Pinnacles National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Pinnacles National Park East Visitor Center

  Pick up some supplies or ask about the latest information before venturing into the park.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2

  A flat, half mile round trip walk from the visitor center takes you to what remains of the Bacon Family Ranch, including the house and barn. You're not able to go inside the buildings, but the walk is pleasant with plentiful bird life.

  20 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 3

  A few picnic tables and a vault restroom sit in front of a meadow along the Chalone Creek, making for a pleasant place to sit and look for wildlife.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 4

  A 5 mile round trip, moderate hike takes you to the West Pinnacles area around Balconies Cave. The hike goes past brush and rock formations, and crosses seasonal creeks.

  2 hours • Admission ticket free
• 5

  This is the most popular part of the park and includes a nature center, restrooms, and multiple trailheads. Condor Gulch begins at the trailhead across the street from the nature center, close to the road. For the Condor Gulch viewpoint only, it's a moderate hike one mile round trip, going uphill in and downhill on the return. To complete the Condor Gulch to High Peaks Trail loop, it's over 5 miles round trip and considered difficult, requiring 3-5 hours. Prepare for steep or narrow sections, and some ladders built directly into the rock for steep ascents. For the Moses Spring and Rim Trail Loop, continue on the path along the road to reach the trailhead.

  2 hours • Admission ticket free
• 6

  The Moses Spring-Rim Trail loop is the most popular trail in the park, taking you into a talus cave and up to a reservoir. The hike is a little over 2 miles round trip and considered moderate. We recommend doing the loop clockwise for an easier entry into Bear Gulch cave. You will need a light stronger than a phone's flashlight in the cave, which takes around 10 minutes to walk through. It's possible to bypass the cave.

  2 hours • Admission ticket free
• 7

  Use the restroom, fill up the water bottle, and ask for the lastest information before venturing further into the park. The trailhead to the Prewett Point Trail is located next to the visitor center.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 8

  An overlooked gem! Prewett Point Trail is about a mile round trip, and considered easy. The path is primarily dirt but is ADA accessible, and takes you to open views of the pinnacles and Gabilan Mountains.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 9

  This is the best trailhead in West Pinnacles. The Balconies Cliff and Cave loop trail is about 2.5 miles round trip and considered moderate. It takes you past stunning pinnacles and cliffs, and into one of the park's talus caves. The cave requires a small amount of climbing and bouldering around rocks, and also requires a light stronger than a phone flashlight. We recommend taking the loop clockwise for easier access into the cave, and you can climb up instead of down in the dark. The Juniper Canyon Loop is over 4 miles round trip and considered difficult. It goes up into the pinnacles and connects with the High Peaks trail for an even longer journey.

  2 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
• The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.

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