Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area — Attraction in Hollister

Being a woman over time you kind of get labeled as a mall shopping, chick flick loving, always hogging the bathroom mirror and have to have dinner ready on the table before you're husband gets home before 5pm. Luckily it's not 1950 anymore but don't get me wrong I still like doing 3 of the 4 things I just mentioned above. I guess shopping is infused in our DNA because I can shop like nobody's business. I don't know why but every time I tell someone I enjoy atving they go speechless. YES, I am one of the few woman who like to dirt bike/ATV. Now that we have addressed the elephant in the room I can get down to the nitty gritty.

Coming to Hollister Hills you get a 3 in one kind of deal. Not only do you have the pleasure of enjoying the wonderful outdoors but you have amazing trails to ride around on acres and acres for your big boy toys, camping grounds to get your Paul Bunyan on and the upper ranch you can use your side by sides or your Jeeps etc.

The Upper Ranch is mainly for used for 4-wheel drive and motorcycle special events. I was told that is surrounded on 800 acres and had 24 trails for you to get your mob on. So basically plenty of space for you to get to get down and dirty. If you're are planning on 4 wheeling they said it is best to call before coming especially on the weekends to make sure the area isn't reserved for special events. The upper ranch is open from 8am to sunset.

The Lower Ranch has about 3,300 acres set for motorcycle and ATV use only! I was told that the lower ranch has about 128 miles of trails and several hill climbs. There are also a couple of picnic areas around and a mini bike trail/ mini track. Riding on the lower ranch is open from sunrise to sunset.

If you want to go camping you don't need to make a reservation it's a first come first serve basis. The camping fee is $10 per night and all camp sites have restroom facilities.

If you have never been to Hollister Hills and own a bike, ATV etc this is one of the best places to go and get...

Been going here 50 years(!). If you live in California (anywhere) and ride dirt bikes, HH is a place that you eventually hafta ride. While not the largest area, it's big enough for several full days of riding. It also has every type of riding available for all ages and skills, so the whole family will be happy and safe and entertained. There is 90cc play areas, long easy trails for beginners, extremely challenging hill climbs and black diamond trails for very experienced riders (so fun), and full Motocross tracks with massive jumps. Trails are well marked with most being one-way, and clear warnings on the short two-way sections. Ya, you gotta come here at some point if you're a dirt rider. Today, the traction was great in the Granitic area; Renz and Adobe were closed (too wet). All the gnarly trails (Jay's, Pete's) were marvelous, as good as they get. I've been here so many times that my friends and I are tired of it, but there are still those days that give you some fantastic riding, and today was one of those days. One last comment. I recently bought an electric bike (Talaria MX4). I had NO idea how it would handle serious riding at a place like HH (or Stonyford or Hungry Valley). I am SO excited to say that it exceeded my expectations. In Power and Range, it simply did fantastic. SO FUN. Because there's no shifting, when you wanna stay ON the power you just hold it... and you're a faster rider. Yes, I mean that. Faster. For the last two hours, that little bike on the left FULLY stayed up with the big KX450 (2023) on the right. On Jay's and Pete's, the Talaria was better than any gas bike I've ever owned. Full power at zero speed let's you pause and pick a better line when climbing back up the gnarly uphill turns. And climbing Okie hill - it made the climb great. Just, an amazing machine. (Btw, my KX buddy uses a fork saver so it's not collapsed in the truck and makes it look way taller; it would normally be down...

My husband loves to come here to ride dirt bikes. It's beautiful in the late winter, early spring.

Went on a hike to the Nature Area past the Madrone Camp. It was beautiful along the running stream, especially after the rains of 2023. Take Beck Trail along the stream to Foot bridges or stream crossings. On Hidden Springs, head through shaded areas in the trees and exposed areas along the hillside of sage on Madrone Trail. Lovely views of the valley off this trail. Azalea Canyon is a steep climb or a knee strainer if heading down. Cathedral Rocks didn't give quite the view of the rocks, liky because it was overgrown due to recent rains, though you could see them. Take Hidden Springs towards the valley, away from the OHV area and the path is blocked by a rock slide. Though you can traverse it to the other side to continue to Chamois Trail. I didn't take this one, as I wasn't sure where it went. Though after hiking the rest I believe it might head back down into the canyon and head back on Bird Creek Trail which then takes you back to Beck and eventually the trail head. Hiked for 2.5 hours and never saw another soul. The images are views taken from Madrone Trail.

Great place to camp if you want to ride and crash without a drive home. But don't expect to sleep if camping on the weekend. This time a group decided to party until 4am, running the dirt bike at 3am, yelling, singing loudly, pounding on what sounded like the dumpster. I realize this might not naturally be the peaceful crowd, but people need to sleep. Especially if you're going to get woken up early by dirt bikes...