Pinnacles National Monument36
Campsite #36 at Pinnacles Campground, Pinnacles National Monument, CA
$43
Campsite #36
| Drive-In | 6 people |
| 33 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | good |
3/5
3/11
Campsite #36 Features: Drive-In access, Back-In parking, 33ft driveway, Fire ring, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (20)
1.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 45% |
| 4 star | | 30% |
| 3 star | | 10% |
| 2 star | | 5% |
| 1 star | | 10% |
@KaiBC34820AAF1 · Camped on Jul 3, 2025 at Campsite #36
Ive been a Pinnacles regular for a decade. Unfortunately, the raccoon problem has gotten so far out of hand in the past 2-3 years that camping here is no longer fun. Raccoons will happily steal food right off your plate if you turn your back for just a few seconds after dark. They are incredibly aggressive and have (recently) learned that growling at campers is an effective technique to scare them away from their food/ingredients. Cooking at camp is one of my favorite activities, but its no longer enjoyable at Pinnacles. AFAIK, pinnacles has turned a mostly blind eye to the problem. I wont be returning until I hear otherwise.
@BriC087BF81A45 · Camped on May 13, 2025 at Campsite #36
Site 37 was enclosed by high brush on the sides, but fully open to the campsite behind us, clear view of the other campers at all times. Water tap is on the site so others would come right beside our vehicle to access. Facilities were clean.
Excellent
@ElsaCE05E4FDA7 · Camped on Apr 15, 2025 at Campsite #36
Pinnacles is amazing! Didnt think it had so much to offer, definitely a lot of wildlife in the campground morning and at night. Restrooms were clean and showers were also very well maintained. I would comeback, but maybe get a bigger site. Sites are closed together and you can hear everyones conversation, especially if your neighbors like to talk loud.
Good
@Christine33606 · Camped on Mar 23, 2025 at Campsite #36
Beautiful campground but beware the raccoons! They are very brave.
Good
@StefanH30F32B2 · Camped on Oct 15, 2024 at Campsite #36
Erholsamer Campground inmitten der Natur, mit der Mglichkeit Tiere hautnah zu erleben. Grozgige Pltze und saubere Einrichtungen.Vielfltige, abwechslungsreiche, teils spektakulr, gut ausgeschilderte und gut ausgebaute Wanderwege. Der Rundweg Bear Gulch/High Peaks der teilweise durch Hhlen verluft spricht auch Kinder an. Absolut zu empfehlen!
Good
@JohnF7443050 · Camped on Sep 16, 2024 at Campsite #36
Excellent spot! Next to water and restroom nearby. Might not be a suitable choice on a hot summer day. AT&T cell service good on this part of campground. My friends T-mobile no service. But on Day 3 she was able to somehow receive a call at the camp spot. Also, Good hiking choices for all!
Good
@JordanG5807035 · Camped on Jan 24, 2024 at Campsite #36
Upon arrival, our campsite was full of puddles from the recent rains. The ranger was able to easily move us to another site, which was just as secluded if not moreso. Potable water was close and made easy for doing dishes. Being able to park directly in your site is a huge plus. Had many nocturnal visitors including a family of raccoons who were eager to share our trip tip sandwiches, to which we had to shoo away multiple times, but made for a good laugh. Overall great experience.
Major Issues
@JohnT2915386 · Camped on Jun 21, 2023 at Campsite #36
Pinacles is one of those few special places left in California where you feel like you’re getting a wilderness experience as far as the trails the views and some of the wildlife. I would’ve given it five stars but while I was there there was a bunch of construction going on next-door campsite I felt like we should’ve been aware of it before we made a reservation, we had to put up with lotta noise and dust starting at 7 AM. I understand it’s for the better of the park but still I would like to come to Pinacles when this wasn’t going on.
Major Issues
@JohnT2915386 · Camped on Jun 21, 2023 at Campsite #36
Pinacles is one of those few special places left in California where you feel like youre getting a wilderness experience as far as the trails the views and some of the wildlife. I wouldve given it five stars but while I was there there was a bunch of construction going on next-door campsite I felt like we shouldve been aware of it before we made a reservation, we had to put up with lotta noise and dust starting at 7 AM. I understand its for the better of the park but still I would like to come to Pinacles when this wasnt going on.
Major Issues
@RobertT9956944 · Camped on May 1, 2022 at Campsite #36
The Pinnacles campground area is extremely overgrown with vegetation and is a HUGE FIRE TRAP! Youre letting people have camp fires in a extremely dangerous fire trap! Unless this area is cleared out of all the high combustible materials choking this camp area, there will eventually be a catastrophe fire storm in this park!
@GregG6684156 · Camped on Mar 30, 2022 at Campsite #36
Great campsite. Loved the free showers. Friendly folk. Access to Wifi was appreciated.
@SherryE1E23EFB · Camped on Feb 22, 2022 at Campsite #36
We loved the magnificent beauty, the pristine campground, the stunning trail hikes and the snow and ice! My grandson said I "saved his life" since I brought along extra down blankets. The trail up to the reservoir is a must. The variety is amazing and included a running stream, lush ferns, early wildflowers, open spaces and red rock formations. We didn't see any giant California Condors this time but other campers did. There were deer, rabbits, raccoons, wild turkeys, among other critters. The Concessionaires that run the store and maintain the buildings are the best. They emphasize green technology and products and keep the place spotless, which we all appreciated. The low lighting helps keep the night sky nice and dark. We were blown away by dazzling starry nights!
@SusanD251 · Camped on Jun 21, 2021 at Campsite #36
A spectacular spot, but the campground staff were not very committed. When I asked for some basic information in the store, the clerk just said that she is "not a ranger" . There was not even any trail maps available with out driving back out to the entrance.
Pool was not open even though the weather was quite warm.
Restrooms were sort of cleaned but no one had mopped the corners within recent history.
But, a great location.
Pool was not open even though the weather was quite warm.
Restrooms were sort of cleaned but no one had mopped the corners within recent history.
But, a great location.
@JamesL989 · Camped on May 14, 2021 at Campsite #36
A fantastic weekend away with the family.
Pros:
Convenient wood delivery
Nice restrooms
Great hiking from the campsite.
Cons:
The site had very little shade
It was a constant battle to keep the wildlife away from food
Lots of flies in the heat of the day
Showers were impossible due to queues
Pros:
Convenient wood delivery
Nice restrooms
Great hiking from the campsite.
Cons:
The site had very little shade
It was a constant battle to keep the wildlife away from food
Lots of flies in the heat of the day
Showers were impossible due to queues
No Service
@HarveyW285 · Camped on May 11, 2021 at Campsite #36
Bathroom could use some help
@TomO316 · Camped on Apr 19, 2021 at Campsite #36
Quiet campground convenient facilities and clean restrooms
@KatiaK669 · Camped on Apr 6, 2021 at Campsite #36
We loved the campground. There are bushes and/or trees between sites for privacy. We saw a lot of rabbits, a few deer and you hear a lot of different kinds of birds all the time.
Each site has a firepit.
The trail that leads to Bear Gulch Reservoir is the best hike I have ever been on, even though the caves were closed at the time.
There are only 2 showers for each ender for the whole campground.
And when we were there the rangers blocked the roads when they thought the small parking lots to the sightseeing spots were full.
Each site has a firepit.
The trail that leads to Bear Gulch Reservoir is the best hike I have ever been on, even though the caves were closed at the time.
There are only 2 showers for each ender for the whole campground.
And when we were there the rangers blocked the roads when they thought the small parking lots to the sightseeing spots were full.
@KeithE82376229 · Camped on Aug 2, 2020 at Campsite #36
We loved every about our 2 day camping trip and hike. The only thing that was unfortunate was that it never listed that camp fires are not allowed due to fire advisory. We didnt find that out until an hour before leaving the house when I looked up my reservation to pull up our destination and campsite info. My kids were bummed because they were expecting smores at night. Also better indicators on hiking trails would be nice. We found ourselves a few times not sure which direction to go because the split signs are a little miss leading.
@LisaJ6167235 · Camped on Jul 26, 2020 at Campsite #36
We had campsite #36 reserved for 5 days starting on July 26, 2020, and, yes, we knew there wasn't any electrical hook-up, and the pool was going to be closed due to the pandemic but we didn't see any notice that generators were not allowed on the website at the time we booked our reservations. Consequently, we arrived with our trailer refrigerator full of food and then we were told that absolutely no generators were allowed at any time so we had no way to keep food cold. It didn't help any that our site was in full afternoon sun and the temperature was in the mid-90s. Also, the site was a challenge to get our 24' trailer parked with all the prickly shrubs and the low hanging tree branch in the site. The only shade available was at the picnic table under the tree at the back of the site. Fortunately, our truck is a 'farm' truck and had its share of scratches already because the surrounding shrubs/bushes added some more as my hubby negotiated the trailer in. If my husband wasn't the whiz he is at backing that trailer into even the most tight spots, we probably wouldn't have gotten parked. Our friends who traveled with us had to deal with pretty much the same experience (site #40) but with the added bonus of a park sign in the way of their backing into their site. We decided NOT to stay in site #36 right away but were willing to see if one of the electrical hook-up sites was available. That was a long, confusing process but we eventually got site #27, hooked up to an electrical outlet, had a big shade tree and a large site for 2 trucks, & our trailer. It was a lovely change. Unfortunately, we could only get it for 1 night instead of 5 nights, so we left the next day and returned home. It was not the vacation we had been looking forward to but to give Pinnacles campground the benefit of the doubt, it is probably lovely in the spring and not during a pandemic when personnel is minimal and not well acquainted with the reservations software they use.
@yanitxaaD8A477 · Camped on Oct 12, 2019 at Campsite #36
We stayed at this camp site with friends and family during early October and the weather was good during the day (not so hot) but at night it got pretty cold so dressing warm is a must. We were not able to have a campfire due to the high fire risk. We had young children and they enjoyed riding the bicycles around the campsite. We also enjoyed some of the hiking trails. The bathroom and showers are well kept and there is a pool which was opened during our stay. They also have an onsite store to purchase ice and food items. We were traveling from SF Bay Area and the drive there was beautiful and about 1.5 hours.
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