Pinnacles National Park

#WeekendWarning for the upcoming Holiday Weekend! Memorial Day Weekend is consistently one of the busiest weekends at Pinnacles National Park. That means it's more important than ever to #KnowBeforeYouGo and #RecreateResponsibly in order to have an enjoyable, safe, stress-free experience in our National Parks and public lands. 1. Download the NPS app and the Pinnacles NP offline map!... 2. Arrive EARLY! The Bear Gulch area on the East side is a small parking lot that routinely fills by 8am on weekends, shuttle services are not currently operational, and when the park fills completely we hold traffic at the entrance. 3. Check the website for most updated information on closures, park operating hours, and alerts before your arrival! The weather this weekend looks gorgeous - plan and prepare so you aren't caught unaware! And stay tuned for an expanded list of Pinnacles tips for visiting in the summer season. #KnowBeforeYouGo #RecreateResponsibly #WeekendWarning #HolidayWeekend [A visitor recieves traffic directions from a Park Law Enforcement Officer.] Photo Credit: Kurt Moses

Tonight is a full moon! This stellar shot of a moonrise over the Pinnacles from the West side, directly between two Pinnacles rock towers, makes for quite a view. These views also happen to be accessible - the Prewett Point trail is a 1-mile, ADA-accessible loop beginning from our Visitor Contact Station on the West side, and offers some of the best views in the park. Just remember the West entrance gate closes to incoming traffic at 8pm! Thanks to @shea_ohlott_photography fo...r sharing this photo with us! We love seeing the park through the eyes of our visitors, so be sure to tag uploads with #PinnaclesMoments for a chance to be featured on our page! #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #Moon [A full moon rising in a dusky evening sky, between a notch in the Pinnacles towers.] Photo Credit: @shea_ohlott_photography

Do you want to see Juniper Canyon as it was 50 years ago? Of course you do! Though this shot of the west side's Juniper Canyon may look much the same as it does today, this picture was taken in 1969! Let's take a moment to appreciate what was happening in the United States during the summer this photo was taken: - Richard Nixon, newly elected president of US, begins to withdraw troops from the ongoing Vietnam War. - "Get Back" by the Beatles is #1 on the charts, and the last ...episode of the original Star Trek series airs. - Apollo 11 successfully lands 3 astronauts on the surface of the moon for the very first time in human history. - The first Woodstock festival sees 400,000 people attend performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, and The Who, among others. - Conflict erupts after police try to arrest individuals at a gay bar in New York City, leading to a landmark moment in the movement for LGBTQ civil rights, and the eventual creation of Stonewall National Monument! As we remember this exceptionally historical summer, it's interesting to look at the photo and see how different timescales we humans operate on, from the nature we live in. Despite all the ways in which the world has changed since the events mentioned have occurred, the grass and trees of the canyon are much the same as they appear today, and the rock formations are nearly unchanged altogether. Change is inevitable, but the pace and perspective is situational depending on the subject. Thanks to @gregorygnesios for sharing this wonderful shot with us! What fun to go back in time. Make sure to tag your uploads with #PinnaclesMoments for a chance have your pictures featured on our page! #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #ThrowbackThursday [Two visitors look up into Juniper Canyon, in a photo taken in 1969.] Photo Credit: @gregorygnesios

Yesterday's #TriviaTuesday question was about different bird shapes being suited for different flying abilities. The larger of the birds pictured was a California Condor, whose broad, 9.5 foot wingspan lets them coast on winds as high as 15,000 feet in the air! The smaller bird was a Peregrine Falcon, pictured here. It's sleek, fighter jet style body grants it more maneuverability and speed, and the Peregrine can dive at speeds of 200 mph! #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #Tr...iviaTuesday #Raptors [A Peregrine Falcon perched on a rock.] Photo Credit: NPS / Gavin Emmons

#TriviaTuesday time! This week's question: What do the body and wing shapes of the birds pictured here tell you about their flying abilities? Type your answers in the comments, and check back tomorrow for the answers! Thanks to @cadecastle for sharing this photo with us! We love to see the park through the eyes of our visitors, so be sure to tag your uploads with the tag #PinnaclesMoments for a chance to be featured on our page!... #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #TriviaTuesday [Two birds fly side by side, one being a condor, and one a falcon, demonstrating their different shapes and sizes.] Photo Credit: @cadecastle

Things are changing at Pinnacles! If you have been to the west entrance recently, you might have noticed some construction going on. As part of some park improvements, several of our parking lots will be paved. The visitor center parking on the west side was first up on the list! #pinnaclesnationalpark #nationalparkservice #findyourpark

Planning a visit to Pinnacles this weekend? Here are some things you should know: 1. ARRIVE EARLY. Expect crowds. Trailhead parking is exceedingly limited. We recommend arriving at the park before 9:30AM or after 2PM. 2. The west side visitor center is closed until further notice. The official park store is open 9AM to 4PM on the east side. The caves are currently closed. ... 3.There is no shuttle running. Visitors arriving after 9:30AM should be prepared to hike an extra 2.3 miles each way. 4. There is no cell phone reception at Pinnacles. If you are meeting others, make sure you plan ahead. 5. Please help us prevent the spread of COVID-19. Be respectful of other visitors and staff by keeping your distance and wearing a mask when close to others. Enjoy your visit! #findyourpark #pinnaclesnationalpark #NPS #hiking [Photo: A visitor hiking on balconies trail under an archway of trees with tall rock spires rising in the background /NPS Photo]

Can you see those small black dots on this lizard’s neck? Those are actually juvenile ticks! Did you know that the Western Fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), also called blue bellies, can neutralize Lyme’s disease in juvenile ticks? Lyme’s disease is spread by the bite of ticks infected with bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. A compound in the Western Fence lizard’s blood latches onto the harmful bacteria spread by the tick. When these juvenile ticks mature- they no ...longer have the disease to spread to people! Perhaps we can thank these lizards for the low rates of Lyme’s disease in California! #findyourpark #lizards #pinnaclesnationalpark #nationalparks #wildlife [A western fence lizard lays on a rock with his scales shinning. On the lizards neck you can see a cluster of small black dots which are ticks.] NPS/Ariana London

To honor the ending of Native American Heritage Month, Pinnacles National Park would like to share information about local Native American Tribes and inspire you to research the tribal land you live on at home. Pinnacles National Park sits within the Amah Mutsun Land Trust Stewardship Area. "The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band (AMTB) comprises the contemporary descendants of the indigenous peoples that have thrived for over 10,000 years in the landscapes from Año Nuevo in the north,... along the ridgelines and west slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay, south to the Salinas River and inland to include the Pajaro and San Benito watersheds." -Amah Mutsun Native Land Trust Plan The AMTB and the park rangers at Pinnacles share a similar mission and actively work together to achieve it. Our missions are centered around the protection and restoration of natural and cultural resources, such as; flora, fauna, archaeology, and indigenous history. To learn more about AMTB and the work they do, visit their website: https://www.amahmutsunlandtrust.org/ Do you want to know what tribal lands you live on? Are you interested to discover about the Native peoples in your area? Visit https://native-land.ca/ to use their interactive map! [Photo: A park ranger and volunteers from Amah Mutsun Land Trust stand outside in a circle to discuss how to manage culturally significant plants like deergrass and sedge /NPS photo] #nativeamericanheritagemonth #findyourpark #encuentratuparque #nationalparks

Marine fog frequently pours into the valley overnight, turning the peaks of the Pinnacles into islands amid a sea of clouds. Waking up early is a must to catch this phenomenon - the sun typically burns it off shortly after rising. In addition to looking cool, this cloud layer plays an important role in watering the landscape as well! Remember to tag your photos with #PinnaclesMoments for a chance to be featured on our page! Photo Credit: NPS / Chris Symons

Time for another CONDOR UPDATE! What a whirlwind of emotions so far in 2020. We’ve had devastating news coming at us throughout the year, so we want to give you a little ray of sunshine! We are thrilled to report that Condor 1027, the only condor nestling in the park this year, has flown from her nest a full month early! This precocious youngster bravely opened her huge wings and took a leap of faith into the air on Friday, September 18. Young condors typically fledge, or ta...ke their first flight, after six months in the nest. Condor 1027 is only 5 months old and was clearly itching to gain some independence! She’s been seen taking short flights and making awkward landings as she learns to navigate this new airborne world. Interestingly, both of her older siblings (Condor 828 in 2016 and Condor 912 in 2018) were raised in the same nest, and they also both fledged a month early. It seems this particular site offers a lot of room to roam and exercise, so they are able to build up their flight muscles more quickly than typical condor nestlings. Condor 1027 will stay close to both of her parents for up to another year until she is fully independent. She will eventually take longer and longer flights, so hopefully you’ll be able to see her in the skies above Pinnacles in the not-too-distant future! Photos: Newly fledged Condor 1027 suns her wings. Photos by NPS/Sarah Marquez

Planning to visit Pinnacles this holiday week? Many others have the same great idea. Here are some insider tips for visiting Pinnacles: 1. ARRIVE EARLY. Expect crowds and long lines. Trailhead parking is exceedingly limited. We recommend arriving at the park before 9:30AM or after 2PM. 2.There is NO SHUTTLE running. Visitors arriving after 9:30AM should be prepared to hike an extra 2.3 miles each way. ... 3. There is NO CELL PHONE RECEPTION at Pinnacles. If you are meeting others, make sure you plan ahead. 4. We are still in high fire danger. Please no smoking on trails and only use propane stoves for cooking in the campground. 5. Pets are not permitted on any trails at Pinnacles, only on paved roads and in the campground. Remember, Pinnacles National Park is a place for people and wildlife. Please help us respect and protect the park by carrying out all trash including orange peels, apple cores, etc. and by taking nothing but pictures home with you. Don't forget to tag your photos with #Pinnaclesmoments for a chance to be featured on our page! #findyourpark #pinnaclesnationalpark #NPS #hiking [Photo: Bear Gulch parking lot on a Saturday, all spots are filled /NPS Photo Ariana London]

UPDATE: Starting today, September 25, Pinnacles National Park will re-open the west entrance. Most trails on the west side are closed EXCEPT for the Prewitt Point trail. This is a great opportunity for visitors to picnic and enjoy the gorgeous views! The east entrance remains open. The open trails are Bench and Sycamore trail. No climbing routes are accessible from either side. For more information see the news release here: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/news/prwestopen.htm

Who does that hairy leg from last week belong to, you ask? It's a tarantula! These creatures are year-round residents in the park, coming out only under the cover of darkness. However, during September and October, you can spot male tarantulas on the move in the middle of the day! Watch out for tarantulas crossing the road as they look for a female tarantula’s burrow! They might look scary, but tarantulas are fairly gentle and will only give a small sting if threatened. #fi...ndyourpark #Pinnacles [close-up of a tarantulas face shows small hairs everywhere, small eyes and two large hairy fangs]/NPS Photo Keir Morse

CONDOR UPDATE The central California condor population suffered heavy losses this year due to the Dolan Fire in Big Sur and the continued threat of lead poisoning. That somber news makes this update even sweeter: last week, the condor crew released two juvenile condors out into the world! These young birds, condors 961 and 986, were hatched and raised at the San Diego Zoo and brought to Pinnacles in September. Since then, they have been living in a large pen in the park wh...ere they could get acclimated to their new environment and meet all the wild condors through the netting. Once the condor crew decided they were ready, they released the youngsters individually by opening a door to the outside of the pen and allowing them to hop out on their own. 986, a male who had been quite self-confident inside the pen, seemed to be much more hesitant out in the big wild world- he spent most of his first day of freedom sitting on or near the pen. 961, a female who was more reserved in the pen, took the opposite approach and flew off immediately after her release! Well suited, Condor 961 is named Xanan (pronounced "HA-nan"), which is a Chumash word - from the Barbareño dialect. It means "to fly. Condor 986 is named Kawkikat which means "winged one." We just pronounced it as it's spelled: KAW-kee-kat, from the Acjachemen tribe. Despite the fact that they had never taken soaring flights, found their own food, or interacted with wild condors before, 961 and 986 are both doing an amazing job in the wild and have been keeping the condor crew entertained with their awkward antics as they learn to navigate their new world. When hiking in Pinnacles, keep an eye out for condors with tan tags numbered 61 and 86, and if you see them, wish the newest members of our flock good luck! Photos: Condor 986 takes his first flight after release and figures out how to perch in a tree. Photos by NPS/Sarah Marquez #findyourpark #encuentratuparque #pinnaclesnationalpark #NPS #livelifeoutdoors #getoutside #wildlife #endangered

Going to the beach after quarantine be like.... All jokes aside, can you guess who this hairy leg belongs to? I'll give you a hint- it is an animal that you can find walking around the park during the fall months as they look for mates! Post your guess below! We will post the answer next week! #Findyourpark #pinnaclesnationalpark #widlife #closeup ... [A close up shot of a seemingly hairy leg belonging to a small creature found at pinnacles] NPS Photo/ Keir Morse

Due to the inundation of the national fire response system, the lack of trained wild land firefighters within the park, and severe fire danger, Pinnacles is implementing a temporary closure of the west unit of the park and all trails except for the Bench and Sycamore trails effective Friday, September 11. The closure will remain in effective until safe conditions return. We will be monitoring conditions daily and will be posting updates on social media and our website. Unfo...rtunately, due to the potential lack of available resources to respond to a wild land fire and/or emergency situation in the park, we are taking preemptive safety measures for the protection of our visitors, the staff, and the incredible resources under our care. The campground remains open and visitors can hike the Bench and Sycamore Trails into Bear Gulch. Bicyclists can bike the Pinnacles Parkway past the campground. The roadway past the campground remains closed to vehicles, except to vehicles with valid, accessibility permits. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment this temporary closure may cause because we realize Pinnacles is a very special place. In these stressful times, it is the ideal place to find respite and reenergize but with the current fire danger it was the prudent management action. Pinnacles National Park Superintendent Blanca Alvarez Stransky

Some animals are just EXTRA, you know? It’s not enough that scorpions have a stinger and can live in some of the harshest climates on earth, but they also glow under ultraviolet light! Even fossils of scorpions’ glow under UV light after millions of years! Scientists have many theories as to why scorpions might have developed this trait. Some theories include: it might help them find each other in the dark, protect them from sunlight, or possibly confuse their prey. Why do y...ou think Scorpions evolved to glow? Bring a black light (UV light) on your next night hike If you want to find one of these rave-ready arachnids! #findyourpark #pinnaclesnationalpark #hiking #nighthike [Two photos. First photo is a scorpion glowing under ultraviolet light. The second photo shows what a scorpion looks like not illuminate by ultraviolet light.] /NPS Photo

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING Temperatures at Pinnacles National Park are expected to be in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit through Monday, Sept. 7. Extreme temperatures are expected to exacerbate our poor air quality throughout the long weekend. ... We remain open, but we do not advise hiking or biking in the park at this time. If you choose to visit, please be prepared with salty snacks, sunscreen, and at least one liter of water per hour of your stay for every member of your party.

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion..." - Blade Runner, 1982 Night skies present a whole new way to experience the park. Our crystal clear night skies make for exceptional stargazing, as pictured in this long exposure shot of the constellation of Orion hanging above the Pinnacles rock towers. The dramatic rock profile makes for excellent night photography. Additionally, in the interest of clarity, we should add that Pinnacles National Park is home to exactly zero Replicants (as far as we know).

"Forward, out of error, Leave behind the night. Forward through the darkness, Forward into light! " This poem was written on the banner carried by suffragist Inez Milholland in the May 4, 1911, New York City suffrage parade.... August 26th, 2020, marks exactly 100 years since the 19th amendment was ratified and women's constitutional right to vote became law. This victory was won through years of tireless work, struggle and protest. Although we celebrate this achievement, we recognize that the passing the 19th amendment did not end the fight for women equality. Women of color were denied the vote for decades to come. This month we celebrate all women. We celebrate women like Clara Lausten (pictured) who was the first woman to be employed by the National Park Service at Pinnacles during WWII. Clara and other women like her helped to pave the way for future women in the park service! #19thamendment #findyourpark #pinnaclesnationalpark #forwardintolight #nps [A black and white photo of a women smiling and standing in her park service uniform with her hands behind her back.] /NPS Photo

It’s a GOOD air quality day at Pinnacles National Park!

Good news!! The Red Flag Warning has been lifted from Pinnacles National Park and the surrounding area. Air quality is somewhat improved. Air quality is expected to be VERY UNHEALTHY from 11 am-12 pm, UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS from 12-1, UNHEALTHY FOR ALL from 1-2, and MODERATE for the rest of the day. Fire danger is still HIGH as high heat, low humidity, and winds persist. We request all visitors remain vigilant and take care to avoid new fire starts in the area. ... Air quality is expected to decline again tomorrow. We will keep you posted to changing conditions. : CG.Lowe https://instagram.com/cg.lowe?igshid=1ma7l8pmu1vhw

Pinnacles National Park is under a Red Flag Warning until 5:00 pm Monday, 08/24/20. A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Air quality in the park is expected to remain poor throughout today. If you are planning to visit us please be prepared to evacuate at any moment. We do not recommend hiking or other physical activity in the park at this time.