News Release

Pinnacles National Park Re-Opens, Some Closures Remain

Date: January 13, 2023
Contact: Chris Symons

Pinnacles National Park is re-opening as scheduled Friday, 1/13/23, after closing due to flooding and hazardous conditions earlier this week. While some damage and storm conditions remain, the park is able to resume operations on both sides Friday morning.

A few trails and roads will remain closed as they require continued servicing, or more time to allow hazards to abate; The Balconies and Bear Gulch caves, the Old Pinnacles Trail, the Chaparral parking lot, and the Chalone Peak trail beginning at the reservoir, are closed pending further repairs. The rest of the park is once again open to visitation and hiking. Visitors are still strongly encouraged to exercise caution as hazards may still remain from the storm, and new hazards can always arise from continued rain and wind conditions.

Tree and rock falls on roads and trails, rivers running over the roads and trails at stream crossings, and washes covered in mud or sand are the most common environmental hazards a visitor is likely to encounter when visiting after a storm. Use extreme caution when recreating in wild spaces, such as National Parks! Conditions can change rapidly, and don’t always reflect the expectations of current weather when in more developed places like cities. Especially with existing trail closures, it is critical that visitors plan ahead, as certain routes may not be passable due to closures and hazards.