Clear Creek Riding Area
An exceptional OHV experience awaits you if you venture into the rugged Clear Creek Management Area.
The only public lands managed by the Hollister blm that provide OHV recreation. Managed as a Limited-Use OHV area, the CCMA offers many miles of roads and trails to the hardy OHV enthusiast, whether the interest be in four-wheeling or single track. There are six staging areas and one campground inside the Management Area, which is located about 1.5 hours south of the city of Hollister. There are no fees or services. Several OHV events take place in the Clear Creek area every year, including the National Quicksilver Enduro. The best riding conditions are in the late Fall through the early Spring. Although beautiful, this area does contain natural asbestos, and the BLM encourages visitors to avoid the area during dry dusty conditions.
There is probably no place in California quite like Clear Creek for vehicle recreation. The old roads provide an infrastructure for exploring Clear Creek. Whether you enjoy four-wheeling or dirt-biking, , you will be able to find a trail to enjoy. There are technically difficult routes and there are easy routes, and most are ruggedly spectacular throughout. The Clear Creek Management Area is managed under a Limited - Use policy, providing access to challenging routes and trails that are numbered and signed. Route and trail designation is an ongoing process with the goal of approximately 270 miles of designated open routes and trails completed by Feb, 2003.
Call the Clear Creek hotline at (831)-630-5060 to find out about dust levels and riding conditions
How to get there:
From the San Jose area, travel south on Highway 101 to Gilroy. Just past Gilroy, take the Highway 25 exit towards Hollister. Continue through town (Hwy. 25 runs through the town of Hollister) and head south for about 35 miles. You will pass by the Pinnacles National Monument. Turn left onto the Coalinga-Los Gatos Creek County road. Continue approximately 14 miles. At the BLM sign indicating the entrance to the Clear Creek Management Area, turn left. You will then be on the main road, Clear Creek Road, which is an unpaved road bisecting the Management Area. From Coalinga, take the Coalinga-Los Gatos Creek County Road to the turn-off to the Management Area, which will be a right-hand turn. From I-5, take the Panoche Road exit, and head west approximately 25 miles (the road turns to dirt within 2 miles of the highway, and turns back to pavement again after 14 miles). Continue on Panoche Road to the Idria Road, and left. This road will lead you to the north entrance of the Clear Creek Management Area. As of 9/97, there is a washout on this main road as you enter the Management Area. Travelers are advised to take a detour on the "Aurora Mine Road", which will bypass the washout.
