Pinnacles National Park
San Benito County · near Soledad / Hollister · Central Coast
Wildlife Watching
At a glance
- Best season
- Spring & fall (mild); condors often best in morning/evening from High Peaks
- Open year round
- Yes
What is here
- Wildlife
- birds
- Species
- California condors, prairie falcons, golden eagles, Townsend's big-eared bats, raptors
- Amenities
- California condor release site · High Peaks raptor viewing · Talus caves & bats · Two entrances (no through road)
- Best for
- Condor & raptor watching on foot
- Features
- Condors among volcanic spires · Release & recovery site · Prairie falcons & eagles · Dramatic hiking terrain
Worth knowing
- Hazards
- Condor sightings not guaranteed · Strenuous High Peaks trails · Extreme summer heat · Carry ample water
- Good for a first timer
- No
Wildlife Watching detail
- Viewing
- trail
- Effort
- moderate
- Habitat
- mountain
- Sighting
- 3
- Viewing notes
- A condor release site among volcanic spires — hike the high peaks for California condors soaring overhead, plus prairie falcons, eagles, and cave-dwelling bats
- Intl tip
- A national park of volcanic spires east of Salinas — and a key California condor release/recovery site. Hike the dramatic High Peaks for a good chance of condors soaring around the crags, plus prairie falcons, golden eagles, and cave-dwelling bats. Condor viewing takes effort and luck (High Peaks in cooler hours; not guaranteed), trails are strenuous, and summer heat is dangerous — start early, carry lots of water. Two entrances with no through road. A rugged condor stronghold for hikers.
The guide
Pinnacles National Park, a jumble of volcanic spires and talus caves rising from the oak hills east of Salinas, is both a super…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Pinnacles National Park — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 36.48, -121.18