01
Best overall pick
Pinnacles National Park
South Of Hollister Along Highway 25 • National Park Volcanic High-Country Hiking • Iconic Day Hike Destination
Steep but rewarding loops through Pinnacles’ High Peaks and Bear Gulch offer the most dramatic hiking within easy reach of Hollister.
From Hollister, Pinnacles feels close enough for a day trip but remote enough to feel like another world. The High Peaks and Bear Gulch routes mix narrow, carved steps, talus caves, and sweeping views over the Gabilan Range. Go early for cooler temperatures and easier parking, and build in time to linger at the overlooks—this is where you bring out-of-town visitors when you want to impress them.
02
Best views over the valleys
Fremont Peak State Park
West Of Hollister In The Gabilan Range • Compact State Park With Big Ridgeline Vistas • Best For Sunrise, Sunset, And Stargazing Hikes
Short but steep trails lead to a summit with wide views over the Salinas Valley, San Juan Bautista, and on clear days Monterey Bay.
Fremont Peak’s network of short trails makes it easy to tailor a quick leg-stretcher or a lingering golden-hour ramble. The summit path pays off fast, trading oak woodland for open rock and panoramic views that feel much grander than the mileage suggests. Locals often time their hikes for sunset or stay after dark for the famous night skies and observatory programs.
03
Closest quick escape
Hollister Hills SVRA – Mudstone Ranch & Nature Area
Cienega Road Corridor South Of Hollister • Oak-Studded Foothill Trail Network • Go-To After-Work And Family Hiking Spot
This non-motorized corner of Hollister Hills offers mellow to moderate loops through rolling grasslands, creek bottoms, and shaded oak slopes.
Mudstone Ranch and the adjacent Nature Area feel surprisingly quiet given how close they sit to town. Well-signed trails let you link short loops for kids or stretch things into a several-mile circuit with a few steeper climbs. In spring the hills turn bright green and wildflowers pop along the paths, while winter brings clear air and big views back toward Hollister.
04
Best backcountry feel
Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
Eastern San Benito Backcountry Off Coalinga Road • Remote Blm Canyon And Ridge Hiking • Best For Solitude And All-Day Explorations
Lightly used trails wind through chaparral, pine pockets, and canyon bottoms, offering a wild, back-of-beyond feel compared with in-town options.
Laguna Mountain is where you head when you want a full-day outing and very few other hikers. The routes climb and dip through mixed terrain, with views stretching over rugged ridges and isolated drainages. Expect basic facilities and bring plenty of water and navigation—this is more of a true backcountry wander than a casual park stroll.
05
Best big-sky ramble
Panoche Hills Recreation Area
Remote Panoche Valley East Of Hollister • Wide-Open Grassland And Ridge Walks • Best Winter And Spring Wildflower Hike
Undeveloped BLM roads and paths roll across broad ridges with far-reaching views, especially rewarding in the cool, green months.
Panoche Hills feels like classic California backroad country—quiet, windswept, and expansive. Hikes here often follow old ranch or service roads, letting you wander at your own pace across open hills dotted with rock outcrops and occasional wildflowers. Plan this one for winter through early spring, when temperatures are mild, the grasses are green, and raptors circle above the valley.