Best Off-Road Trails and OHV Parks in the Bay Area

Last updated on October 26th, 2026 at 08:03 pm

The best off-road riding near the Bay Area is at Hollister Hills SVRA for 4x4s, Carnegie SVRA for dirt bikes and ATVs, and Metcalf Motorcycle County Park in San Jose for a quick motorcycle ride. Prairie City, Frank Raines and BLM Knoxville need a longer drive. San Francisco city trails are for hikers and bikes, not engines.

The table below compares size, days open and cost, and the selector under it narrows the list to your vehicle and day of the week.

Bay Area off-road parks compared

Park	Best for	Size	Open	Cost
Hollister Hills SVRA, Hollister	4x4s, ATVs, dirt bikes	Over 6,800 acres, nearly 200 miles of trails	Every day, sunrise to sunset	$5 per vehicle day use; $10 per night camping
Carnegie SVRA, near Livermore	Dirt bikes and ATVs	Over 1,300 acres, 80+ miles of trails, 2-acre 4x4 area	Check the park page	Check the park page
Prairie City SVRA, Rancho Cordova	Bikes, ATVs, side-by-sides, 4x4	About 1,350 acres, 800+ for OHV use	Year-round, closed Wednesdays and some event days	$5 per vehicle parking
Metcalf Motorcycle County Park, San Jose	Dirt bikes	About 457 acres, 18.5 to 22 miles of trails	Thursday through Monday	Check with the county
Frank Raines OHV Park, near Patterson	Hill climbs and 4x4 trails	Not published on the county page	County lists the OHV park as open (Oct 2026)	See the county fee schedule
Knoxville Recreation Area (BLM)	Open-area OHV riding	About 17,700 acres of OHV land	Fire closures happen; check BLM	Check BLM

Hours, fees and closures change. Prairie City, for example, sets seasonal hours by posted order, and Hollister Hills closes some areas in wet weather, so a two-minute check of the park page saves a wasted drive.

Hollister Hills SVRA: the best choice for 4x4s

Hollister Hills sits in the Gabilan Mountains, about an hour from San Jose, and covers more than 6,800 acres with nearly 200 miles of trails. It is open 365 days a year, sunrise to sunset.

Full-size 4x4s go in the Upper Ranch and Hudner Ranch. The Lower Ranch is the dirt bike and ATV side. Day use is $5 per vehicle and camping is $10 per vehicle per night, and most campsites are first come, first served.

As of the park’s Oct 17, 2026 update, the Nature Area was closed for trail repairs, with reopening estimated for November 2026. Adobe and Renz areas close when the ground is wet. See the Hollister Hills SVRA page for current status.

Carnegie SVRA: dirt bikes and ATVs first

Carnegie covers more than 1,300 acres in the hills where eastern Alameda and western San Joaquin counties meet. State Parks lists over 80 miles of trails for motorcycles and ATVs.

Full-size vehicles are limited to a 2-acre 4x4 play area, so a Jeep owner who wants miles of trail should look at Hollister Hills instead. A 2026 draft environmental report for erosion work is in progress, so check for project closures.

Metcalf, Prairie City, Frank Raines and Knoxville

Metcalf Motorcycle County Park is Santa Clara County’s OHV park, about 457 acres in south San Jose. County notices list it as open Thursday through Monday, and trail mileage is given as 18.5 to 22 miles depending on the document. It is the closest legal option for South Bay riders.

Prairie City SVRA, 20 miles east of Sacramento, has about 1,350 acres, MX and ATV practice tracks, a 4x4 area with an obstacle course, and trials areas. It is closed Wednesdays and on some event days, with parking at $5 per vehicle.

Frank Raines OHV Park is in Del Puerto Canyon, about 18 miles west of Patterson, and run by Stanislaus County. Its OHV area has been closed before for fire danger, so check the county page and call (209) 525-6750 first.

Knoxville is BLM land near Pope Valley with about 17,700 acres used for OHV riding. Wildfires have closed parts of it before, so check BLM notices and bring water, a map and fire gear.

Where you cannot ride near San Francisco

Lands End, Batteries to Bluffs, Golden Gate Park and most city and regional park trails are non-motorized. Do not trailer a rig to a hiking trail and hope. If a trail is not listed as an OHV route, treat it as closed to engines.

California OHV rules to check before you go

• Registration: an off-road vehicle that is not street legal must display a DMV-issued green or red sticker or placard. Green allows year-round riding; red is tied to air-quality seasons. See the California DMV for current rules.
• Spark arrester: gas engines need a USFS-approved spark arrester (Prairie City information sheet).
• Helmets: every ATV and ROV rider must wear a DOT-approved helmet at Prairie City. Passengers are allowed only on a factory-built two-seat ATV.
• Youth riders have extra rules; check State Parks’ OHV laws page before bringing kids.

Tire pressure matters on rocky Hollister trails, so see our off-road tire pressure guide. For trail manners, read trail etiquette for beginners, and use the free off-road calculators to plan a tire or gear change. Heading further? See Las Vegas off-road trails.

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