What makes it great: Pinnacles is California’s smallest national park, making it an ideal choice for short-term visitors.
But don’t let its size fool you: With hiking, caving and condor spotting, there’s no shortage of things to do.
Most of the park’s caves are accessible to visitors in fall, winter and spring, when the bat population is hibernating, as Christopher Reynolds learned on a recent trip. For hikers, it’s hard to beat the views from High Peaks Trail and Condor Gulch Trail.
For all its good qualities, Pinnacles poses some logistical challenges, Reynolds writes. There’s very little parking, which is especially problematic on weekends and holidays when the park gets “extremely high visitation.”
The solution? Visit on a weekday or arrive early. “Expect long lines and delays getting into the park between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m,” park management said.
Where to stay: Pinnacles Campground, accessible only from the park’s east side, offers 134 sites, plus a swimming pool that is usually open from mid-April through the end of September, depending on weather.
Hotels near the park are somewhat few and far between, but the Inn at the Pinnacles offers a few upscale suites for any park visitors interested in splurging.
Bonus tip: Less than an hour and a half from Monterey, Pinnacles is a great stop to incorporate on a Highway 1 road trip along the Central Coast. Driving north from Los Angeles, spend a day exploring Paso Robles wine country, followed by a day hiking through Pinnacles. Then, loop around to the coast, taking Highway 1 back to Southern California.