Temporary Operational Guidelines

• All parking lots and most trails on the east side of the park. Weekend and holiday visitors are encourages to arrive prior to 8:00 am to ensure a parking spot.
• All west side parking lots and trails.
• Bear Gulch Nature Center and West Visitor Center are open based on staff availability.
• Shuttle Services are operational, but masks are still required while on board per TSA regulations.
• CAVES have resumed normal closure schedule (Balconies is open and Bear Gulch Cave are following the annual cave closure cycle).
• The Pinnacles Campground; reservations can be made at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777

The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Pinnacles National Park, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance, and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.

While these areas are accessible for visitors to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services may be limited. When recreating, the public should follow local area health orders, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding and avoid high-risk outdoor activities.

The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19, and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I enter the park from the West Entrance?

Yes, the West entrance (Soledad side) of the park is open to vehicles for day-use. You must enter the park between the hours of 7:30 am and 8:00 pm. Restrooms, water, and maps are available.The Visitor Center is opened based on available staffing.

Can I enter the park from the East Entrance?

Yes, the East entrance (Hollister side) is open for day-use, this includes hiking, climbing and picnicking. All parking areas are open. 24 hours, 7 days a week. The official park store is open 9am-4pm, Thursday-Monday. The campground is open and is accepting reservations. Please visit recreation.gov to make reservations or call 1-877-444-6777

What facilities and services are closed?

Nothing due to COVID at this time, though staffing limitations may close facilities on any given day.

Which facilities and services are open?

All trails.The Bear Gulch Reservoir loop is still accessible as well as the High Peaks trail to Balconies Cliffs loop.

The park book store is now open! Store hours are Wednesday through Monday, 9:00 am to 4:00 PM.

The Nature Center on the east side and West side Visitor Contact Station are open based on staff availability.

The campground is open! Visit recreation.gov to make reservations. The campground store is open 9am to 5pm, 7-days a week. Please call [phone] for more information.

All restrooms in the park are open but will be closed more frequently for cleaning. The pit toilet at Scout's Peak is open.

Which trails are closed?

All Trails are open but the Bear Gulch caves are following the annual cave closure cycle.

Can I go through the caves?

Caves have returned to normal operations check the cave page for current status.

Can I still camp in the park?

The campground is open! Please visit recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 to make reservations. For more information on campground facilities please call [phone].

My county has a shelter-in-place order, can I still visit the park?

Please check all shelter-in-place orders for your state/county as well as any orders for counties you will be passing through on your way to the park for guidance.

People who choose to visit Pinnacles National Park during this pandemic are encouraged to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safe and healthy.


Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.