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A smartphone displaying a map with audio points and tour stops over a rocky landscape with a reflective water body. 1
A smartphone displaying a map with a route, a satisfaction guarantee, and a local music option. 2
Two people hiking on a rocky trail with large boulders and sparse vegetation. 3
A narrow canyon with a rock formation balancing on a ledge, a rocky trail, and a clear blue sky. 4
A rocky canyon with a dirt path, sparse vegetation, and large rock formations. 5

Pinnacles National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

By Shaka Guide Apps
Free cancellation available
Price is NZ$23 per traveller* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple travellers
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 9h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

Explore Pinnacles National Park with a tour that plays from your phone as you drive and hike. Start on the east or west side, follow clear GPS directions, and choose the stops that fit your day.

This hidden California park feels wild and quiet. Walk past tall rock spires, dry hills, and giant boulders stacked in narrow canyons. Stop near the Pinnacles Visitor Centre, Bacon Family Ranch, Peaks View Picnic Area, and Bear Gulch Day Use Area. Hike the Moses Spring and Rim Trail Loop, step into cool talus caves, and look up for California condors soaring above the cliffs.

Your phone shares stories about the old volcano that made these strange peaks. It also points out trailheads, picnic spots, rest areas, and local tips along the way. Once set up, the tour works without cell service, so you can keep exploring even when the signal drops.

Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours

Activity location

  • Pinnacles National Park East Visitor Center
    • 5000 Highway 146
    • 95043, Paicines, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Pinnacles Highway
    • Pinnacles Highway
    • 95043, San Benito County, California, United States

Check availability

Pinnacles National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour in English

  • Activity duration is 9 hours9h
    9h
  • Opening hours: Thu 12:00 am-11:30 pm
  • English
Language options: English
Price details
NZ$22.77 x 1 TravellerNZ$22.77
Total
Price is NZ$22.77

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Pause, rewind, or replay anytime
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Lifetime access after purchase
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Built-in turn-by-turn route guidance
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Self-paced experience with no fixed start time
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Storytelling based on first-hand travel and research
  • What's includedWhat's included
    GPS-triggered audio with automatic playback at each stop
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Offline access after download
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Private Transport
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Entrance Fees
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Parking Fees
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Meals & Refreshments

Know before you book

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Travellers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
  • The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
  • Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
  • Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
  • Travellers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
  • The tour has two separate sections: East Pinnacles and West Pinnacles.
  • The east and west sides of the park are not connected by road inside the park.
  • To drive between East and West Pinnacles, plan for about an hour around the outside of the park.
  • Shuttle service may operate during busy periods.
  • Bring a torch or headlamp if you plan to explore the caves.

Activity itinerary

Pinnacles National Park East Visitor Center

  • 10m
Pick up some supplies or ask about the latest information before venturing into the park.

Pinnacles Ranch

  • 20m
A flat, half mile return walk from the visitor centre 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.

Peaks View Picnic Area

  • 10m
A few picnic tables and a vault bathroom sit in front of a meadow along the Chalone Creek, making for a pleasant place to sit and look for wildlife.

Old Pinnacles Trail

  • 2h
A 5 mile return, moderate hike takes you to the West Pinnacles area around Balconies Cave. The hike goes past brush and rock formations, and crosses seasonal creeks.

Bear Gulch Day Use Area

  • 2h
This is the most popular part of the park and includes a nature centre, bathrooms, and multiple trailheads. Condor Gulch begins at the trailhead across the street from the nature centre, close to the road. For the Condor Gulch viewpoint only, it's a moderate hike one mile return, going uphill in and downhill on the return. To complete the Condor Gulch to High Peaks Trail loop, it's over 5 miles return 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.

Moses Spring

  • 2h
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 return 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 torch in the cave, which takes around 10 minutes to walk through. It's possible to bypass the cave.

West Pinnacles Visitor Contact Station

  • 5m
Use the bathroom, 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 centre.

Prewett Point Trail

  • 15m
An overlooked gem! Prewett Point Trail is about a mile return, and considered easy. The path is primarily dirt but is ADA accessible, and takes you to open views of the pinnacles and Gabilan Mountains.

Chaparral Picnic Area

  • 2h
This is the best trailhead in West Pinnacles. The Balconies Cliff and Cave loop trail is about 2.5 miles return 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 torch. 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 return and considered difficult. It goes up into the pinnacles and connects with the High Peaks trail for an even longer journey.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Pinnacles National Park East Visitor Center
    • 5000 Highway 146
    • 95043, Paicines, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Pinnacles Highway
    • Pinnacles Highway
    • 95043, San Benito County, California, United States

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