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Pinnacles National Park is one of the most underrated national parks in California, if not the entire United States. While it’s not ideal for sightseeing while driving, there are several incredible hikes in Pinnacles National Park. Although there is only 30 miles of trail, there is a hike that meets everyone’s desires!
Choosing a trail
A few things that you should consider when choosing a hiking trail in Pinnacles include the following:
Which side of the park are you on?
Pinnacles National Park has a West entrance and an East entrance. The road doesn’t connect inside the park, so the only way to get through the entire park to the other side is on foot. Unless you are interested in hiking across the park, you should find the trails that are on the side that you entered through.
How long do you want to hike?
Pinnacles National Park has a wide range of trail options that range from 0.9 miles to 9.4 miles!
What level of difficulty do you want?
Hikes in Pinnacles National Park are categorized into three levels: easy, moderate, or strenuous.
What kind of scenery and environment are you looking for?
While all of the hikes include some gorgeous scenery, some are different from others! Determine what you are looking for in your hike. Are you looking for a shady hike or to be in the sunlight? Do you want to explore caves? Rock climb? Are you searching for a scenic viewpoint?
You should take all these components into consideration when selecting the best trail to hike. Now let’s look at the 5 best hikes in Pinnacles National Park and what makes them so great!
1. Chalone Peak Trail
Let’s start with a tough one! This strenuous trail is 9 miles roundtrip and increases in elevation by 2,040 feet. The trail takes you up to the highest point of the park for you to enjoy stunning views of the surrounding valleys. Make sure to keep an eye out for rare California condors!
You can access the Chalone Peak Trail from the east entrance. Park in the Moses Spring Parking area and take either the Moses Spring Trail or Rim Trail to Bear Gulch Reservoir. There, you will find the start to the Chalone Peak Trail.
2. Condor Gulch to High Peaks Loop
It’s not quite as lengthy as the Chalone Peak Trail, but you can still expect a strenuous hike on the Condor Gulch to High Peaks Loop trail! The trail is 5.3 miles roundtrip and consists of a steep, narrow section for our adventurous hikers! You’ll never run out of amazing views of the high pinnacles and unique rock formations on this trail. Again, this trail is a good option to catch a glimpse of a magnificent California condor.
You can access this trail by parking in the Bear Gulch Day Use Area on the east side of the park. Then, follow signs for the Condor Gulch Trail across the street from the main parking lot.
3. Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
If you are looking for a short hike that still gives you the opportunity to scramble over rocks, explore talus caves, and catch a glimpse of a stunning reservoir, the Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop is for you. I am particularly biased towards this trail, because it is the first trail I hiked that made me fall in love with Pinnacles National Park. The scenery is stunning, and the trail is so varied that you will never get bored. This hike will also take you straight to Bear Gulch Cave if you want to take a detour and spend some time exploring. The trail is 2.2 miles round trip (not including the detour for the Bear Gulch cave) and is categorized as moderate.
You can access this trail by parking in the Moses Spring Parking Area on the east side of the park. (Note: when you start hiking the trail, you will come to a fork in the path that can be confusing. Go left!)
4. Balconies Cliffs-Cave Loop
If you want to explore some more caves, Balconies Cave is your other option. This cave is located on the west side of the park so is perfect if you came in through the west entrance. At 2.4 miles round trip, this trail is rated as easy to moderate, making it an ideal option for a quick hike. The trail is great for rock scrambling and scenic views.
You can access the Balconies Cliffs-Cave Loop via the Chapparal Parking Area on the west side of the park.
5. Jupiter Canyon Loop
Jupiter Canyon Loop is the way to go if you are looking to experience the excitement of the steep, narrow section of the High Peaks Trail without hiking the whole trail. At 4.3 miles round trip, the Jupiter Canyon Loop will take you up the steep Jupiter Canyon Trail to a portion of the High Peaks Trail before you descend down the Tunnel Trail. Don’t be fooled by the shorter trail length though; this hike is still classified as strenuous according to the National Park Service.
You can access the Jupiter Canyon Loop from the Chapparal Parking Area on the west side of the park.
Pinnacles National Park is a gem that not enough people know about or appreciate! These hiking trails will show you why this park is underrated, and you will want to share it with others like I am with you!
How to Help
The best way to help and protect national parks is to travel and hike sustainably. Pinnacles National Park is a treasure, so we should all do our part to ensure that it remains pristine for all to enjoy. To financially support Pinnacles National Park, you can make a donation here.
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