Pinnacles Campground

Pinnacles Campground is the park’s developed campground on the east side, with family tent, group, RV and tent-cabin options across several loops. It makes a practical base for a longer visit, especially if you want to start hikes from camp. Reservations are required, and you can reach the campground only from the east entrance; there’s no park road between the east and west sides.

Summer sun can reach many campsites, while shade varies from site to site. If you’re tent camping in warm weather, make shade a priority when you book; an oak-dotted campground doesn’t mean every site stays cool through the afternoon.

The Bench Trail gives you a direct connection from the campground to the park trail network. From there, popular destinations include Bear Gulch Reservoir, High Peaks, the Balconies area and the talus caves. This is a good setup if you want to leave the car at camp and spend a full day exploring.

Water is available throughout the campground. Tent and group sites have picnic tables and fire rings, and most RV sites have electrical hookups. There are coin-operated showers, a dump station, a seasonal pool and a general store with basic foods and camping supplies. Loop C has portable toilets; flush toilets and sinks are in nearby Loops B and G. Fires depend on current park restrictions, even where a ring is provided.

The campground sits on rolling ground among Valley Oak, Blue Oak and Coast Live Oak, with a seasonal creek running through it. Deer and wild turkeys roam the area, and California condors can sometimes be seen from camp; treat a sighting as a bonus, not a promise. The park’s distinctive rock formations are remnants of an extinct volcano about 23 million years old.