Pinnacles National Park

Permit Information

NPS Special Use Permit required for weddings and ceremonies. $350 non refundable application fee (applies even to nonprofits). Submit the application 90 days in advance; 6 months recommended for larger groups. Liability insurance may be required naming the U.S. government as additionally insured. Email permitsandreservations@nps.gov to request the application form. Contact 831 389 4486 for ceremony specific location guidance.

Seasonal Planning

March through May and September through November are the prime windows. Spring brings wildflowers and cooling temperatures. Fall is less crowded. Summer exceeds 100°F regularly and is not recommended for any outdoor ceremony. Condors are present year round but most visible on warm, calm days when thermals develop. Bear Gulch Cave closes seasonally (typically April through mid July) to protect Townsend's big eared bat maternity colonies, check NPS status before planning.

Planning Your Day at Pinnacles National Park

One-Spot Day

Pinnacles is small and quirky. The park has two entrances, east and west, that do not connect. You must pick which side you are visiting before you arrive. Bear Gulch is in the east district and gives you a hidden reservoir and a talus cave (when open). The High Peaks Trail starts from either side but the most dramatic volcanic spire section sits in the middle, reached via steep stairs and narrow rock passages. Most elopements pick one side and stay there. Two hours south of San Jose, the park is quiet and sees fewer visitors than any other California NPS site.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

Splits within one side of Pinnacles work well. Bear Gulch reservoir to the cave exit is a short loop. High Peaks ridge to the nearest overlook is 15 minutes of steep stairs. Splits between the two sides are not practical, the east and west entrances do not connect inside the park. You have to exit and drive 60 plus miles around via Highway 25 and King City, a full two hour detour. If you want both districts, plan two separate days. Within one side, the rocky terrain means small groups: 8 to 10 guests maximum on most trails.

A Note on Light

March through May and September through November are the prime windows. Summer above 100°F is genuinely dangerous on the exposed volcanic trails, skip it entirely. The volcanic spires need direct low angle light to show their black and gold texture: morning from the east entrance side, late afternoon from the west. Midday flattens the rock completely. Condors soar on thermals from mid morning onward, a 400 to 600mm telephoto is the useful range for birds in flight. Bear Gulch cave closes April through mid July for Townsend's big eared bat maternity season, check closure status before planning.

Ceremony Spots at Pinnacles National Park

• Bear Gulch — Intimate ceremony among volcanic boulders near a hidden reservoir and talus cave system
• High Peaks Trail — Dramatic ceremony among towering volcanic spires with panoramic valley views and condor sightings