Pinnacles National Park
A cool experience with 6 to 10 mile hikes
Driving to and sleeping at a campground
Ideal for first-timers
Places we've visited and fallen in love with
Trip · 3-day camping trip
For · Friends and new campers
Vibe · Relaxing and chill
Reservations · Yes, reserve a spot at Pinnacles Campground
Drive · 2.5 hours from SF
Ideal dates · March to May or September to October
Pets · Welcome at camp, but not on trails
Pinnacles National Park (PNP) is the newest national park in California, but its infamous rock formations are more than 23 million years old! What's left from volcanic activity has become a popular destination for rock climbers, cave divers, and campers. The park only has 30 miles of trails so backpacking isn't allowed, but come for the otherworldly rocks and stay for the spectacular stargazing.
Official National Park Website
Current Park and Trail Conditions
Main image credit: Gregory Gnesio
Each campsite comes with a:
Pinnacles Campground is the only place to camp within the park, but it has everything. Nestled among oak trees on the eastern side of the park, this comfy campground has tent, RV, group campsites and tent cabins available. There are restrooms, drinking water, hot showers (for a fee), a general store (for ice and firewood), and a swimming pool (open from April to September) on site. You can reserve a spot up to six months ahead so be sure to swoop one while they're still available!
Check-in: After 1 PM · Check-out: 11 AM
Quiet hours: 10 PM to 6 AM
Nightly Fee: $49
Pinnacles National Park has been a national monument since 1908, but President Obama re-designated it as a national park in 2013.
Bear Gulch and Balconies Caves are home to colonies of big-eared bats, and open to the public for certain parts of the year. Check the schedule.
PNP was home to several Native American groups: Chalon and Mutsun, which were part of the Ohlone people.
California red-legged frogs are an endangered species in PNP. You might be able to spot them when you hike to Bear Gulch Reservoir.
You won't be saving money, but you'll save space and weight with these camp sandals.
Clothes
Sleepover! This is a tent you can stand up in and have plenty of space for air mattresses, doggos, and more.
Shared Gear
A reliable, popular, and relatively affordable dual-burner camping stove that is fairly heavy, but performs well.
Kitchen
It's pricey, but the New York Times' Wirecutter recommended this attachment as a way for wheelchair users to navigate uneven terrain.
Essential Items
Instead of transporting stuff on your lap, use this storage bag to easily store items underneath your wheelchair.
Essential Items
Never dig around your pack to find some hand sanitizer. Instead, hang this one on the outside of your pack.
Personal Stuff
If you're an experienced backpacker, this is the lightest full-size, full-featured, frameless pack made.
Essential Items
Add a little magic to your experience by hanging these twinkling lights around your tent every night.
Shared Gear
Sometimes you just want a camp chair that gets the job done. Nothing glamorous or fancy. Well, this is it.
Shared Gear
The more you backpack the lighter your shelter becomes, and the lighter it is, the more expensive it can be.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.
