Toro Park is a 4,756-acre Monterey County regional park off Highway 68, roughly midway between Salinas and Monterey, where oak-studded canyons and grassy ridgelines rise above the Salinas Valley. Locals come for the trail network, families come for the playgrounds and picnic lawns, and hikers come for summit views that reach Monterey Bay on clear days.
The developed lower park holds playgrounds, softball fields, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and reservable group picnic areas shaded by oaks and eucalyptus. Beyond these, roughly 20 miles of trails climb into open backcountry that hikers share with equestrians and mountain bikers. The signature challenge is Ollason Peak, a steep climb rewarded with sweeping views over the valley, the Gabilan Range, and the bay. In spring, the hills turn green and fill with wildflowers. By late summer, the grass dries to gold, and the afternoon heat on exposed ridges can be intense.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Arrive early on weekends, when group picnics and ballgames fill the lower lots. Weekday mornings are the quietest. Plan summit hikes for March through May or for cool mornings, and carry plenty of water, since the upper trails offer little shade. Watch for poison oak, ticks, and rattlesnakes, and yield to horses on shared trails. The park charges a vehicle day-use fee and operates on set gate hours, so check Monterey County Parks for current rates, hours, and picnic reservations before you go. Fort Ord National Monument and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca are both a short drive west on Highway 68.
