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Henry Willard Coe State Park
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Coe Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 80,000 acres of wild open spaces. The terrain of the park is rugged, varied and
beautiful, with lofty ridges and steep canyons.
Once the home of Ohlone Indians, the park is now home to a fascinating variety of plants and animals, including the elusive mountain lion. Within Coe Park are the headwaters of Coyote Creek, long stretches of the Pacheco and Orestimba creeks and
a 23,300-acre wilderness area.
The park is open year-round for hikers, mountain bikers, backpackers, equestrians, car campers, picnickers, photographers and
people who simply like to visit parks.
Fires No ground fires allowed anywhere in the park. Fires in provided fire-rings are permitted only at headquarters campground and at Manzanita Point group camps. Backpackers are permitted only campstoves with bottled fuel. No hibachis, barbecues, ground fires, or open wood/charcoal fires are permitted in the backcountry.
Camping
Camping
Car Camping in the Headquarters Campground The campground at park headquarters, located on top of an open ridge at 2,600 feet, has views across the ridges and canyons of the backcountry. The 20 drive-in sites in the campground can be reserved.
Sites that havent been reserved are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but the campground seldom fills except on spring weekends and major holiday weekends
Group Camping
Coe Park has ten hike-in group campsites at the southeast end of Pine Ridge in an area called Manzanita Point. At the bottom of the ridge, in a shady little valley called Poverty Flat, theres another area where groups can camp.
Trails
Hiking
The park has over 250 miles of hiking trails and old ranch roads that can be traveled in all seasons. Hikes in the park range from leisurely loops of about a mile and a half with little elevation variation to highly ambitious backpacking loops of 50 miles or more with elevation gains and losses in thousands of feet.
On long hikes, be sure to take plenty of water and food. Some of the trails and roads on the more strenuous hikes are incredibly steep, which can make for slow going and trips that turn out to take longer than you thought they might. On warm days, take more water than you think youll need and
dont forget to carry a map with you. Coe Park is a huge wilderness and
its not that hard to take a wrong turn and get lost.
Backpacking
You could easily plan a week-long trip, hiking 10 miles a day and camping at a different site every night. The park has space for over 60 backpacking parties, with a maximum of eight people per party. Sites range from less than a mile to over 20 miles from park headquarters. The campsites are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, but youre almost always likely to get a good campsite, even during the lovely, busy months of spring.
Mountain Biking
The park has 100 miles of roads and trails that are open to mountain bikes. The rugged terrain offers a variety of riding options ranging from moderately difficult to extremely difficult. There are practically no easy trails for bikes.
Horseback Riding
With over 80,000 acres of ridges and canyons and gorgeous views, Coe Park is a wilderness paradise for equestrians. If you plan to venture more than a few miles into the park, you and your horse should be in excellent physical shape and you should be prepared for steep, rugged terrain.
There are eight designated horse camps in the park and
each of them has a set of pipe corals that will hold at least two horses.
Fishing and Hunting
Fishing
Coe Park has great fishing, with largemouth bass, green sunfish, crappie and
bluegill in its lakes and ponds and elusive rainbow trout in the waters of its creeks.
However, its important for you to know that the park has no lakes or creeks you can drive to. The park has very steep, rugged terrain and most fishing ventures into Coes backcountry require a considerable expenditure of time and energy. To go beyond the relatively close-in lakes (Bass Pond and Frog Lake), youll be faced with elevation gains (and losses) in thousands of feet.
More Info
Place names commonly misspelled, mispronounced, or otherwise confused at Henry W. Coe State Park
are meeting friends at Henry Cowell! Henry Willard Coe State Park It is true that the "W." in
Lost Spring, FB, White Tank, Gladiator, Coit Ridge, Bear Mtn. etc etc etc... Review Henry Willard Coe State Park is the place where full suspension is really helpful on the descents, making
this listing? Click here to submit corrections. Back to top Town Morgan Hill Observing site Henry Willard Coe State Park Address P. O. Box 846 Zip Code 95037 Telephone (408) 779-2728 at the
Henry Willard Coe State Park