News Release

Pinnacles National Park Closed Due to Hazardous Flood Damage and Conditions

Date: January 9, 2023
Contact: Chris Symons
Contact: Adam Leavy

 Torrential downpours and high winds are creating extremely hazardous conditions on park roads and trails. Having nearly exceeded our annual rainfall averages less than 10 days into the new year, most trail and road stream crossings are extremely swollen and moving quickly, and extremely strong wind gusts of up to 60 mph are causing rocks and trees to fall on roads and trails. With rainfall forecasted to increase and intensify and conditions expected to worsen, Pinnacles will close effective immediately until such hazards are mitigated.

   The west entrance road is closed at the park gate, and entry by any means is not permitted. Trails are especially dangerous, with dozens of tree and rock falls, streams rushing over trails, and at least one bridge already compromised. Roads in some places are flooded over and new road obstructions are occurring with increasing frequency. No trails anywhere in the park are open or permitted to visitation at this time.

   The Campground on the east side will remain open at this time to visitors with existing reservations. Park trails and roads are still closed to everyone, campers included, beyond the campground. The Campground is run by the Pinnacles Recreation Company, and visitors with questions and camping reservations should contact the Pinnacles Recreation Company for more information at 831-200-1722, or their website contact portal online.

   For more information regarding the park’s current alerts, go to:https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/conditions.htm