Panoche Hills

Bureau of Land Management, California.

Overview

Hilltops over 2,500 feet high offer scenic vistas of the lush San Joaquin Valley and spectacular Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Panoche Hills was once part of a vast inland sea. Fossils found include vertebrates such as mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, and marine turtles.

Visitor service improvements are now complete at the new day use facility, which features a parking area, a shade structure, picnic benches, a vault toilet, and a kiosk providing an interpretive panel, a map, and information about the area.

Nearby Activities

• Auto Touring
• Biking
• Camping
• Day Use Area
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Photography
• Wildlife Viewing

Directions

From Interstate-5, take the Mercy Hot Springs exit County Road J-1/Little Panoche Road. Continue west past the Little Panoche detention dam. In 8 miles, you will see a BLM sign on the left indicating the entrance to the Panoche Hills.

Additional Information

• Panoche Hills