully before trusting your life to them! Always use redundant systems. Wear a helmet! Particularly on the West Side where there are a lot of loose rocks, helmets can and have saved lives at Pinnacles. Be prepared. Carry a headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs, extra clothing and plenty of food and water. Morning, day and evening temperatures can change drastically.

In general, rock is more solid on the East Side than the West Side where the monument’s longest routes are found. Get to know the rock before you push your luck on a hard route. If you normally lead 5.10+, try 5.6 or 5.7′s for your first climbs here. Anticipate that climbs will take much longer than expected and test holds and bolts before you trust them. The rock at Pinnacles is very weak compared to the granite and basalt of many climbing areas. Protection placements that would hold a fall on more sturdy rock may fail at Pinnacles. Think hard when you place pro: your life may depend on it.

Bolts are not maintained by the National Park Service. Bolts do not improve with age; they get weaker and more prone to failure. Pinnacles rock is relatively weak, so even new bolts may fail. Do not assume any bolt is bomber pro. If it looks bad, it probably is bad. Older routes may be equipped with “hardware store bolts” such as 1/4″ compression bolts or 3/8″ Star Dryvin expansion bolts. These should be considered extremely suspect and never completely trusted. Old or damaged bolts may be replaced, but only by hand. If done, use at least 3/8″x 3 1/2″ five piece Rawl expansion bolts or another bolt specifically made for climbing. Please paint the hanger to match the rock. This process requires experience and knowledge. Read up on the subject and get help from experienced bolters before you try it for the first time.

If someone is injured, stranded on a route, or there is a law enforcement emergency, contact a ranger. If there is not a Ranger at the Station, use the pay phone and dial 911 for assistance. Do not go beyond your abilities and always allow yourself enough time, before darkness is imminent. Be prepared. Know the route, carry a guidebook. Know and practice self-rescue techniques. Carry extra food, water and clothing. Carry two ropes on a multi-pitch climb. Carry a headlamp, spare batteries and bulbs. Carry a first-aid kit and know how to use it. Use redundant anchor systems. Individual climbers assume responsibility for their own actions and decisions resulting from participation in the inherently hazardous sport of rock climbing.

Short cutting established hiking and climber access trails causes erosion, kills plants, and is strictly prohibited. Climbers today are learning to minimize their impact on park resources by using camouflaged bolts, using dark colored slings to blend with surrounding rock and using chalk balls or other alternatives to eliminate damaging chalk accumulation. Please use the least intrusive means possible to improve the park for all visitors. Also, keep in mind that chipping or chiseling holds or destroying plant life by scrubbing moss/removing vegetation from a route are prohibited activities.

During the summer, extreme temperatures can make hiking uncomfortable at best, and possibly dangerous for those who are unprepared. If you plan to visit Pinnacles during the months of July or August, please check the weather forecast and plan accordingly. Carrying and drinking at least a liter of water per hour per person is recommended during hot weather. Drinking water is only available in the developed areas — there is no water available on any of the trails. Be watchful of snakes and poison oak. All the trails are unpaved, rocky in places, and sometimes steep and uneven. Wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Bring hats, sunscreen, and light-colored clothing to protect you from the sun.

The caves are dark and flowing water may cover the trail. You will encounter low ceilings; twisting, narrow passages; uneven footing and a dark environment. Please be careful of your head, where you place your feet, and use a flashlight! Please avoid unnecessary noise in the cave which can be disturbing to wildlife and visitors.

The Monument has relatively abundant populations of wildlife. The diverse habitats support a rich fauna – especially of birds, reptiles and bees. According to Western scientific knowledge, Pinnacles’ 400 bee species represent the highest bee diversity per unit area of any place on earth. Many populations of native animals have the habitat they need, and have survived here. There are 149 species of birds, 49 mammals, 22 reptiles, 6 amphibians, 68 butterflies, 36 dragonflies and damselflies, and many thousands of other invertebrates.

While we often associate certain animals with particular habitats, many animals require more than one type of habitat to meet all of their needs. For example, bats that roost in caves may forage for insects above water, dragonflies that spend most of their lives near water may hunt above chaparral, and animals living throughout the Monument will leave their usual habitat to visit watering holes. Subsequently, some of the best wildlife habitat is near the edge where one type of habitat meets another. Much of Pinnacles is covered by a mosaic of different habitats, resulting in a great diversity and abundance of habitat edges. Miles of hiking trails traverse these edges, offering great wildlife viewing opportunities.

Pinnacles is also a place of edges on a broader geographic scale. It is at the interface of northern and southern, coastal and inland, wet and dry. For example, the Bernardino dotted-blue butterfly and the phainopepla reach the northernmost extent of their ranges near here, and the chestnut-backed chickadee is not found much farther south. Demonstrating the interplay of wet and dry, a Gabilan slender salamander and a desert night lizard may live together in the same decaying log.

The Monument is an island of fairly intact natural habitat in a sea of growing human development. Pinnacles and the surrounding area is the only home of the big-eared kangaroo rat, Gabilan slender salamander, Pinnacles shield-back katydid, and Pinnacles riffle beetle. But it is also a refuge for many common species typical of California. We may currently take these species for granted, but as natural habitats throughout California continue to diminish, these species will become much less common and widespread. The Monument was once home to the California grizzly bear, black bear, and foothill yellow-legged frog, and, in 2003, after a hiatus, again became home to the California condor. Though humans have extirpated some of the large animals, and we have lost certain vulnerable species, healthy populations of many animals appear to be strong within Pinnacles’ protected boundaries.

Pinnacles National Monument is a release site for the endangered California condor, and the birds can sometimes be seen from hiking trails throughout the park. The Monument has been a part of the California Condor Recovery Program since 2003. In partnership with the Ventana Wildlife Society, a central-California non-profit organization, we have released 19 juvenile condors into the wild. Each condor is monitored carefully after its release to increase its chances of survival. Biologists ensure that they choose safe roosting sites, find the feeding areas, and stay away from hazards such as lead-contaminated food and power poles. Today, sixteen condors are flying free over Pinnacles National Monument and beyond.

The biggest threat to the reintroduction of the California condor is lead poisoning. Condors are 10 times more sensitive to lead than turkey vultures, which is why the species is so greatly affected by residual lead often present in carcasses that have been shot.

There are others birds that frequent the monument such as Western red-tails, sparrow hawks, White-throated swifts, canyon wren, warblers, plain titmouse, pallid wren-tit, western bluebird, western robin, California jay, Hutton vireo, mourning dove, red-shafted flicker, California woodpecker, shrike, western kingbird, and acorn woodpeckers. In the winter, dark-eyed juncos and California towhees perch and forage around willows and underbrush. In the spring and summer, black-headed grosbeaks and warbling vireos sing loudly from oaks and pines as they set up nesting territories.

The variety of habitat types at Pinnacles attracts a diverse assemblage of birds to the park for seasonal nesting and migratory stopovers, and numerous species live in the park year-round. Much of the bird diversity at Pinnacles is focused along the riparian corridors of Bear Gulch and Chalone Creek, because they provide an abundance of food, water, and shelter for many species. In spring and summer, house wrens, black phoebes, yellow warblers, yellow-breasted chats, lazuli buntings, and varied thrushes are active in shaded riparian areas. Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks maneuver agilely through the trees in search of prey, and mallards and belted kingfishers are seen occasionally along the creeks and at the reservoir every year.

Certain species favor the pine and oak woodlands in the park. Among the gray pines, western tanagers, Townsend’s warblers, and hairy woodpeckers are evident. In the oak woodlands, California quail, oak titmice, western scrub jays, mourning doves, ash-throated flycatchers, and northern flickers are commonly seen.

The rocky summits and peaks of Pinnacles provide nesting habitat and roosts for many raptors, including prairie falcons and golden eagles, as well as smaller bird species including the vocal canyon wren and the acrobatic violet-green swallow. At night, the haunting calls of great-horned owls can be heard echoing off the cliff walls.

During the 2007 breeding season, a total of 33 prairie falcons fledged from nine nests. Peregrine falcons also returned to the park, fledging three falcons from a nest in the High Peaks.

Sixty-eight different species of butterflies have been recorded at Pinnacles. About 35 species are common enough that you are likely to see them if you visit the right habitat at the right time. About a dozen are so abundant that you may see hundreds of them on a visit. The Pinnacles National Monument Butterfly Checklist shows the number of butterflies of each species you can expect to see in a few hours for each month of the year and in five different habitats. Once you know the right time and place to look for butterflies, you can get even more specific by also looking for their host plants (the plants on which butterflies lay eggs and caterpillars feed) and nectar plants (the favorite flowers from which adult butterflies drink nectar).

When we think of bees, what often comes to mind are honeybees or bumblebees, but these represent less than two percent of the nearly 400 bee species found at Pinnacles National Monument. The bees here range in size from a split pea to a peanut shell. They may be black, brown, bronze, metallic green or blue, or striped yellow and black. Some are social, working together as a hive to build a nest. But most are solitary, with each female building her own nest. Many visit flowers to collect pollen to feed their young, but about one in six species are cleptoparasites, meaning that they lay their eggs in the nests of other bee species. After the cleptoparasite young hatch, they eat the pollen intended for the other bee’s young.

By partitioning the resources on which all bees depend, many different species can survive in a very small area. For example, most bees are active for only a small part of the year. Even though the bee season here lasts nine months, most species are out for less than two months. By chronologically staggering active times, more bee species can fit into the same area. Another way many species of bees can coexist in a small space is to visit only certain species of flowers. About one-fourth of the Monument’s bees are such specialists, visiting only one species or a group of closely related species of flowers. Different bee species also nest in different places. Most build their nests in the ground or on rocks, and over one-fourth nest in stems or wood. Many have specific requirements for the type of ground, rocks, stems, or wood they build their nests in, and the materials, such as mud or strips of leaves, that they use to build or line their nests.

Compared to the rest of Central California, Pinnacles is home to a high diversity of reptiles: eight lizards, fourteen snakes, and one turtle. Species most commonly encountered include the western whiptail, coast horned lizard, western fence lizard, common garter snake, striped racer, gopher snake and western rattlesnake. Some species, such as sharp-tailed snake, are most active in the cool, wet months. Others, such as Gilbert’s skink and alligator lizard, are most likely to be seen as the days begin to warm up in April and May. The striped racer and western whiptail prefer the hottest days. And some, such as the western fence lizard and side-blotched lizard, can be seen during all but the hottest and coldest weeks of the year. Western pond turtles are uncommon and elusive, so consider yourself lucky if you see one here. Another elusive reptile is the desert night lizard. It is said to spend almost its entire life in a single decaying log. However, it is sometimes possible to see one at night near the porch light at the Bear Gulch Visitor Center. It lives in the cracks in the building, making occasional forays out to eat insects attracted by the light.

At first glance, Pinnacles may not seem like a place for amphibians. Nevertheless, six species of these moist-skinned creatures live here in this land of hot, dry summers and only sixteen inches of rain per year. Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla), California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii), and western toad (Bufo boreas) breed in streams and ponds. The two frogs spend most of their time near water, while the toad leaves the water after breeding. Arboreal salamander (Aneides lugubris), ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii), and the recently described Gabilan slender salamander (Batrachoseps gavilanensis) are terrestrial, spending their entire lives away from water. They lay their eggs in moist places such as decaying logs. They are fairly common, but are rarely seen due to their secretive nature.

Forty-nine mammalian species, aside from humans, are known to occur within the Monument. Those often seen and enjoyed by visitors and staff include: black-tailed deer, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, jackrabbit, brush rabbit, ground squirrel, chipmunk, and several kinds of bat. These animals are reported regularly because they are either easy to see or charismatic. Badgers, coyotes, a wide variety of rodents, and mountain lions inhabit the Monument, but are not commonly seen. Included in this list are three mammals which have been introduced to Pinnacles — the house mouse, opossum, and feral pig.

Bats at Pinnacles find refuge in the caves, cliffs, and trees. There is currently a colony of Townsend’s Big-eared Bats in the Bear Gulch Cave and a colony of the Western Mastiff bat in the Balconies cave area. Out of the 23 species of bats in California, 14 species are known to occur within Pinnacles National Monument. These bats are: Western Pipstrelle, Western Red Bat, Hoary Bat, Townsend’s Big-eared Bat, Pallid Bat, Big Brown Bat, California Myotis, Small footed Myotis, Long eared Myotis, Fringed Myotis, Long-legged Myotis, Yuma Myotis, Brazilian Free-tailed Bat and Western Mastiff Bat.

Bats not only “see” the world with echolocation, but they have good eyesight. Some bats find their food exclusively with sight and they can see better than humans in dim light. Most bats give birth to only one “pup” per year which they feed milk. Other than humans, bats are the longest lived mammals in North America. Bats are important insect predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers.

Due to the intermittent nature of Pinnacles’ streams, the three-spined stickleback is the only native fish here. A predatory feeder, it eats predominately aquatic insects, and reaches three inches in length when full-grown. The stickleback is often observed along the Bear Gulch and South Wilderness Trails. Other fish species may swim upstream into the Monument from the Salinas River during floods, but they generally do not survive through the summer.

In the early 1980’s, non-native catfish inhabited the reservoir. This population was eradicated in the mid-1980’s by draining the reservoir and electroshocking the remaining fish. In the mid-1990’s non-native green sunfish infiltrated Monument streams. They were considered a major threat to red-legged frogs, and were removed by electroshocking. Currently the mosquitofish is the only non-native fish species here. Although its presence has a minor impact on red-legged frogs, eradicating it is currently impractical.

Do not feed wildlife. Wild animals such as squirrels, pigs, raccoons, and birds are commonly seen at the Pinnacles Campground. They can pass diseases to humans, and can even be aggressive if they become accustomed to getting handouts from campers. To ensure the safety of you and your family, please keep a safe distance. Bats will bite in self defense. Avoid handling them as well as other wildlife. Bats are not “carriers” of rabies; less than 1% of bats contracts rabies and dies.

Please view condors from a distance of at least 100 feet and never approach or try to feed them.

Several types of snakes are found in the park; the Pacific rattlesnake is the only poisonous critter of the group. By keeping to trails, avoiding heavy brush and watching where hands and feet are placed in rocky terrain, chances of crossing trails with a rattlesnake are minimized. If you see a rattlesnake while hiking, treat it as you would any other wild animal. Give it plenty of room and make sure that it has a way to move safely away from you. Rattlesnake bites are extremely uncommon at Pinnacles. If you do get bitten, seek medical attention from park staff immediately. Please remember that rattlesnakes are protected in the park.

A single vehicle fee is $5.00. This fee covers entrance by vehicle to both districts of the Monument for seven days, and is valid for everyone in the vehicle.

Walk-ins are $3.00. This fee covers park entrance by foot and bicycle. Children under 16 do not need to pay.

Pinnacles Annual Pass is $15.00. This pass is valid for twelve months from the month of purchase.

The America the Beautiful passes are valid for entrance at National Park Service, USFS, BLM, USFWS, and Bureau of Reclamation areas. Annual Pass is $80. The pass admits the pass holder/s and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, at per person fee areas. (Children under 16 are admitted free)

The Senior Pass is $10 and is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. It admits the same number of people as the annual plus provides a 50 percent discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, boat launch, and specialized interpretive services, usually just for the pass holder.

The Access Pass is free and is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. It also allows the same number of people to be admitted as the Annual Pass.

Pinnacles Campground is located near the east entrance of the park and offers 149 tent, group, and RV sites. Each tent and group site has a picnic table and fire ring. Restrooms are located in each loop. Loop A is closest to the visitor center and campground store. Loop C is the most secluded loop. RV sites have electrical hookups (120s with 30 amp breakers) and share community tables and barbecue pits. Garbage and recycling containers are available. Water spigots are located throughout the campground. Oak trees provide shade in many of the sites. There is a campground swimming pool. There are 14 group sites. Group sites have a capacity of 10 – 20 people and five cars. Each group site has from one to three picnic tables and a fire ring. For groups larger than 20 people, it may be possible to reserve two adjoining group sites.

The campground store is located inside the visitor center, and is open from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm every day. It is possible to make purchases from the store during other times when the visitor center is open. A self-pay station is open, and exact change is needed.

Showers and a dump station are located nearby. During the spring and summer, ranger programs are offered on weekends at the campground amphitheater. Reservations for Pinnacles Campground can be made up to five months in advance by visiting www.recreation.gov or calling (877) 444-6777. Pinnacles Campground is operated by the National Park Service. It has been part of the park since March 2006.

A maximum of six people (including children) and two vehicles are allowed per campsite. Both vehicles must be parked on the parking pad. Extra vehicles must be parked in the Sandy Creek parking area.

Parking may be limited on weekends at trailheads and day use areas within the park. You may want to consider hiking from the campground. Destinations that are within walking distance include Bear Gulch Nature Center and Trailheads (2.3 mi), Bear Gulch Cave and reservoir (3.3 mi), the South Wilderness Trail (0.6 mi), and Balconies (3.7 mi). If you’re not able to hike into the park, consider shuttling your group in and leaving most of your vehicles at your campsite. On weekends in the spring, you can also ride the park shuttle.

Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, Yosemite National Park, Carrizo Plain National Monument, Los Padres National Forest, Sierra National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest, Henry W Coe State Park, Andrew Holera State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Garrapata State Beach, Garland Ranch Regional Park, San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area, San Jose, CA, Santa Cruz, CA, Monterey, CA and Big Sur, CA as well as numerous other cities are all within driving distance of the Monument.

When driving to Pinnacles National Monument, please keep in mind that there is no road that connects the east and west entrances of the park. The shortest route from the east entrance to the west entrance (or from west to east) is through the town of King City on Hwy 101.

From the San Francisco Bay Area to the East Entrance: Take Hwy 101 south through the city of Gilroy to Hwy 25 south. On Hwy 25, go through the town of Hollister and continue about 30 miles to Hwy 146. Turn right on Hwy 146, and follow it to the Pinnacles entrance station. If the entrance station is closed, please continue to the park visitor center to check in.

From the San Francisco Bay Area to the West Entrance: Take Hwy 101 south to the town of Soledad, and then take Hwy 146 east. Take care as you’re driving through town; the highway takes a few turns. Follow Hwy 146 for 14 miles into Pinnacles National Monument.

From the South to the East Entrance: Take Hwy 101 North to the town of King City. Exit at 1st Street. Turn right toward King City. Continue straight until 1st St turns into Bitterwater Rd (Monterey County G13). Follow Bitterwater Rd until it intersects Hwy 25. Turn left on Hwy 25 (North) and follow for the road for 15 miles. Turn left onto Hwy 146 to enter the Monument.

From the South to the West Entrance: Take Hwy 101 North to the town of Soledad, and then take Hwy 146 east. Take care as you’re driving through town; the highway takes a few turns. Follow Hwy 146 for 14 miles into Pinnacles National Monument.

Pinnacles National Monument

5000 Highway 146

Paicines, CA 95043-9762

Park Headquarters (831) 389-4486

Visitor Information (831) 389-4485

Fax (831) 389-4489

Campground Reservations-www.recreation.gov

(877) 444-6777

Night Hike Reservations (831) 389-4485

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