Pinnacles National Park is both ancient and brand new: formed 23 million years ago by an erupting volcano, the 26,000-acre site is one of the newest national parks in the United States. With its stunning caves, spiky towers, cool canyons, and family-friendly camping, you’ll find plenty of top things to do with kids at Pinnacles National Park.
What to know about Pinnacles National Park
Eastern Entrance: 5000 East Entrance Road
Paicines, CA 95043
This is the main entrance, where you will find most of the trails, the visitor center, and the campground
Entry cost: $30 for a seven-day pass for a vehicle and its passengers, valid for both entrances
This park is cashless so bring your credit card!
Pinnacles National Park facts
- Pinnacles National Park has two entrances—and there is no road through the park connecting the two.
- The park is key to saving the endangered California Condor.
- Pinnacles National Park was elevated into park status in 2013, but had been a National Monument since 1908.
- Due to its proximity to the famous San Andreas Fault, the park is moving northward at a rate of 0.59 inches a year.
- The park was formed by an erupting volcano 23 million years ago, and seismic activity has continued to shape the park to this day, creating the unique rock formations.
When to visit Pinnacles National Park
I have visited Pinnacles National Park in all seasons, and it is beautiful throughout the year. However, due to its inland location, it does get hot in the summer. Although my family survived a weekend camping with temperatures that never dipped below 100 degrees from 9 am until sunset (the outdoor pool available to campers helped a lot), I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.
The weather during the spring and fall is most comfortable. If you can visit during the peak wildflower season between March and May, you’ll be treated to a kaleidoscope of color splashed across the landscape.
What to do in Pinnacles National Park with kids
If you’re based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Pinnacles National Park is a short 2.5-hour drive from San Francisco, perfect for a day trip or a weekend of camping. It’s important to mention there are two entrances: the west and the east.
The east entrance is closest to the Bay Area, while the west is closest to Monterey, gateway to the stunning stretch of coast known as Big Sur. There are no roads connecting the two, so you cannot drive through the park. You can access all of these trails from both entrances by foot, but if you are driving into the campground you must go through the east entrance.
Best trails for toddlers in Pinnacles National Park
The best trails for toddlers in Pinnacles National Park are also the best for everyone! These are my top recommendations. There aren’t a ton of paved trails in Pinnacles National Park, so I would recommend a toddler carrier for when the going gets tough.
Bear Gulch Cave Trail
This short trail is so fun and is easily one of the best things to do with kids at Pinnacles National Park! Park at the Moses Springs parking area (a tiny car park, that usually fills up before 9 am on a weekend) or at Bear Gulch. Take the Moses Spring Trail and follow the signs for the caves. It’s a short, and thanks to the oak trees, shady ascent. Stick to the path and pick your way through these talus caves, formed by ancient tumbled boulders.
Bring a headlamp or use your phone light as some sections get pretty dark. I bring the kids’ LED light beanies whenever we visit.
Once you have explored the caves, head back out the same way you came in, or continue up the steep set of stairs carved into the rock. At the top is a peaceful reservoir. Take the Rim Trail, which then connects to the High Peaks Trail, to return to the Moses Spring parking area.
Bench Trail
If you’re looking for a flat trail with plenty of shade, the Bench Trail is perfect. Starting from the campground, the refreshing sound of the creek accompanies you along the path, while Valley Oak trees provide a welcome canopy. After about a mile, you can switch to the Sycamore Trail for Bear Gulch, or continue to the Old Pinnacles trailhead.
Best trails for older kids and teens
If your kids can handle some (OK a lot) of uphill trudging, you can head into the heart of the park and get a close look at those otherworldly pinnacles. Bring plenty of water and if you are visiting during the summer months, plan to complete your hike by 10 am, as the temperatures can hit triple digits.
High Peaks Trail
This is one of those “it will be worth it for the view” hikes starting with a long, exposed climb. After catching your breath, admire the namesake granite rock formations, wildflowers cascading over the hillsides, and if you’re lucky, rare condors gliding overhead. Start from the Bear Gulch parking area and walk 1.7 miles along the Condor Gulch trail to the High Peaks trail. Follow the High Peaks trail through meadows, up rock steps in the “steep and narrow section”, and eventually down into shady woodland. This was a long walk at over seven miles, but a lot of fun.
Old Pinnacles Trail to Balconies Cave
The Balconies is the bigger brother to Bear Gulch Caves. The 5.3-mile there-and-back hike to the talus formation tracks the Chalone Creek, and sometimes involves crossing. If there has been a lot of recent rain, the caves may not be accessible, so check with a ranger first. While you could get away without a flashlight in Bear Gulch Caves, the Balconies are dark and spooky, so be sure to pack headlamps and waterproof shoes.
The Balconies are also accessible from the west entrance, and the trail from this side is shorter at 2.3 miles.
Pinnacles National Park camping
One of my favorite things to do with kids at Pinnacles National Park is Spend the night at the beautiful campsite, which includes access to an outdoor swimming pool during the summer. It’s a lot easier to motivate kids to hike in the morning with a promise of pool time and ice cream in the afternoon. Myself too, If I’m honest.
Book a tent, RV site or tent cabin through Recreation.gov. In addition to the camp shop and pool, there is a bathroom block with showers. Leashed dogs are allowed in the campground and on paved routes through the park.
All sites feature a picnic table and fire pit, with firewood available for sale at the camp shop.
The tent cabins are a great alternative to tent camping. The cabins sleep four and include a deck. You’ll need to bring your own bedding (you can rent anything you need at Sports Basement).
Where to stay in Pinnacles National Park
The only place to stay inside the park is at the campsite. If you are traveling from the Bay Area to the east entrance, Hollister is the nearest city with hotels. Stay at Casa de Fruta Cabins, a roadside fruit stand so popular it’s now a destination in itself.
The closest accommodation outside the park on the west side is at Inn at the Pinnacles or the Motel 8 in Soledad. You could also make this a day trip from Monterey, a beautiful coastal city located just over an hour away.
Getting around Pinnacles National Park
During busy times (public holidays, weekends in spring) the smaller parking lots by the trailheads fill early. There are usually spots available by the campground. This means that you may have a long walk just to get to the trailhead, so take this into account when you visit.
There used to be a shuttle bus that would take visitors to the trailheads but it wasn’t running the last time we came. The best way to ensure a spot is to camp in the park so you can hit the trail nice and early.
