HomeCaliforniaHollister › Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,363 Google reviews · Running trail in Hollister, California · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hShadedLit at nightScenicFlat & fastHillyRestrooms

Space in the Gabilan Mountains to camp or picnic, plus trails for 4x4s, motocross, bikes & ATVs.

What runners say about Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,363 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 6 mentions

“Super fun, lots of variety, well maintained and affordable too!”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“(like me) The overlook is a nice spot, great view of Hollister.”

🌳 shaded & cool 3 mentions

“Quiet with shade, water, toilet, and hot showers it really has a lot to offer for 10 bucks a night.”

Awesome place with a fee of just $5. Super amazing clean restrooms in their camp grounds. Less to no network coverage in most areas. You can enjoy the live Motor sports by the motorcycle and ATV riders. You can spend hours watching them practice this sport.

★★★★★ — Ishan , Sep 2020

Best OHV park I've been to yet hands down. From beginner to full balls out competition vehicles. We definitely do NOT have hills like this in Texas. Will absolutely be back again in the fall when the temperatures cool down.

★★★★★ — Jeremy , Aug 2018

I absolutely loooove this place. I've only had good experiences from this park. They have a little something for everyone. From the kids to the wife or the boys group. What your comfortable riding they have trails for it! The tracks are always great, too!

★★★★★ — Stephanie , Feb 2024

This park is very awesome! There are lots of trails for all types of off-roading. Cool views even if it gets a little congested sometimes. There are 2 sides to this park, one side is for dirt bikes and one side is for 4 wheelers.

★★★★★ — Roman , Feb 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,363 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 12 mentions

“We took the beginner paths, and went all the way up to the overlook.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 9 mentions

“There's the lower hollister hills that's more for dirt bike,quads and the upper ranch is more for 4x4 and side by sides , Most of the trails are one way.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 4 mentions

“Quiet with shade, water, toilet, and hot showers it really has a lot to offer for 10 bucks a night.”

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🚻 Restrooms 3 mentions

“The campgrounds, restrooms and showers are maintained very well.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“There are trails for every skill level and build.”

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💡 Lit for night running 3 mentions

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Plan your run at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websiteohv.parks.ca.gov
  • Phone+1 831-637-3874

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

7800 Cienega Rd, Hollister, CA 95023

Get directions

Running trails near Hollister

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Mudstone Ranch

4.1 ★★★★☆ 44 reviews

Hollister, CA

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

under a mile away

San Benito County River View Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 7 reviews

Hollister, CA

3.5 miles away

Summer Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 62 reviews

Hollister, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

Kid-friendly park featuring a playground, picnic tables and a climbing structure.

4.1 miles away

Brigantino Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 196 reviews

Hollister, CA

1 miDog-friendly

Unimproved open space with a mile-long track and picnic tables, suitable for dog walking.

4.3 miles away

Aguirre Memorial Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 27 reviews

Hollister, CA

4.8 miles away

Vista Park Hill Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 179 reviews

Hollister, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

This hilltop green space has a softball field & children's play equipment, plus panoramic views.

4.8 miles away

All running trails in Hollister, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.