Pinnacles National Park — Highway 146
Paicines, CA Hours and Location

5000 Highway 146
Paicines, CA   95043Driving Directions
Phone: (831)389-4486(831)389-4486 Maps & Directions

https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyou...

National Park

Operating Hours & Seasons

East Side Entrance

Entrance to the east side of Pinnacles National Park is always open.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:12:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Monday:12:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Tuesday:12:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Wednesday:12:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Thursday:12:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Friday:12:00 AM-12:00 AM
• Saturday:12:00 AM-12:00 AM

West Side Entrance

The west side entrance gate opens at 7:30 AM and closes automatically at 8:00 PM daily. Vehicles will still be able to exit the park after the gate closes.

Standard Hours

• Sunday:7:30 AM-8:00 PM
• Monday:7:30 AM-8:00 PM
• Tuesday:7:30 AM-8:00 PM
• Wednesday:7:30 AM-8:00 PM
• Thursday:7:30 AM-8:00 PM
• Friday:7:30 AM-8:00 PM
• Saturday:7:30 AM-8:00 PM

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

• $15.00 - Private, Non-Commercial Vehicles (including motorcycles)
  Valid for 7 days
• $10.00 - Individual, Hike / Bicycle
  Valid for 7 days
• $10.00 - Organized, Non-Commercial Groups
  Visitors 16 years and older (i.e. service organizations, scouts, church groups, and college/school clubs) in buses and vehicles with 16 passenger capacity or more. Valid for 7 days
• $25.00 - Commercial Vehicle, 1 to 6 passenger capacity
  7 days for original manifest
• $40.00 - Commercial Vehicle, 7 to 25 passenger capacity
  7 days for original manifest
• $100.00 - Commercial Tour Bus or Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity
  7 days for original manifest

Entrance Passes:

• $0.00 - U.S. Military Annual Pass
  Available to U.S. military members and dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Reserve, and National Guard members. Must be obtained in person at a Federal recreation site by showing a Common Access Card (CAC) or Military ID (Form 1173).
• $20.00 - Senior Inter-Agency Annual Pass
  For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship. May provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees. Does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.
• $25.00 - Pinnacles National Park Annual Pass
  Admits the purchaser and their passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle or the pass holder and their companions when entry is by other means (i.e. foot, bicycle). Nontransferable, nonrefundable, and does not cover camping fees.
• $80.00 - Annual Inter-Agency Pass
  Can be obtained in person at a federal recreation site, or by calling 1-888-ASK USGS (1-888-275-8747), Ext. 3 (Hours of operation are: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Mountain time). Or online by visiting the USGS store. http://store.usgs.gov/ This Pass is non-transferable.
• $80.00 - Senior Inter-Agency Lifetime Pass
  For U.S. citizens or permanent residents age 62 or over. Applicants must provide documentation of age and residency or citizenship. May provide a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees. Does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires.

About

Born of Fire

Some 23 million years ago multiple volcanoes erupted, flowed, and slid to form what would become Pinnacles National Park. What remains is a unique landscape. Travelers journey through chaparral, oak woodlands, and canyon bottoms. Hikers enter rare talus caves and emerge to towering rock spires teeming with life: prairie and peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and the inspiring California condor.

Directions

Pinnacles National Park is accessible through highway 101 for the West entrance, and highway 25 for the East entrance. From highway 101 you must pass through the City of Soledad to find highway 146 which will lead to West side of Pinnacles. To enter East Pinnacles you must find highway 25 through the City of Hollister coming from the North, and King City through Bitter Water Road (G-13) when coming from the South.

Visitor Centers

East Visitor Center

The East Visitor Center is located 30 miles south of Hollister off of Highway 25. It is open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM daily. West Visitor Contact Station

The West Visitor Contact Station serves as the primary facility on the West Side of the park. Stop by to pay entrance fees, get hiking suggestions, and learn more about the park. It is open from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm daily.

Weather

Pinnacles National Park has a Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers, and mild winters with moderate precipitation. The park is several miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. A wider variation in seasonal temperatures can be expected in the local area. On July or August day, daytime temperatures over 100° F are not uncommon, but a bright sunny day can turn into a very cold night.

Permits and Reservations Information