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Pacheco State Park is the last remaining portion of the Mexican land grant, El Rancho San Luis Gonzaga. Francisco Pacheco and his son Juan were granted the property and built the first house in Merced County on this land in 1843. The land remained in the Pacheco family through five generations until Paula Fatjo, the great-great granddaughter of Francisco Pacheco, donated the land in 1992 to be a park for future generations who share her love of animals, horse back riding, history, and unspoiled land. This land has been a horse and a cattle ranch since 1843 and has breath taking views of the Central Valley to the east and the Santa Clara Valley to the west.
The park has beautiful displays of spring wildflowers, scenic vistas, and outstanding trails for horse-back riding, hiking, and mountain biking. The 28 miles of trails offer several loop options to give visitors the choice of a hike or ride of from one to twenty miles or more. During the spring the park's grassy slopes abound with blossoming wildflowers. The park is home to tule elk, deer, bobcat, coyote, fox, several hawks, golden eagles and many other smaller animals. Cattle continue to graze on the ranch in the winter and spring months.
Among the historic features of the park are an old line shack used by Henry Miller's cattle company in the 1800s, part of the old Butterfield Stage line route, and the remains of the original Pacheco adobe. There is also a wind turbine farm which generates enough clean electrical power for 3,500 homes.
Although the total park area is 6,890 acres only the western 2,600 acres are open for public use at this time.
Getting There
Pacheco State Park is located 24 miles west of Los Banos or 20 miles east of Gilroy off Highway 152 on Dinosaur Point Road.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
$5 day-use fee per vehicle
Pacheco State Park is located 24 miles west of Los Banos or 20 miles east of Gilroy off Highway 152 on Dinosaur Point Road.
The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
$5 day-use fee per vehicle
Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing
The area is semi-arid, with daytime temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 degrees in the summer and 45 to 65 degrees in the winter. Evening are quite cool all year due to coastal marine air moving eastward across the Pacheco Pass.
Remember to bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lot of drinking water especially in the summer months.
The area is semi-arid, with daytime temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 degrees in the summer and 45 to 65 degrees in the winter. Evening are quite cool all year due to coastal marine air moving eastward across the Pacheco Pass.
Remember to bring a hat, sunscreen, and a lot of drinking water especially in the summer months.
Operating Hours & Contact
All year. Day-use hours are 8am until sunset.
Telephone: 209-826-1197; if no answer, then try 209-826-6283
All year. Day-use hours are 8am until sunset.
Telephone: 209-826-1197; if no answer, then try 209-826-6283
Camping
There are no facilities for camping except for special events. There is no potable water for human consumption at this time but there is water in the park's several lakes for horses. Camping is available at nearby San Luis State Recreation Area.
There are no facilities for camping except for special events. There is no potable water for human consumption at this time but there is water in the park's several lakes for horses. Camping is available at nearby San Luis State Recreation Area.
Activities
Trails: Twenty-eight miles of trails offer several loop choices for visitors. Unless posted otherwise, trails are multipurpose and serve hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians.
Hiking: Visitors are encouraged to hike the trails once traversed by many historical figures – including the Yokuts and Mutsun people, Spanish missionaries and soldiers, Mexican vaqueros, gold seekers and bandits.
Biking: All park trails currently allow bicycles and offer beginners and skilled riders a challenging and enjoyable ride over gentle slopes and steep hills.
Equestrians: Paula Fatjo donated the property to promote a love of horses and of undisturbed land. Scenic equestrian trails wind throughout the park, and several small lakes provide drinking water for the horses.
Events: Springtime guided walks highlight the park’s fascinating history, and wildflower displays showcase its natural features. Kite Day is held each year. Call the park for dates and times.
Trails: Twenty-eight miles of trails offer several loop choices for visitors. Unless posted otherwise, trails are multipurpose and serve hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians.
Hiking: Visitors are encouraged to hike the trails once traversed by many historical figures – including the Yokuts and Mutsun people, Spanish missionaries and soldiers, Mexican vaqueros, gold seekers and bandits.
Biking: All park trails currently allow bicycles and offer beginners and skilled riders a challenging and enjoyable ride over gentle slopes and steep hills.
Equestrians: Paula Fatjo donated the property to promote a love of horses and of undisturbed land. Scenic equestrian trails wind throughout the park, and several small lakes provide drinking water for the horses.
Events: Springtime guided walks highlight the park’s fascinating history, and wildflower displays showcase its natural features. Kite Day is held each year. Call the park for dates and times.
Tips & Rules
During the mild spring and fall months, visitors are encouraged to roam the hills that have been traversed by Central Valley Yokut Indians, Spanish missionaries and soldiers, Mexican vaqueros, gold seekers and bandits.
Note: No dogs are allowed on the trails
During the mild spring and fall months, visitors are encouraged to roam the hills that have been traversed by Central Valley Yokut Indians, Spanish missionaries and soldiers, Mexican vaqueros, gold seekers and bandits.
Note: No dogs are allowed on the trails
Landscape
Pacheco State Park is famed for its sweeping panoramas of mostly undeveloped grasslands and oak woodlands. Its location atop the Diablo Mountain Range provides impressive vistas in all directions. The 1,927-foot Spike’s Peak offers a 360-degree view of San Luis Reservoir, the Central Valley, and the Coast Mountain Range. Grasslands, woodlands, ponds and natural springs provide seasonal interest. Summer and autumn grasses turn gold, while spring rains bring bursts of wildflower colors. Frequent strong winds have sculpted the old oaks into striking windswept forms.
The park’s native perennial grasses include one-sided bluegrass, purple needlegrass, and wild rye grasses. Carpeting the hills in spring are such wildflowers as butter-n-eggs, yellow violets, shooting star, popcorn flower, larkspur and California poppy.
A variety of wild animals calls the park home. Tule elk, deer, bobcats, coyotes and foxes roam the slopes while golden eagles and several species of hawks soar above the treetops. Cattle graze on the historic ranch in winter and spring, as they have done for more than 100 years.
Pacheco State Park is famed for its sweeping panoramas of mostly undeveloped grasslands and oak woodlands. Its location atop the Diablo Mountain Range provides impressive vistas in all directions. The 1,927-foot Spike’s Peak offers a 360-degree view of San Luis Reservoir, the Central Valley, and the Coast Mountain Range. Grasslands, woodlands, ponds and natural springs provide seasonal interest. Summer and autumn grasses turn gold, while spring rains bring bursts of wildflower colors. Frequent strong winds have sculpted the old oaks into striking windswept forms.
The park’s native perennial grasses include one-sided bluegrass, purple needlegrass, and wild rye grasses. Carpeting the hills in spring are such wildflowers as butter-n-eggs, yellow violets, shooting star, popcorn flower, larkspur and California poppy.
A variety of wild animals calls the park home. Tule elk, deer, bobcats, coyotes and foxes roam the slopes while golden eagles and several species of hawks soar above the treetops. Cattle graze on the historic ranch in winter and spring, as they have done for more than 100 years.
Accessible Features
Disclaimer
We are working to improve accessibility throughout our parks but we regret that there are currently no (wheelchair) accessible activities at this park. This may be an undeveloped park, or there may be terrain, historic or resource protection issues or other limiting factors. However, there may be some wheelchair accessible features, such as parking areas, restrooms, and routes of travel, that meet some of the current accessibility guidelines. Call the park or email us at access@parks.ca.gov for details.
Disclaimer
We are working to improve accessibility throughout our parks but we regret that there are currently no (wheelchair) accessible activities at this park. This may be an undeveloped park, or there may be terrain, historic or resource protection issues or other limiting factors. However, there may be some wheelchair accessible features, such as parking areas, restrooms, and routes of travel, that meet some of the current accessibility guidelines. Call the park or email us at access@parks.ca.gov for details.
Community Trips
--------------------------------This trip was created with the REI Bike Your Drive App
