HomeCaliforniaHollister › Pacheco State Park

Pacheco State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 312 Google reviews · Running trail in Hollister, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Pacheco State Park'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.

LoopScenicHillyTrailhead parkingQuiet

A horse & cattle ranch since 1843, this park features scenic vistas, wildlife & 28 miles of trails.

What runners say about Pacheco State Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (312 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Beautiful vibrant green rolling hills, especially now in Spring, with wildflowers & lots of cows!”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“Peaceful wonderful place to bring your family and enjoy a nice walk or hike even to grab a bite the hence "miners lettuce"”

Great place for hiking on sunning day in early spring, it's muddy in places because of rain. Spikes Peak Loop Trail is a little long but the view is pretty good. It's quite windy on the hill.

★★★★★ — Lei , Mar 2024

Nice, well groomed trails, traveling through some cow grazed fields. The terrain is moderate, and we saw some cool birds around. Parking fee is $10, be sure to bring cash or check.

★★★★★ — Kate , Feb 2021

A great afternoon or day hike option! Nice rolling landscape and clean trails. I highly recommend buying a year-long golden poppy state park pass so that you do not have to pay for parking every time you visit :-) it is very well worth the $125 and the pass is good at any California State Park.

★★★★★ — Kelsey , Sep 2017

Great views, peaceful trails, and very open terrain. This park is never busy so you will have a slight sense of remoteness and tranquility when hiking.

★★★★★ — Brendan , Feb 2018

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 312 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 16 mentions

“There were excellent views of the rolling, wooded hills, along with nice views of the central valley and nearby reservoir.”

More trails like this →

⛰️ Hills / elevation 6 mentions

“There were excellent views of the rolling, wooded hills, along with nice views of the central valley and nearby reservoir.”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“Car parking is $10, cash only and there's restrooms as well as picnic area by the parking lot.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“Peaceful wonderful place to bring your family and enjoy a nice walk or hike even to grab a bite the hence "miners lettuce"”

More trails like this →

🔁 Loop trail 4 mentions

“Only explored about 4 miles of it through the pig pond / canyon loop trails into the spikes peak, and it was a blast!”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Pacheco State Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • 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.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websiteparks.ca.gov
  • Phone+1 209-826-6283

Hours

Monday 8 am–6 pm
Tuesday 8 am–6 pm
Wednesday 8 am–6 pm
Thursday 8 am–6 pm
Friday 8 am–6 pm
Saturday 8 am–6 pm
Sunday 8 am–6 pm

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 Pacheco State Park

38787 Dinosaur Point 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.

Hunting Hollow Park Entrance

4.6 ★★★★★ 139 reviews

Gilroy, CA

3.5 miLoopScenic

Mountain-biking and hiking trails wind through this large state park with an abundance of wildflowers, plus scenic views.

14.1 miles away

Frank Klauer Memorial Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 124 reviews

Hollister, CA

ShadedDog-friendly

Park, with a playground and grassy lawns, featuring slides, swings, and picnic tables.

17.5 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.

18.0 miles away

Oliveira Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 129 reviews

Los Banos, CA

Shaded

Relaxed, clean park offering a basketball court and a playground, plus picnic tables and restrooms.

18.7 miles away

Aguirre Memorial Park

4.1 ★★★★☆ 27 reviews

Hollister, CA

18.9 miles away

Summer Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 62 reviews

Hollister, CA

ScenicDog-friendly

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

19.0 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.