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Pinnacles National Park

California · Established January 10, 2013

Half a volcano, carried north along the San Andreas Fault

Area: 26,686 acres
Established: January 10, 2013
Recreation visits: 343,208 / yr
State: California
Highest point: North Chalone Peak, 3,304 ft (1,007 m)
Lowest point: South Chalone Creek, 824 ft (251 m)

Pinnacles Weather Forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast for Pinnacles…

Seven-day outlook at the park's reference point (36.490, -121.181). Elevation changes everything in the mountains — expect colder, windier and wetter conditions on high ground.

Map of Pinnacles National Park

The Park

In the dry hills of California's Gabilan Range, a jagged crest of rhyolite and breccia rises above oak woodland and chaparral. These are the Pinnacles, the eroded remains of a volcanic field that erupted some 23 million years ago far to the southeast and has since been carried roughly 195 miles north by the slow slide of the Pacific Plate along the San Andreas Fault.

Theodore Roosevelt set aside the spires as a national monument in 1908, and Congress made them a national park on January 10, 2013. The park covers about 26,686 acres. Visitors come for the talus caves, the rock climbing, one of the richest bee faunas known, and a chance to watch California condors soaring over the High Peaks.

Geography

Pinnacles lies in the southern Gabilan Range of California's Coast Ranges, several ranges inland from the Pacific. The park straddles the boundary between San Benito and Monterey counties, and no road crosses it: the east entrance leads to the campground and Bear Gulch, the west entrance to the Chaparral area, and only trails link the two.

The High Peaks form a rough spine of towers between the two sides. Chalone Creek and its tributaries drain the eastern half, running through a broad valley that marks an old trace of the fault. Narrow gorges such as Bear Gulch and the Balconies cleft hold the talus caves, where house-sized boulders have wedged shut the tops of slot canyons.

Landmarks

North Chalone PeakPeak · 3,304 ftThe park's summit, topped by a fire lookout with views to the Salinas Valley.
South Chalone PeakPeakThe second-highest summit, reached by a remote trail beyond North Chalone.
Hawkins PeakPeakOne of the rugged volcanic high points of the High Peaks ridge.
Scout PeakPeakA trail junction summit where the High Peaks Trail meets the steep and narrow section.
Machete RidgeAreaA serrated fin of rock above the Balconies, popular with climbers.
Balconies CaveCaveA boulder-roofed talus cave in a narrow gorge below the Balconies cliffs.
Bear Gulch CaveCaveA talus cave that shelters a colony of Townsend's big-eared bats and closes seasonally to protect them.
Bear Gulch ReservoirLakeA small reservoir above the cave, set among volcanic cliffs.
Condor Gulch OverlookValleyA viewpoint facing the High Peaks, a good place to scan for soaring condors.
Frog CanyonCanyonA small side canyon on the east slope of the Bear Gulch drainage.
Chalone CreekRiverThe main drainage of the park, following the trace of the Chalone Creek Fault.
Pinnacles Visitor CenterAreaThe east-side visitor hub beside the campground on Chalone Creek.

Geology

The oldest rock in the park is granite and granodiorite, crystallized from magma deep underground roughly 78 to 100 million years ago. Faulting and erosion later brought this basement rock to the surface, where it now forms the western side of the park beyond the Pinnacles Fault.

About 23 million years ago, rhyolitic magma broke through fissures and vents near the then-young boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. Early lava flows were buried by explosive eruptions and by great landslides of volcanic rubble that raced down the flanks, likely as underwater debris flows. These piled up into the thick, welded breccia that makes up the High Peaks.

The volcanic field sat astride the growing San Andreas Fault system. As the Pacific Plate crept northwest, it tore the field apart and carried the western portion roughly 195 miles from its twin near Lancaster in the Mojave Desert, where the Neenach Volcanics remain. The Chalone Creek Fault, still active, is thought to mark where the San Andreas ran when the volcano erupted.

Weathering along joints and fractures has since sculpted the breccia into spires, domes, and fins. Where huge blocks toppled into narrow fault-guided gorges and jammed before hitting bottom, they roofed over passages and created the talus caves of Bear Gulch and the Balconies.

Deep time

100–78 million years agoGranite and granodiorite of the park's basement crystallize deep underground.
About 23 million years agoThe Pinnacles–Neenach volcanic field erupts rhyolite, andesite, dacite, and pyroclastic debris.
About 23 million years agoVolcanic landslides accumulate as the thick breccia now forming the High Peaks.
Last 23 million yearsMovement along the San Andreas Fault system carries the Pinnacles about 195 miles northwest of the Neenach Volcanics.
OngoingErosion along fractures carves spires, while fallen boulders roof over gorges to form talus caves.

The rocks

Granitic basement (granite and granodiorite)Late Cretaceous, 100–78 Ma
The oldest rocks in the park, exposed west of the Pinnacles Fault.
Pinnacles Volcanic FormationEarly Miocene, about 23 Ma
Banded and massive rhyolite with andesite, dacite, and pyroclastic units.
Volcanic breccia of the High PeaksEarly Miocene, about 23 Ma
Welded rubble from volcanic landslides, sculpted into the park's signature spires.
Temblor FormationMiocene
A fanglomerate of granitic and volcanic debris shed from nearby highlands onto an ancient alluvial fan.

Trees, Plants & Ecosystems

627vascular plant species recorded

Chaparral1,000–3,304 ft
Dense, fire-adapted shrubland of chamise, manzanita, and buckbrush covers most of the park's slopes.
Oak and gray pine woodland900–2,500 ft
Blue oak, live oaks, and gray pine dot grassy hillsides and supply acorns for woodpeckers, jays, and deer.
Riparian woodland824–1,500 ft
Sycamores, cottonwoods, and willows shade seasonal creeks that support the threatened California red-legged frog.
Rock outcrops and talus caves1,000–3,000 ft
Cliffs and caves shelter nesting prairie falcons, roosting condors, and more than a dozen species of bats.
Grassland and savanna824–2,000 ft
Open slopes that fill with poppies, lupines, and brodiaeas in wet springs.

Trees

Blue oakQuercus douglasiiA drought-tolerant oak with bluish leaves that dominates dry foothill slopes.
Valley oakQuercus lobataCalifornia's largest oak, found on deeper soils in the lower valleys.
Coast live oakQuercus agrifoliaAn evergreen oak with holly-like leaves that shades canyon bottoms.
Canyon live oakQuercus chrysolepisA tough evergreen oak of rocky slopes with golden-fuzzed acorn cups.
Interior live oakQuercus wislizeniAn evergreen oak that grows as a tree or shrub within the chaparral.
Gray pinePinus sabinianaA wispy pine with heavy cones, silvery against the brush.
California buckeyeAesculus californicaBlooms in fragrant candles in spring and drops its leaves by midsummer to avoid drought.
California sycamorePlatanus racemosaA mottled-bark giant of creek beds such as Chalone Creek.
Fremont cottonwoodPopulus fremontiiGrows where water stays near the surface along streams.
Red willowSalix laevigataA streamside willow shading the park's seasonal pools.

Wildflowers, shrubs & other plants

ChamiseAdenostoma fasciculatumThe most widespread chaparral shrub, blooming white in late spring.
Bigberry manzanitaArctostaphylos glaucaA shrub with smooth red bark and pale blue-green leaves.
BuckbrushCeanothus cuneatusA wild lilac that scents the chaparral with white blossoms in early spring.
Black sageSalvia melliferaA fragrant sage whose flowers feed the park's many native bees.
ToyonHeteromeles arbutifoliaAn evergreen shrub with bright red winter berries.
Pacific poison oakToxicodendron diversilobumCommon along trails; learn its three glossy leaflets before hiking.
Chaparral yuccaHesperoyucca whippleiSends up a towering stalk of creamy flowers once, then dies.
California poppyEschscholzia californicaThe state flower, orange on grassy slopes in March and April.
Blue dicksDichelostemma capitatumClusters of violet flowers on slender stems among the grass.
Butterfly mariposa lilyCalochortus venustusA cup-shaped lily with painted petals that blooms in late spring.
Woolly yerba santaEriodictyon tomentosumA felted, aromatic shrub that thrives after fire.
Crimson monkeyflowerMimulus cardinalisScarlet tubular flowers along wet seeps that attract hummingbirds.
Goldback fernPentagramma triangularisIts fronds are dusted gold beneath and curl up in the dry season.
California maidenhairAdiantum jordaniiA delicate fern tucked into shady cave mouths and gorges.

Wildlife

49mammals
159birds
21reptiles
7amphibians
2fish

Mammals

Mountain lionPuma concolorThe top predator in the park, rarely seen but present throughout.
BobcatLynx rufusSometimes spotted hunting ground squirrels at dawn.
CoyoteCanis latransCommon in grassland and oak savanna.
Gray foxUrocyon cinereoargenteusA tree-climbing fox of the chaparral.
American badgerTaxidea taxusDigs for ground squirrels in open grassy areas.
Black-tailed deerOdocoileus hemionusBrowses in oak woodland, especially near the campground.
Wild pigSus scrofaA non-native species that damages native plants and soils, managed with a boundary fence.
California ground squirrelSpermophilus beecheyiAbundant around picnic areas and a staple food for raptors.
Dusky-footed woodratNeotoma fuscipesBuilds large stick lodges in the shade of oaks.
Townsend's big-eared batCorynorhinus townsendiiA sensitive bat whose maternity colony uses Bear Gulch Cave.
Pallid batAntrozous pallidusFeeds on large insects and scorpions picked from the ground.
Yuma myotisMyotis yumanensisSkims insects from reservoirs and pools at night.

Birds

California condorGymnogyps californianusThe largest land bird in North America, released here since 2003 and often seen over the High Peaks.
Turkey vultureCathartes auraMuch more common than condors; look for the tilting, V-shaped glide.
Prairie falconFalco mexicanusNests on volcanic cliffs; some climbing routes close seasonally to protect them.
Peregrine falconFalco peregrinusA cliff-nesting falcon famous for its high-speed stoops.
Golden eagleAquila chrysaetosHunts across the open ridges and grassland.
White-throated swiftAeronautes saxatalisRaces around the spires in chattering flocks.
Acorn woodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusStores acorns in granary trees and lives in noisy family groups.
California quailCallipepla californicaCoveys scurry across trails in the brush.
WrentitChamaea fasciataIts bouncing-ball song is the voice of the chaparral.
California towheePipilo crissalisA plain brown ground bird common near picnic areas.
California scrub-jayAphelocoma californicaA bold blue jay that plants oaks by burying acorns.
Western bluebirdSialia mexicanaFlycatches from low branches in the oak savanna.

Reptiles & amphibians

California red-legged frogRana aurora draytoniiA threatened frog that has rebounded in park creeks after non-native bullfrogs were removed.
Gabilan Mountains slender salamanderBatrachoseps gavilanensisA tiny, worm-like salamander of moist leaf litter.
EnsatinaEnsatina eschscholtziiA lungless salamander found under logs in wet months.
Western toadBufo boreasBreeds in pools along creeks in late winter.
Pacific treefrogHyla regillaIts ribbit chorus fills the canyons after winter rains.
Coast horned lizardPhrynosoma coronatumA spiny, ant-eating lizard of sandy openings.
Western fence lizardSceloporus occidentalisThe blue-bellied lizard doing push-ups on sunny rocks.
Western rattlesnakeCrotalus oreganusVenomous but shy, most active on warm spring days.

Species totals are the park's certified NPSpecies checklist (occurrence: present).

Climate & When to Visit

Pinnacles has a Mediterranean climate shaped by its position a few ranges inland from the Pacific. The coastal fog rarely reaches this far, so summers are hot and almost rainless, with afternoon temperatures that regularly pass 100°F. Winters are mild, with highs often in the 60s, and nearly all of the roughly 16.5 inches of annual rain falls between late fall and spring.

Because the air is dry and the valleys lie low, temperatures swing widely between day and night in every season. Frost is common on clear winter mornings in Chalone Creek's valley, while the rock of the High Peaks can radiate heat long after sunset in summer. Winter storms can briefly flood the talus caves and close them.

Spring
The finest season, with green hills, peak wildflower bloom, flowing creeks, and comfortable hiking temperatures.
Summer
Hot and dry, often above 100°F by afternoon; hike early and carry plenty of water.
Autumn
Still warm and dry into October, with cooler nights and occasional first rains by November.
Winter
Mild days, frosty mornings, and periodic rainstorms that bring the creeks and caves back to life.

Weather hazards

Extreme heat: Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F with little shade on exposed trails, so start early.
Flooded caves: Heavy winter rain can fill parts of the talus caves; check cave status before entering.
Wildfire: Dry chaparral burns readily in late summer and fall, and fire restrictions are common.
Poison oak: Abundant along trails and creeks; wear long pants and avoid brushing against shiny three-leaflet shrubs.
Rockfall and steep trails: Parts of the High Peaks Trail are narrow and carved into cliffs, so watch your footing.

Pinnacles Questions

When is the best time to visit Pinnacles National Park?

Spring, from about February through May, brings wildflowers, running creeks, and mild temperatures. Autumn and winter are pleasant too, while summer is often too hot for midday hiking.

Can I see California condors at Pinnacles?

Yes. The park is part of the condor recovery program and releases birds here, and condors are often seen soaring over the High Peaks and Condor Gulch, especially in the morning and late afternoon.

How did the Pinnacles form?

They are the eroded remains of a volcanic field that erupted about 23 million years ago near present-day Lancaster. Movement along the San Andreas Fault carried this portion roughly 195 miles northwest, and erosion shaped the breccia into spires.

Are the caves at Pinnacles real caves?

They are talus caves, formed when giant boulders fell into narrow gorges and wedged overhead. Bear Gulch Cave closes part of the year to protect a bat colony, and both caves can close after heavy rain.

What is the weather like at Pinnacles?

Summers are hot and dry, often topping 100°F, and winters are mild with highs in the 60s and most of the year's rain. Day-to-night temperature swings are large in all seasons.

Is there a road through Pinnacles National Park?

No road connects the east and west entrances. The two sides are linked only by trails, so drivers must choose one entrance or make a long detour around the park.

More parks in the Pacific West

← Petrified Forest National Park Redwood National and State Parks →

Sources: www.nps.gov · home.nps.gov · home.nps.gov · irmaservices.nps.gov · en.wikipedia.org · Official NPS site