Pinnacles East Entrance Near Paicines: 24-Hour Trail Access Does Not Mean Overnight Parking

PAICINES, San Benito County — People approaching Pinnacles National Park along Highway 25 need to understand the park’s east-side access rules before arriving for a sunset hike, early morning wildlife viewing or a campground stay.

The National Park Service’s 2026 operating-hours guidance says trails on the east side are accessible 24 hours a day. However, it prohibits overnight parking outside designated campground areas without a camping reservation. An unlocked entrance is not permission to camp in a random parking area.

How to reach the east entrance

The official Pinnacles driving directions route travelers from Hollister south on Highway 25 to Highway 146 and the east entrance road. The park’s east-side services have a Paicines mailing address. Visitors should enter the actual entrance destination into their navigation app, rather than simply search for the park name, which can route them to the opposite side.

The park store at the campground area advertises daily opening hours of 9 a.m.–4 p.m.. Bear Gulch Nature Center has limited, staffing-dependent access and should not be assumed open whenever trails are accessible. The campground has a separate reservation process through Recreation.gov.

Arrive early for popular hikes

The NPS advises that parking can fill before 8 a.m. on especially busy weekends and holidays. Roads around Bear Gulch and other trailheads may then have access controls. Park only in designated spaces; roadside parking can damage sensitive habitat and interfere with emergency services.

No road links the two entrances

Unlike many parks, Pinnacles has no public road connecting its east and west entrances. Drivers who reach the wrong side must travel outside the park to switch entrances. The NPS recommends traveling through King City on U.S. 101 for the shortest route between them.

Before a trip, read the current park alerts. Cave areas, climbing routes and other sites may have wildlife protections or seasonal restrictions. Carry adequate water and prepare for large changes in temperature throughout the day.

Featured photograph: Macarena Ollarzú / Unsplash. Rocky mountain landscape; illustrative image, not a photograph of current parking or cave conditions.

Sources: National Park Service Pinnacles Operating Hours (updated May 2026), Directions and Current Conditions. This is a guide to established rules, not a claim that particular parking spaces are currently available.

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