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Running trails in Hollister, CA
Hollister has 9 trails in the directory — 1 on crushed gravel or dirt, 1 loop that returns to the trailhead, 1 with a stated distance, 2 shaded, and 1 open 24 hours. 8 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 2,314 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,363 reviews
Space in the Gabilan Mountains to camp or picnic, plus trails for 4x4s, motocross, bikes & ATVs.
Pacheco State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 312 reviews
A horse & cattle ranch since 1843, this park features scenic vistas, wildlife & 28 miles of trails.
Brigantino Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 196 reviews
Unimproved open space with a mile-long track and picnic tables, suitable for dog walking.
Vista Park Hill Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 179 reviews
This hilltop green space has a softball field & children's play equipment, plus panoramic views.
Frank Klauer Memorial Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 124 reviews
Park, with a playground and grassy lawns, featuring slides, swings, and picnic tables.
Summer Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 62 reviews
Kid-friendly park featuring a playground, picnic tables and a climbing structure.
Aguirre Memorial Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 27 reviews
San Benito County River View Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 7 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Hollister
- Match the surface to your legs. Most of what's here is natural surface (1 of 9). Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More natural surface trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 1 trail here is a loop, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Hollister is Brigantino Park at 1 mi.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 1 trail in Hollister is open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 8 of the 9 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 1 is lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 5 have trailhead parking, 6 have restrooms, and 2 have a water fountain in Hollister. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 2 shaded, 3 that runners describe as quiet, 5 dog-friendly, and 1 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Hollister trails by type
Running trails near Hollister
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.