Pinnacles National Park

10/05/2026

Today’s homework: thank a teacher.

National parks are places where students can learn about history by standing where it happened, explore science by observing nature, and discover stories that help us better understand the people and places that shaped our world.

Behind those experiences are teachers helping students ask questions, make connections, and learn about the world around them.

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire curiosity, encourage exploration and remind us that learning can happen just about anywhere. (Including places with a really good view.)

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

NPS Image

10/05/2026

Every day from October 12 to November 5, 2026, visit Mission San José's granary during park hours (9am-5pm) to view the mission descendant community's family ofrendas.

Ofrendas are an essential part of Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead. The word ofrenda means offering in Spanish. They are also called "altares" or altars, but not for worship. These altars are not only full of family pictures, but of symbols and meaning, honoring the ancestors who have passed, and offering them items of the celebration such a "pan de mu**to" and marigold flowers.

NPS Photo

10/04/2026

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” — Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

And we’re rather glad there are national parks to experience them in. Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the spectacular spectacle (say that five times fast) of changing leaves. There is plenty of room for imagination when you find yourself surrounded by forests painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. In our experience, you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. So consider this your invitation to find a little wonder, a little enchantment, and perhaps a kindred spirit among the trees.

Forests, woods, and shrublands in national parks put on their autumn colors from September through December. There’s a whole world of beauty waiting to be explored!

Image 1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Image 2: Great Smoky Mountains NP
Image 3: Great Sand Dunes NPP
Image 4: Rocky Mountain National Park
Image 5: TheodoreRooseveltNPS

10/03/2026

“On October 3rd, he asked what day it was.” — Cady Heron

It’s October 3rd.

October is kind of a big deal around here. The autumn months splash many national parks with a rich array of fall colors, while cooler temperatures have wildlife getting ready for winter. Some are migrating. Some are gathering food. Some are putting on extra layers.

Same, honestly.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the wildlife, or simply to judge the leaves on their color palette, national parks are a pretty fetch place to experience fall. Fetch? We’re making it happen.

And if you want to keep up with what’s happening in parks this season, you can find more ways to connect with your national parks at the link below.
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/fall-season.htm

Image: Red Osier Dogwood leaves stand out against aspen trunks at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. NPS/Patrick Myers

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Wherever military life takes you, there’s likely a park adventure nearby.

Active-duty military members, Veterans, and Gold Star families can get a free America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to national parks and federal recreation sites across the country.

Active-duty military families can also find free events, nearby outdoor opportunities, and resources for exploring national parks, public lands, and waterways through the Military Families Outdoors Program, wherever military life takes them. Visit: go.nps.gov/mfo

Whether you’re PCSing, exploring near your duty station, or looking for a weekend adventure, your next park visit may be closer than you think.

NPS Photo: Rangers at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park recently teamed up with Blue Star Families and community partners for a day of fishing, outdoor fun, and family time at Fletchers Cove.

Blue Star Families Defense Public Health

10/01/2026

Fat Bear Week has officially lumbered to a close.

What a week. As they say, a journey of roughly 3,000 to 4,500 calories begins with a single salmon. Something like that. There might be some steps involved too.

In the end, 16 bears entered. Bear 89 “Backpack” became champion. Talk about the hunger games. And several ate their way into our hearts. Figuratively. And thousands of us humans spent an unreasonable amount of time judging bears for being excellent at being, well, bears.

It was a week of big bellies, bigger appetites, and absolutely no regrets. We shared some science, learned about the Alaskan ecosystem, stood around for hours watching large mammals eat, and found multiple way to incorporate “chonk” in everyday vocabulary.

Now the bears have more important things to do, such as eating then sleeping, a bit more eating, sleeping, and finally preparing to sleep after eating. As for the rest of us, we all return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Must we?

We must.

We will miss you, Fat Bear Week. Until next year: stay chunky, stay hungry, and remember: there’s always room for one more salmon.

NPS Images

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, it's time for Chunky Puppy Day! Tune in to the Puppy Cam tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 2pm AK time to find out how big the America's Best Idea litter got this summer.

How much do you think they weigh now? Share your guesses in the comments below.

NPS Photo: Graupel from the Weather litter during a weigh-in last year.

09/30/2026

This is the ideal marmot body. You may not like it. You may not understand it. But this is what peak performance looks like.

Now that Fat Bear Week is over, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled programming: other fat mammals.

The tundra-dwelling yellow-bellied marmots have been preparing for hibernation for the last couple of months. Since marmots spend more than half their lives hibernating, they’ve developed some impressive adaptations for surviving the winter:

✅ First, they’ve been building up healthy fat reserves (sound familiar? Bears. Us too, but that’s another post) to sustain them for up to eight months. Basically, a nice winter savings account.

✅ When they finally enter hibernation, they become true hibernators, slowing their heart rate from around 200 beats per minute to as low as 30. It’s an impressive energy-saving strategy.

✅ Speaking of saving, they also save on utilities by cuddling up with the colony in a communal burrow. Because heating is expensive, and roommates are the answer. Was that on the lease?

NPS Photo: A rotund marmot standing on a rock at Rocky Mountain National Park

03/05/2026

Pinnacles National Park was formed almost 200 miles away from
where it is today! ⛰️🪨
-
Originally part of the Neenach Formation, located in Lancaster California, the Pinnacles
were moved North East due to the tectonic activity along the San Andreas Fault.

This right lateral strike-slip fault is located just East of the National Park. In fact, it is so
close that you drive over it on your way to the park.

Starting 30 million years ago, the birth of this fault changed the course of our land’s
topography, causing major coastal uplift, landslides triggered by earthquakes, and, of
course, the movement of major rock formations.

Next time you come to visit Pinnacles National Park, take note of how different the
surrounding landscape is compared to the park itself. It is hard not to notice the shift from
rolling hills to towering Pinnacles.

As you are driving along Airline highway, notice the conditions of the roads. Faults make
it hard to maintain infrastructure!!

03/03/2026

As tempting as it is to share your food with our fuzzy friends, it can actually be very dangerous for all involved!

Pinnacles campground (located on the east side of the park) is home to various types of wildlife, including raccoons. Although many visitors take great care to properly store/dispose of their food and scented items, some remain unaware of the importance of doing so.

Not only is human food unhealthy for wild animals to eat, but it can also cause something called food-conditioning.
This is the process in which a wild animal learns to associate humans with a reliable and easy food source. It is a safety concern because it causes them to lose their natural fear of humans and become bold with their human encounters, often leading to aggressive behavior.
Food-conditioned racoons are a common issue in the campground. As they are very intelligent animals, they tend to quickly learn that the easiest way for them to get food is to steal it from campers. If food and scented items are not properly stored, they become easy pickings for these furry bandits who will teach their friends and family to raid and beg. Soon after, they will become more aggressive and start to climb on tables, get into cars, and open bags and tents.

Once they become so aggressive to the point of attempting to take food directly from and/or threatening humans, they have to be euthanized. Unfortunately, moving the problem raccoons to other areas of the park is not a viable option because they often return to where they were captured. These behaviors are all learned and are entirely our fault as they are only looking for the easiest way to get a meal. By changing our actions, this outcome can be easily avoided.

Please help us take care of our critters by properly storing your food and scented items, never feeding wild animals, and keeping wildlife wild!



Photo Credits: NPS / Emma Gray

02/14/2026

Love is in the air at Pinnacles National Park! 💕

Late winter and early spring marks the beginning of breeding season for many raptor species at Pinnacles. Keep your eyes peeled for California Condors displaying to each other in the High Peaks! Condors show they’re interested in one another through courtship displays with their wings outstretched, heads hanging low, and slowly swaying side to side. At breeding age, condors flaunt brilliant colors on their heads and neck - bright pinks, oranges, yellows and blues which can enhance during breeding season. Condors usually lay eggs in late February through April!

Other raptors at Pinnacles include Red Shouldered Hawks, Red Tailed Hawks, Prairie Falcons and Peregrine Falcons. These birds have begun establishing territories and preparing nests for the breeding season. Keep an eye or ear out the next time you are in the park and you may hear some of these birds defending their territories!

The High Peaks is the best place to see condors and falcons in action while the Pinnacles campground is great for hawks! ⛰️⛺️

Photo Credits: NPS / Kaitlin Lopez (1) and Gavin Emmons (2&3)
Photo Descriptions: 1- An adult California Condor displaying to another adult California Condor. 2- An adult Red Tailed Hawk in a nest with three nestlings. 3- California Condor 692 mounting his partner, California Condor 726.

12/23/2025

We consistently value CalFire’s prompt responses to incidents and provision of resources. Thank you CalFire, rangers, volunteers and everyone involved in the SAR incident for contributing to a successful operation.

PSA: If you do go through either of the caves in Pinnacles National Park, take your time and be aware of your surroundings. Since water does collect in the caves after rain, it can get slippery. Please bring headlamps and flashlights and be careful as you walk through.

❤️

Photo credit: Bilal Salim

12/20/2025

🪺Pinnacles 2025 Condor Nesting Recap🪺: In 2025 we had two nests within the park. Our close partners in condor recovery, Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS), had another three nests in the coast range. That brings us to a total of five nests in central California this year!

The first chick to hatch in the park was 1373 in April. Her parents are 868, Pinnacles male, and 931, VWS female. This is their second year in a row nesting. 1373 is often seen near the Balconies Cliffs, so if you’re in that area, keep your eyes peeled for a young untagged condor soaring through the sky!

The second chick to hatch in the park was 1358 in the beginning of May. Her parents are 589, Pinnacles male, and 569, VWS female - breaking a condor record this year by being the first wild condors to successfully raise a chick 5 years in a row! 1358 is tagged and can be identified by a blue 58 wing tag.
Both 1373 and 1358 left their nests in September and October and are doing great!
Along the coast, two Pinnacles females nested for the first time this year! 1006 nested with VWS male 574 and their chick successfully fledged and appears to be doing well. 970 nested with the oldest condor in the flock, VWS male 168, and laid an egg in February.
Unfortunately, she passed from lead poisoning not long after, which would usually result in their nest failing.
In a surprising turn of events, 168 managed to incubate the egg and raise the chick all on his own and that chick has successfully fledged.


Video credit: NPS

12/13/2025

Heads up!🥾 Moses Spring parking lot is closed❌(12-13-25 until further notice). In the meantime, Bear Gulch day use area is closest open lot from the trailheads.📝🗺️So plan according and have a safe and enjoyable experience at Pinnacles NPS!

12/01/2025

POV hiking to Bear Gulch cave and reservoir, after some well needed rain…🌧️
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