If you’ve ever driven along highway 5 between the Bay Area and Southern California, you know there isn’t much in the way of landmarks. It’s a long and boring drive through the flat central valley. When I’m going from south to north I always look forward spying to a ridge of hills rising to the west – the Panoche Hills. These hills let me know I’m getting close to being done with 5!
After driving by these hills for years, I decided it was time to check them out. Normally brown and dry, I hoped that spring would bring green hillsides and wildflowers. So, I set out to learn what on earth was back there.
Trip Report
What I learned is that there are three BLM Wilderness areas in the ranges around the Panoche Valley: Panoche Hills, Tumey Hills, and the Griswold Hills. The Panoche Hills are the most accessible due to roads wandering the ridges throughout the range. I also learned that it is a popular shooting location for gun clubs and organizations in the Bay Area. There is rock hounding, some interesting radio facilities, dispersed camping, and fossils.
Driving into the Panoche Hills
We pulled off of 5 at the Little Panoche Road, then to the rock hounding area that was supposed to have abundant poppy jasper. I found a couple of pieces and can’t wait to polish them! I wish I knew more about the rocks there, I’m sure I left plenty of great stuff behind, but I had no idea what I was looking at.
After rock hounding we headed into the Panoche Hills and had a picnic lunch at the overlook at the entrance. Gunfire serenaded us as it would the rest of the day. We drove south along the gravel road towards the high point, passing several groups who were set up for a day of shooting. We kept going until we parked next to the high point which we quickly tagged.
View from the Panoche Hills Highpoint – already so brown
Next we explored the north end of the range, finding some trashed and mediocre campsites. One had a fantastic view, but since we still had plenty of daylight left we decided to check out the other ranges.
We didn’t explore the Tumey Hills, but we did head to the Griswold Hills for camping on Saturday night. There are no roads that go through those hills other than New Idria, and there are a couple of campsites along the dry creek in the small stretch of BLM land that crosses the road.
Sunset from our camp in Griswold Hills
One thing we didn’t see a lot of during the day was wildflowers. I was really hoping to find a closer place for spring wildflower exploring than Carrizo, but it just didn’t pop the same way. On Sunday, we followed Panoche Road west to Hollister and found a few nice scenes and flowers, but nothing that blew me away.
Views along Panoche Road
So, what’s my verdict on the Panoche Hills? I’m glad I finally explored that area and know what’s back there. I’d love to go back and hike the Griswold Hills highpoint and visit the New Idria ghost town as well. But I can’t see it as a place I’ll return to again and again. And if you go? Make sure you’re comfortable with the sound and proximity of guns. Everyone we saw was friendly and operating in a safe way – these seemed to be organized responsible clubs (we saw one group doing a cleanup at a shooting spot), not drunks randomly shooting things, but still…I know that can make people uncomfortable.
Phaecelia and bee butt
Yep…out of an abundance of caution, shooters at Panoche Hills caused me to leave my Mtn Bike in the car. They were friendly and safe, like you said, but they were numerous. (Sounds like you didn’t have a chance to look for the owls across the road at Mercey Hot Springs http://alpharoaming.com/2013/11/02/mercey-hot-springs-and-new-idria-25-miles-from-a-phone-signal/ )