Arrowhead Pinnacles Parking
There is no real trailhead here. Parking for the Pinnacles is informal dirt pullouts off Highway 173 north of the lake, in the vicinity of the Forest Service OHV staging area. No facilities, no signage, no water — and the approach path is faint enough that you should download offline maps before leaving pavement. Adventure Pass applies in forest parking areas.
The facts
- Trail served
- Arrowhead Pinnacles scramble (3.5 mi RT, hard) + ~500-route climbing area
- Cost / pass
- Adventure Pass for forest parking areas
- Lot size
- Informal pullouts; OHV staging area nearby
- When it fills
- Light hiker traffic; climbers on good-weather weekends
- Overflow option
- Whatever pullout is next — clear of travel lanes
- Tow / citation risk
- Stay fully off Hwy 173's travel lanes; no posted parking structure
- Restrooms
- No
- Road to the lot
- Paved Hwy 173; dirt pullouts
- Busy season
- Fall–spring; brutal in summer heat
Getting there
Get directions →Parking reality
The Pinnacles — the granite towers northwest of Lake Arrowhead with roughly 500 bolted climbing routes — never got a developed trailhead. Hikers and climbers park in informal dirt pullouts off Highway 173 north of the lake; the mapped Forest Service OHV staging area in the same area is the closest thing to an actual lot. There's no signage for the Pinnacles at any of it.
That's why the standard advice here is digital, not vehicular: have the approach route downloaded offline (AllTrails, Gaia) before you leave pavement, because finding where to park is the first route-finding problem of the day.
One honest caveat
Because nothing here is signed or developed, "the right pullout" varies by source and season. Our pin marks the staging-area vicinity — treat it as a starting point, cross-check your climbing or hiking beta, and if you find better intel, the Mountain Project page is where locals keep it current. Full scramble details in the Pinnacles guide on our sister site.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for the Arrowhead Pinnacles?
Informal dirt pullouts off Highway 173 north of Lake Arrowhead, near the Forest Service OHV staging area. There's no developed lot, no signage, and no facilities — download your approach route before you go.
Do I need a pass at the Pinnacles?
An Adventure Pass covers Forest Service parking areas like the staging area. Wherever you stop, park fully clear of Highway 173's travel lanes.
Facts on this page last verified July 18, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.