The Panoche Hills are a low mountain range in the Southern Inner California Coast Ranges System, in western Fresno County, California. [1] They are east of the Diablo Range, on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. They define the eastern side of the Panoche Valley.

The habitat at the 596-acre Panoche Hills Ecological Reserve is predominantly shrub grassland, typical of the interior coastal foothills. Characteristic trees and shrubs include juniper, Mormon tea, saltbush, and buckwheat.

Panoche Hills is a BLM property located in Fresno County, California. The hills reach an elevation of 2,500 feet, and the Sierra Nevada mountains are within sight of the camping area.

Jun 8, 2023 · The Panoche Hills rise out of the San Joaquin Valley floor west of Fresno, California. They are steep and dry, creating an environment that only the heartiest desert plants and creatures can call home, including the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard.

May 20, 2013 · The collecting just keeps getting better at Area 54, a former canal district gravel pit in the bed of Little Panoche Creek. This 1.5 x .5 mile site in western Fresno County, CA, is just a few miles off of I-5, and within a few hours drive of the Bay Area and Southern California.

Mar 24, 2020 · Panoche is home to many of the plants more commonly found in the Mojave, and to some of the most interesting animals in the Diablo Range, including kit foxes and the blunt-nosed leopard lizard, a large multicolored lizard that can jump two feet in the air to catch insects.

Dec 8, 2017 · The Panoche Badlands were formed from uplifted marine sediments dating back to the Cretaceous period between 140 and 65 million years ago, when what is now California’s Great Central Valley was covered by a shallow sea. Mosasaur (giant reptile) fossils have been excavated from these hills by university paleontologists.

Panoche Hills rests between the Panoche Valley and the Little Panoche Valley and is only an hour away from the San Francisco Bay region, affording families the opportunity to enjoy the serenity of rural living coupled with close proximity to the attractions of the big city.

In 8 miles, you will see a BLM sign on the left indicating the entrance to the Panoche Hills. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country.

Mar 8, 2012 · The Panoche Hills provide a splendid overlook to the Great Valley on good days. Photos by Andrew Alden Most people, it's probably fair to say, loathe Interstate 5 between Redding and Bakersfield.