Hollister Hills SVRA

This short but essential 0.6-mile connector trail provides 4x4 drivers with direct access from Cienega Road into the heart of Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area's famous Upper Ranch. It serves as a primary gateway to a premier off-road playground, taking vehicles from the park's eastern boundary toward the main obstacle courses, hill climbs, and staging areas. Climbing gently from 962 feet to 1,147 feet with an elevation gain of 201 feet, the route transitions from paved road access into the hard-packed dirt typical of the park's lower sections. While this specific connector is a straightforward drive, it immediately leads to highly technical routes in the Upper Ranch, including the steep, loose-rock climbs of Fremontia Road and the axle-twisting ruts of the Tank Trap. To traverse this trail, drivers must first stop at the main Hollister Hills ranger station down Cienega Road to pay the day-use fee and obtain the combination for the locked Upper Ranch entry gate. After passing through and relocking the gate, the route winds westward past the Large Pit area before terminating near Garner Lake Road and Prospect Road. High-clearance vehicles with four-wheel drive are necessary to explore the wider network, where trail ratings quickly reach difficult. The trail is open year-round, but wet weather turns the clay-rich dirt into slick mud, dramatically increasing the difficulty and requiring proper recovery gear.