Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area
Also known as Hollister Hills SVRA
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $5 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- ohv.parks.ca.gov(831) 637-3874
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area is a 6,506-acre recreation area in San Benito County, about 6 miles south of Hollister.
Visitors come for off-highway vehicle riding, horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, and wildlife watching. The official site lists about 200 miles of trails. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
Hours: Open 365 days a year. Vehicle operation and day use is from sunrise to sunset
Fees: Day Use $5 per vehicle. Camping $10 per vehicle per night
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $5 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $5.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dog are allowed on leash in day use and camping areas. Dogs are allowed in the Nature Area and Mudstone Ranch. Dogs are allowed on a tended leash (leash maximum is 6 feet).
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Hudner Ranch OPEN * No fires allowed in Hudner campsites
Camping
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.
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.
Hollister Hills SVRA - Walnut Campground – Seasonal Closure
Diablo Range District - Camping Limits
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, RV Access
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsOff-highway vehiclesWildlife viewing and birdingGeocachingHikingBikingHorseback ridingCamping
Trails
Current Trail Conditions
TRAIL CLOSURES
Get current weather conditions at the Hollister Hills Weather Station
Area Status * Closed trails * Reason for closure Estimated to open
Motorcycles/ATVs
Adobe Area OPEN
Renz Ranch OPEN
Granitic Area OPEN *
4x4/ROVs
Upper Ranch OPEN
Hiking/Cycling
Mudstone Ranch OPEN
Nature Area CLOSED ALL TRAILS Trail Repairs November 2026
CAUTION: Trail conditions can change at any minute. Please be aware of your surroundings and 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
Read more from the park
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.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Parking
- Group facilities
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) features over 6,800 acres and nearly 200 miles of scenic and varied terrain. The park offers numerous off-highway vehicle (OHV) opportunities as well as designated hiking, bicycling, and equestrian trails. The park is located approximately five miles south of Hollister; the main park entrance is located at 7800 Cienega Road, Hollister CA 95023. Phone (831) 637-3874 for more information.
Camping
Area 5: This group camping area in the Upper Ranch area (for 4x4's only), is generally accessible. The restroom with showers is accessible and offers one accessible shower stall. Accessible parking is available. Routes of travel are usable.
Bee Campground: This campground in the Lower Ranch area (for motorcycles & ATV’s) has two accessible campsites (#40 and #42). Each site includes accessible amenities including parking, tent pad, picnic table with shade ramada, fire pit, and water spigot. Accessible flush restrooms and showers are available nearby and include accessible parking.
Read more from the park
Lodge Campground: This campground in the Lower Ranch area (for motorcycles & ATV’s) has two accessible campsites (#30 and #34), and an accessible camp store. Each campsite includes accessible amenities including parking, tent pad, picnic table with shade ramada, fire pit, and water spigot. Accessible flush restrooms and showers are available nearby and include accessible parking.
Madrone Campground: This campground in the Lower Ranch area (for motorcycles & ATV’s) has two accessible campsites (#56 and #66). Each site includes accessible amenities including parking, tent pad, picnic table with shade ramada, fire pit, and water spigot. Accessible flush restrooms and showers are available nearby and include accessible parking.
Picnic Area
In the Hudner Ranch area (for 4x4's only), the Hudner Entrance includes a generally accessible picnic area with shade ramada, accessible vault restroom, and parking.
In the Lower Ranch area (for motorcycles & ATV's), Lower Day Use and Radio Ridge have generally accessible picnic areas. Accessible restrooms are nearby and include parking. Additional accessible picnic sites are located along the main road in the day use area across from the MX & TT Tracks.
Other Information
Kiosk: There is accessible parking available at the kiosk.
Office: The main office has an accessible service counter and accessible parking.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Park Specific Rules
Superintendent Orders are laws that are specific to a State Park District and/or a California State Park. The links below will take you to a copy of each District Superintendent Order that applies to Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area . These orders are posted for viewing at each public entrance of the park. These orders are subject to change and were recently renewed in 2026. Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area is part of the Diablo Range District.
Hollister Hills SVRA - Hours of Vehicle Operation
Hollister Hills SVRA - Off-Highway Vehicle Usage
Hollister Hills SVRA - Hudner Ranch Fire Restrictions
Diablo Range District - Trail Use Policy
Diablo Range District - Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Diablo Range District - Juvenile Curfew
Diablo Range District - Camping Limits
Diablo Range District - Rescinded Orders
Getting there
- Address
- 5494 Cienega Road
Hollister, CA 95023 - Nearest town
- Hollister — about 6 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.7696, -121.4140
- Phone
- (831) 637-3874
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Hollister Hills SVRA has multiple entrances located along Cienega Road in Hollister – the main entrance to pay fees and receive a gate combination if needed is at 7800 Cienega Road, Hollister CA 95023. (To read more about the 4x4 park and how the gates work, visit our 4x4 Recreation Page.) The park is located approximately 5 miles south of the town of Hollister. From Union Road, head south on Cienega Road. At stop sign, make a right to continue on Cienega Road. Drive approximately 4 miles; the main entrance is on the right. The park is divided into different areas based on the type of recreation (motorcycle & ATV, four-wheeled vehicles, and non-motorized.) Each area has a separate entrance located along Cienega Road.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology