Recreation

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 Hunting 



There are three main types of hunting available, including upland game bird, small game, and big game like deer and wild pigs.  Varmint (non-game) hunting is also allowed.  Check the table below to find publicly accessible places which support different types of hunting.  Animals listed in parenthesis indicate that success for that species is marginal or extremely marginal.  For maps and more information about these areas you can purchase a Public Information Guide or call us at (831) 630-5000.  Please remember there is no hunting on the Fort Ord National Monument. 

The California Department of Fish and Game regulates the hunting seasons for different species and the types of firearms allowed for use.  Please be aware that this region is home to the California Condor and affects non-game hunting.  Be sure to also check out our web page for frequently asked questions about pig hunting.

Geographic Area	Game/Non-Game Animals
Condon Peak	Deer, Wild Pig, Upland game birds, Small game
Curry Mountain	Upland game birds, Wild Pig
Griswold Hills	Upland game birds, Varmints, Small game, (Deer, Wild Pig)
Joaquin Rocks	Deer, Wild Pig, Upland game birds, Small game
Laguna Mountain	Deer, Wild Pig, Upland game birds, Small game, Varmints
Panoche Hills	Upland game birds, Varmints, Small game, (Wild Pig)
Stockdale Mountain	Deer, Wild Pig, Small game, Varmints
Tumey Hills	Upland game birds, Varmints, Small game, (Deer, Wild Pig)
Williams Hill	Deer, Wild Pig, Small game, Varmints

  
Target Shooting 



There are no designated target shooting areas in the Hollister Field Office area, however, Public Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management are open to target shooting except when prohibited by other applicable laws and regulations.  There is no shooting on the Fort Ord National Monument.

While target shooting on BLM lands you must:

Use legal weapons and ammunition
Employ a safe backstop (hill) within close proximity behind the target
Remove all your targets, gun shells, clay pigeons, and any and all items used for your target shooting

You may not:

Shoot within 150 yards of residences, structures, or developed areas (i.e. day use areas)
Shoot onto private lands
Shoot across a roadway or trail
Shoot at hazardous materials such as propane tanks or paint cans

There is a supplemental order for the Fort Ord National Monument that prohibits the use and discharge of firearms/weapons.   Call or email our Law Enforcement Rangers or email our Outdoor Recreation Planners for more information about places to safely target shoot and be sure to visit the California BLM Hunting and Target Shooting Information web page and the State of California's Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Firearms information web page.

 Camping



Dispersed, free, camping is allowed Field Office-wide with the exception of (1) the San Benito Mountain Research Natural Area located in the Clear Creek Management Area, and (2) the Fort Ord National Monument located on the Monterey Peninsula; both areas are closed to camping.

Developed camping facilities on BLM land managed by the Hollister Field Office can be found at:



Williams Hill - Monterey County






Laguna Mountain & Sweetwater - San Benito County






Condon Peak - San Benito/Fresno County  





There are also private, state, county or local campgrounds on lands adjacent to the BLM.  Campers should be aware of fire season and other restrictions which affect camping on public lands in the Hollister Field Office area, particularly in the Panoche and Tumey Hills.

If you create a campfire outside of a fire ring at one of the established campgrounds on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management you will need a campfire permit.  Campfire permits are free of charge and may be obtained from any BLM or U.S. Forest Service office in California or online.

  Trails



Biking

The best mountain biking opportunities are on the Fort Ord National Monument.  This area offers challenges for both the novice and experienced mountain biker.  Several annual mountain bike races are held on BLM land with participation ranging from 500 to 2,500 riders.

Equestrian

Most of the Field Office area is accessible to equestrian use but some of the best developed riding opportunities are on the Fort Ord National Monument near Monterey providing 86 miles of old fire roads and trails.  If you would like to learn more about riding opportunities on former Fort Ord call the Fort Ord National Monument Office at (831) 394-8314.

Hiking

With the exception of the large network of trails available on the Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey County, there are very few miles of built hiking trails in the resource area.  One special trail is the  Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.  Other notable exceptions include the Laguna Mountain trail system, the Coalinga Mineral Springs National Recreation Trail, and the Griswold Hills trail.  There are many places to explore throughout the Field Office area that offer "off the trail" hiking.

Coalinga Mineral Springs National Recreation Trail   

To find this trail you need to take the Coalinga Mineral Springs County Park exit off of State Highway 198.  Leave your vehicle there and walk to the far end of the park, cross the creek, and you will see a trail heading up and out of the park.  Climbing gently at first, the second half of this National Recreation Trail climbs fairly steeply through a series of switchbacks.  Views are wonderful through the 2.4 mile hike, particularly when you reach the upper ridge leading to Kreyenhagen Peak.  There is no water along the trail so bring plenty to drink and there are no facilities at the County Park so follow Leave No Trace standards and pack out your garbage.

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Access to this trail for BLM starts at the Creekside Access point on the Fort Ord National Monument, located on the north side of State Highway 68.  Across from the access point and south of the highway is Toro Creek County Park, a tie-in point to the rest of the Anza Trail that stretches from Sonora, Mexico, to San Francisco, California.  The Anza NHT commemorates the route used for an expedition led by Juan Bautista de Anza in 1775-1776 AD.  The route was established as an overland trade and colonization entrada into Spain's newly acquired Alta California.  Most of the historic trail follows the explorers' pathway as translated from the journal entries recorded by various members of the expedition.  Eleven miles of the Trail can be enjoyed on Fort Ord National Monument, winding through maritime chaparral, oak woodland, and open grasslands.

 Rockhounding/Mineral Collection



Within the boundaries of the lands administered by the Hollister Field Office, rockhounders can take home petrified wood, interesting rocks and minerals, and invertebrate fossils (animals without backbones such as clams).  For petrified wood, there is a 25 pound/day limit, with a maximum of 250 pounds/calendar year .  Vertebrate fossils (animals with backbones) and cultural artifacts may not be collected without a permit - see our Permits web page for more information.  Since the Panoche, Tumey and Ciervo Hills were all under water millions of years ago, fossil remains of many species may be found.  This is also an area where you can find petrified wood. 

The Clear Creek Management Area is temporarily CLOSED.  Home to the extremely rare California State Gem - Benitoite , there are also over 100 other different types of gems and minerals inside the Clear Creek Management Area like jadeite, melanite garnet, chromite, magnesite and plasma agate.  Please be aware that the unique geology of this area includes a natural hazard of asbestos which is found in much of the soil.  For more information about asbestos call the Clear Creek hotline at (831) 630-5060 or visit the Hollister Field Office Naturally Occurring Asbestos information web page. 

  
  Nature Study 



Wilderness areas and ACECs provide good opportunities to study rare or endangered plant and wildlife species, geological and paleontological features and diverse ecological landscapes.  The natural setting of the lands managed by the Hollister Field Office are great for activities such as sightseeing, watchable wildlife, birding, stargazing, and wildflower viewing.

Have fun, be safe, and remember to pack out your garbage...Keep America Clean

Hollister Field Office: Top 10 Points of Interest

Know Before You Go - Laws and Regulations

Rick Cooper, Field Manager
Bureau of Land Management
Hollister Field Office
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023
Phone: (831) 630-5000
Fax: (831) 630-5055
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., M-F
Contact us by Email