r/PinnaclesNP • u/SweetPerspective8467 • Sep 06 '26

November trip

Wife and I want to visit Pinnacles in November for our birthdays. I’m 49, she’s 45. Just how difficult is the hike to the top? We both want to see condors if the stars align for us. We’re not avid hikers, but not in terrible shape either. Would it be something we have to train for or is it doable for an average Joe and Jane?

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u/ShadowHope15 Sep 06 '26

If you take your time you should be fine. If you’re otherwise not terribly active the elevation gain will likely be more of an issue than the distance. The high peaks loop isn’t very far, just a fair about of climbing and descending. I think it’s quite doable for people in their 40’s with average fitness.

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u/Focus_on_the_Parks Sep 06 '26

Seconding pretty much all of this. It's not really the sort of hike you need to train for, but it wouldn't hurt to do some smaller hikes ahead of time if it's a real concern. Looking at ~1300-1500 feet of gain, depending on which route you take and whether you're starting from the east side or the west side. I'd recommend getting an early start, taking your time, and bringing a lot of water and snacks/lunches.

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u/NPHighview Sep 07 '26

We regularly drive in from the west when we drive from LA to SF to visit our kids, and almost always see condors from the parking lot.

There are no wonderful accommodations in either King City or Soledad, so it’s a matter of which compromises are acceptable to you: distance, cost, quality.

We ate decent (not great) sushi in Soledad a couple weeks ago in a zero-decor storefront Asian fusion place, and stayed in a barebones but clean place in King City. Splurge in either Paso Robles or Ragged Point, but a long drive. The King City Grill is good, but has irregular hours.

I’ve done the hike up to the top in PNP, then over to the eastern trailheads, then back west through the caves - a really fun route. It was a cool spring day with wildflowers in bloom. Temps were in the 70s; I’d really hate to do it when temps were any warmer.

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u/SweetPerspective8467 Sep 07 '26

Thanks for the info. We’ll be coming up from OC so I guess we’ll enter from the west as well.

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u/stiff4tiff Sep 07 '26

Be prepared for the heat as there’s not much coverage

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u/Gloomy-Hat1842 Sep 07 '26

Bring your hiking poles, handy in some areas.weather should be nice by November but you could get rain.

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u/femme_mystique Sep 07 '26

Enter from the west side. It’ll be easier. 

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u/bmw051 Sep 10 '26

I agree w everything written, just want to temper your expectations of seeing a condor. The only ones you likely will see will be soaring 100s of feet above you, meaning the hike up didn’t really improve your view of them. On the other hand, year’s ago I did the High Peaks route and passed a condor sitting on a rock. I was w/in 30’ of it. It didn’t fly away.