The holidays are fast approaching and many people are gearing up
to spend time at their local state park, Hollister Hills.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, with Christmas and New
Year
’s Eve following close behind. It’s that time of year, when we
all get to spend time with family, reflect on what we have to be
thankful for and spread cheer to everyone around us. Many people
like to do just that here at the Hollister Hills State Vehicular
Recreational Area.
The holidays are fast approaching and many people are gearing up to spend time at their local state park, Hollister Hills. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, with Christmas and New Year’s Eve following close behind. It’s that time of year, when we all get to spend time with family, reflect on what we have to be thankful for and spread cheer to everyone around us. Many people like to do just that here at the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreational Area.
In the mind’s eye, it’s a perfect scenario. You’re spending time with friends and family while participating in your favorite off-road activity. The evenings are filled with hot chocolate and warm campfires. For many campers, it’s a holiday dream waiting to come true. For others, it quickly turns into a holiday disappointment.
I have been a ranger at Hollister Hills for a little more than three years. It’s a relatively short time compared to some of the other rangers here, but in the few years I have been here I have seen the attendance grow larger every year. More and more people are coming here to spend their hard-earned days off, and every year it breaks my heart to stop people at the entrance and tell them that we are completely full.
It is difficult for me to say that to a person who may have just driven four hours to get here in their motorhome with their entire family sitting impatiently in the back. This person probably spent the whole week planning this trip and I am telling them that we have absolutely no room.
It is at this point that holiday expectations turn into a disappointment. I have nothing to say to this person that will ease the frustration welling up within them. I smile politely, I apologize, and I do my best to offer alternatives, but I know I am having very little success when it comes to improving their mood.
So how do you avoid this ugly situation? It’s actually pretty simple. Plan on showing up early. We don’t have a reservation system here. It’s all first-come, first-served.
Speaking specifically about Thanksgiving, we are full by Wednesday night and generally stay that way until Sunday afternoon. Many campers show up and we have almost no space left for day use. Many people who have showed up on a Thursday night with anything larger than a skateboard were probably turned away.
Those who are planning on camping should show up early in the week. Those planning on coming for day use, plan on showing up very early in the morning. This is still not a guarantee the park will not be full, so an alternative may be to select another weekend to enjoy the park when there are fewer people. For those of you lucky enough to make it into the park, I recommend that you come prepared. Purchase and use all the recommended safety equipment, including helmets, boots, knee guards, etc. Don’t leave them at home. You can never be too safe. Make sure your motorcycle or ATV has a spark arrestor and is quiet enough to meet the 96-decibel sound limit. Every vehicle being used here in the park has to be currently registered. For you parents who are bringing out the family, keep in mind that there will be a lot of people out on the trails. Children under 16 years of age must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Wherever you decide to spend your spare time during the holidays, whether it is here at Hollister Hills, in the comfort of your home or some other choice location, we hope you have a safe and wonderful time. Don’t have your holiday dreams turn into holiday disappointments.
David Dennis is a State Park Ranger assigned to Hollister Hills SVRA. He can be contacted by e-mail at dd***@******ca.gov
