Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

4x4 Areas Closed 4/8-4/13

Current Trail Conditions

Hollister Hills Weather Monitoring Station

CLOSED 

The following areas are closed until further notice.

• Upper Ranch and Hudner Ranch (4x4 vehicles & ROVs)

OPEN

• Granitic, Adobe, and Renz areas of Lower Ranch * (Motorcycle & ATV) (See Map)
  • Closed Renz trails: Fenceline, Tiger, San Andreas Drop remain closed.
• Mudstone Ranch (Hiking, Biking, & Equestrian)

 Closure note: to maintain public safety and our natural resources, everything on Adobe clay soil closes when wet due to its unique slick and sticky properties.

CAUTION: Always be aware of changing hazards on trails. Ride at your own risk!

Welcome to Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area

Safety Starts with You

Lower Ranch | Motorcycle & ATV Area

Upper Ranch & Hudner Ranch | Four-Wheeled Vehicles Area (non-ATVs)

Mudstone Ranch | Hiking, Bicycling, & Equestrians

Camping

Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) is California State Parks’ first SVRA. Located in the Gabilan Mountains, just an hour’s drive south of San Jose, this unique park features over 6,800 acres and nearly 200 miles of trails in scenic and varied terrain. Visitors are drawn to the natural beauty of the park’s oak woodlands, rolling hills, lush canyons, and seasonal creeks with elevations ranging from 660 feet to 2,425 feet. Hollister Hills SVRA offers numerous off-highway vehicle (OHV) opportunities as well as designated hiking, bicycling, and equestrian trails.

The park straddles the San Andreas Fault. The North American tectonic plate (North East side) consists of clay-rich adobe soil with rolling hills covered in grassland and oak woodlands. The Pacific tectonic plate (South West) consists of granitic soil with steeper terrain with pine, sage, and chaparral taking root in the sandy soil. The Pacific and North American tectonic plates have been sliding past each other for 30 million years at a current rate of about 1.5 inches per year. 

To read more about the geology, plants and animals of the park visit our natural history site.

To read more about the park's story, visit our cultural history site.

Basic Park Information

Fees: The day use fee for all areas is $5. Camping is $10 per vehicle. Self-pay stations can be found at the Mudstone parking lot and at the Ranger Office at the main park entrance. 

Park Hours: Day use is sunrise to sunset. The park is open 365 days a year including holidays.
(*Please note, the Adobe and Renz areas close during wet conditions for public safety and natural resource protection.)

Special Passes: We accept OHV Annual Passes, Distinguished Veteran Passes, and Disabled Discount Passes for entry. The OHV Annual Pass allows for free entry for day use only, while the discounts associated with the other two apply to day use and camping. You can apply for these passes in person at our office or online at reservecalifornia.com.

We do not allow the following passes for entry, but they can be purchased in the office: Golden Bear Pass, Senior Golden Bear Pass, and the California Explorer Pass. More information about State Park Passes at this link.

Events: We offer a variety of ranger-led education activities and special events. For a list of upcoming events, click here.

Dogs are allowed on a tended leash (leash maximum is 6 feet). 

Equestrians are allowed in Mudstone Ranch.

Fireworks are prohibited.

Drones are not allowed in the park. To protect wildlife and cultural resources, and for the safety and welfare of visitors and staff, the park is closed to the use of Model Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Gliders in flight.

Loaded firearms and hunting are not allowed in units of the State Parks System. Possession of loaded firearms or air rifles is prohibited.

e-bicycles Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed to ride at Mudstone Ranch and in the Nature Area. To learn more about California State Park's e-bike policy please click here.