Henry W. Coe can accommodate everybody from out-of-shape weekend warriors to outdoor hardbodies looking for weeklong excursions. ( Log Out /  The best wildlife stronghold in California. Encompassing a variety of habitats, from dry grassy hills to forested slopes at its higher, cooler elevations. The park is located closest to the city of Morgan Hill, and is located in both Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. The terrain of the park is rugged, varied, and beautiful, with lofty ridges and steep canyons. Little Known Fact: Did you know you can see shooting stars on the ground? Willow Ridge Trail Panoramas. Backpacking Henry Coe State Park Henry Coe is an underrated park close to San Francisco. +/- 4,000 feet elevation with a starting elevation of 860 feet and a peak elevation of 2,680 feet. Park service vehicles perform emergency recoveries for the backpackers who thought Henry W. Coe was easy terrain. The park has seasonable weather year-round, with wildflowers bursting into bloom in the late spring. Sinister-looking poison oak grows thick among the dark red trunks. It is over 80,000 acres in size with about ¼ of the land is designated wilderness. Henry W. Coe State Park has reopened for day use, camping, and backpacking following the Park and Crews Fires. You can also request information on bringing horses to the park. There are numerous trails that could keep a backpacker busy hiking for weeks. Permits: To backpack in Henry Coe State Park, you must obtain a permit. A mere two hours from the Bay Area, Henry Coe State Park is easily one of the most magical places I have ever backpacked. Four Day Backpacking Trip. Coit Lake – Henry Coe State Park (17 mile trek) Trip Overview: 17 mile out and back backpacking trip to Coit Lake from the Hunting Hollow entrance of Henry Coe State Park in California. This largely undeveloped park welcomes backpackers, equestrians, mountain bikers, day-hikers, and anyone seeking solitude in a nearly untouched setting. This area is open year-round with many water sources. April is a great month to visit -- when the temperatures are balmy and the wildflower display reaches its peak. In the Western part of the park, backpackers must camp at the designated campsites shown in the park map above. I left the open ridges and began a steep descent through mixed oak forests. Other outdoor fanatics just don't know about the toughest, largest park in the bay area. ( Log Out /  Henry W. Coe State Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 87,000 acres of wild open spaces. The terrain of the park is rugged, varied, and beautiful, with lofty ridges and steep canyons. Follow Dunne Avenue eastward, and follow the park signs up into the hills. Water isn't abundant anywhere in the park, so pack in what you'll need even in wet months (March through early June). Wrecking Ball. This variety of terrain means you'll see lots of wildlife and flowers. One long stretch of the trail passes through an impressive stand of manzanita, some standing 15 to 20 feet tall. A slice of Utah canyon in the heart of Dixie. “Sure! Although, it is a little known fact among the locals and regulars of Henry W. Coe, that the terrain sometimes deems too much for the average hiker. Henry W. Coe State Park is the largest state park in northern California and protects and preserves 87,000 acres of scenic hills and mountain ridges in the Diablo Mountain Range. Observe the uncanny resemblance between the good doctor's famous Truffula Trees and a field of fuzz-topped flowers 5 miles up Long Canyon. There is a $5 parking fee for day visitors. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Mount Sizer is located in Henry Coe State Park at an elevation of 3,216′. Take California Highway 101 to the city of Morgan Hill and exit at East Dunne Avenue. Arriving at the park we had no idea which route we wanted to emark upon. Very few people know about you, yet you are one of the biggest wilderness areas near the Bay Area. Folks with more time on their hands can explore the farthest reaches of the park, including a 22,000-acre designated wilderness area. It is also one of the few parks where you can backpack and wilderness camp without needing advanced permits, which means it is also one of the most accessible parks for backpackers. Tags: 2002, Henry Coe State Park. China Hole is one of the most popular destinations at Henry Coe State Park. Henry W. Coe State Park contains over 80,000 acres of rugged backcountry for hike-in camping. Wildlife is abundant and varied, but big-name species like mountain lions are rare. Off-season and weekdays, it's open 24/7 for hikers and… Best Time to Visit: Spring is the most popular season for visiting Henry Coe, on account of the explosions of wildflowers. Henry Coe State Park is the largest state park in California at almost 81,000 acres. I often don’t run into more than one or two other hikers on a … Nearby, the steep, rocky walls of The Narrows left just enough room for the stream and the surefooted. Redwood Meadow's massive trees and wild countryside have changed little since Muir passed through 100 years ago. The lesser-known entrance from Bell Station, followed by 7 miles of gravel road, to the Dowdy Ranch Visitor's Center, is open on summer weekends to vehicles. I was accepted to grad school at the University of Alberta! Elevation in the park ranges from 710′ to 3,650′. Many youth groups go on 2-7 day backcountry backpacking trips. Henry Coe State Park is just one of the huge variety of mountain biking spots that the Bay Area has to offer. I decided that if I were to go to Coe before the mud and swollen creeks became a factor, the time was “soon”. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Falling somewhere between those two extremes, I set out across gentle, grassy ridgetops dotted with big black oaks on a 4.5-mile trail to my first campsite. The park's traffic increases after Memorial Day and into the summer months when the temperatures can soar into the 80s and 90s and seasonal creeks disappear under the relentless sun. Take the East Dunne Avenue exit off of US 101 at Morgan Hill and go east. The Sierra View Camp, one of many backcountry campgrounds in Henry Coe State Park, makes a great destination for a family getaway. In spring, wild pansies, California poppies, and lupines scatter among the grasses. Mississippi Lake Henry W. Coe State Park, northern California's largest, provides outdoor enthusiasts with over 89,000 acres of land to explore, as well as 22,000 acres of designated wilderness area. California: Journey through a desert to bear witness to some of the loveliest wildflowers you'll ever see. The campground is located a mere .8 mile from the park’s headquarters, an ideal distance for backpacking with toddlers! There is so much more to the park than day hiking. Sprawling across northern California's Diablo Range, Henry W. Coe State Park is an impressive swatch of land. Hi. On the way in: Evening hike on the Spring trail towards Manzanita Camp. Home. on a 3-day backpacking trip at Henry Coe State Park. In many areas in Henry W. Coe, the ridges and canyons continue on for many miles past weekend destinations. Henry Coe is a good spot close to San Francisco for backpacking trips, especially for beginner backpackers. Menu. Once the home of Ohlone Indians, the park is now home to a fascinating variety … I carved out 3 days and 2 nights in the family schedule. Spring rains create a picturesque swimming hole at the confluence of two creeks, making the nearby backcountry campsite a prized locale for overnight outings. Permits for these sites cannot be reserved ahead of time and are given out on a 1st come-1st served basis each day. April 14, 2015 emilyuphammills 1 Comment. Maps are available at park headquarters or by sending $2 to the park's above address. Henry Coe is a huge and underutilized park, especially considering its proximity to the Bay Area. Playlist by Thereynes, created on 7/13/2019. Search. The park has space for over 60 backpacking parties, with a maximum of eight people per party. Day One: We began at the bottom left hand corner ( Coit Road) followed the fire road until right before Coit Horse Camp where we turned right onto the Coit Spring Tail. Follow the Henry W. Coe signs for 13 miles (about 40 minutes) to park headquarters. Just past the trailhead I noticed a small sign planted in a patch of miner's lettuce, bearing one of the most sweeping prohibitions I'd ever seen: No Diving Within The State Park System. The park's shrubs turn red, gold and orange during early fall. Our Route. Coe Park is a backpacker's dream come true. It’s actually quite a big park - the second biggest state park in Northern California to be exact. Henry Coe has 87,000 acres of wild open space. On the first day after Daylight Savings Time ended, I was on the road at 6:00AM towards Henry Coe State Park. Oh Henry Coe State Park. Henry Coe is the largest state park in northern California and it is located in the coast range just east of Gilroy. Coe, with 80,000 acres (the biggest state park in northern California), became part of the state park system in 1958. California's second largest park has an impressive trail system. Permits are available upon arrival. During spring break, my dad and I embarked on a four day three night backpacking and fly fishing trip to Henry W. Coe State Park. Henry Coe is a really…really huge park. Sycamores, maples, and willows grow by the water, and patches of shooting stars bloom in the grass. Backpacking is limited to 60 parties a day, but that limit is seldom reached. Change ), http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=hisotry+of+henry+w.+coe+state+park&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IaZ4UfbZG-SviAKVyID4AQ&biw=1626&bih=810&sei=JKZ4UZvLB8_yiQKPsoDwBA#um=1&client=safari&rls=en&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=henry+coe+state+park+map&oq=henry+coe+state+park+map&gs_l=img.3…57744.57744.2.58035.1.1.0.0.0.0.0.0. There are over 250 miles of trails that roam throughout the varied topography of the park. ( Log Out /  Location: 37.176861, -121.449583. ( Log Out /  One warning: If you don't like frog music, don't visit Henry W. Coe in the spring because the amphibians sing out all night long. Look for the flowers blooming in the grass at Henry W. Coe State Park. Middle Ridge Trail - begins as fun rolling single-track through oak woodlands before descending steeply. This shortcut lead back to the fire road where we continuted hiking. China Hole in Coyote Creek is the only good natural swimming hole within the area I had chosen to hike. Flat Frog Trail - narrow, though never steep, single-track. Myths and cactus in California: A life-filled land of sand and mountains. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Boasting the title of largest state park in northern California, Henry W. Coe State Park encompasses 87,000 acres of varied and largely undeveloped landscape: rolling hills, both narrow and wide valleys, high ridges, deep canyons, broad plateaus, along with gently … Click on image to enlarge. friends) who agreed to accompany Tyler and myself on a three-day, two-night backpacking trip in Henry Coe State Park during early June 2016. For more information, please call the park at (408) 779-2728. With the shorter days and one quick rainstorm a few weeks ago, autumn seems on its way. Fall is also pleasant, but drier and browner. 2 h 31 m The best introduction to Henry Coe State Park south of San Jose and Silicon Valley, California Henry Coe State Park is all peaks, ridges and valleys, and its reputation for arduous treks is well deserved. One particularly hiker-friendly feature here is that the trails have extensive interconnections, making it easy to put together a trip that suits your needs. Frogs make their presence known. Think of them as a positive link to the bustling city you left behind ~ kind of a backcountry street-corner serenade. Henry Coe Bike Trails. The sweltering summer temperatures in Henry Coe State Park have become reasonable. Getting There: Take the East Dunne Avenue exit off of US 101 at Morgan Hill and go east. We’ll go on a backpacking trip with you!” These were the (in)famous last words uttered by the two poor souls (i.e. Location: In northern California, Henry W. Coe State Park is off US Route 101, 20 miles southeast of San Jose and 60 miles northeast of Monterey. Skip to content. Henry W. Coe State Park (known simply as Henry Coe or Coe Park) is a state park of California, USA, preserving a vast tract of the Diablo Range. With its mountains, cliffs, canyons, lakes, and miles of trails, Henry Coe SP is perfect for backpacking trips. Lupin and India Paint Brush Flowers | 1 Comment. Backpacking to Pacheco Falls in Henry Coe By marcushellberg on 2019-05-11 Henry Coe is one of the largest state parks in California Less than an hour from the South Bay Area, it’s a great place to get out in nature without having to drive too far. I was tempted to dive in, but recalled the "no diving" edict and restrained myself. The essential Henry Coe Hike: 10 arduous miles through the park's demanding mountainous terrain. Discover more great rides. But what's really special about California's second largest state park is its 200 miles of well-kept trails, most of which are lightly used (all begin at park headquarters near the only public entrance). Of the world's unexplained archaeological mysteries, the Henry W. Coe State Park wrecking ball ranks just between Stonehenge and the heads at Eastern Island. Drive-in campsites are $8 per vehicle per night; $5 for each additional vehicle. There are usually sites still available on Friday, but by Saturday night the grounds are often full. When we … Home; History of Henry W. Coe; Route; Backpacking; Fly Fishing ; Food On The Trip; Recipes; Leaving The Park; April 23, 2013 by lilycbryan. “People come here to train for the Sierra Nevada’s, but locals train the in Sierra Nevada’s to hike Henry Coe,” anonymous. In northern California, Henry W. Coe State Park is off US Route 101, 20 miles southeast of San Jose and 60 miles northeast of Monterey. Note: Henry W. Coe State Park is often confused with Henry Cowell State Park, which has no trail camping. Many of the trails start high and descend rapidly. There are a number of camping areas, operating on a first come, first served basis. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. One could easily plan an overnight trip or a weeklong excursion, hiking 10 miles a day and camping at a different site every night. The park may be closed in times of high fire danger. You could easily plan a week-long trip, hiking 10 miles a day and camping at a different site every night. Being the largest State Park in Northern California its vast wilderness had no problems keeping us busy for a sunny, rainy, and overall unique five day Henry Coe backpacking trip. Location: 37.185389, -121.442556. USGS Mt. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Then at the fork in the road (red dot) we turned left and took the trail until finding our campsite at Coit Lake (around 10 miles), Day Two: We kept our tent set up at Coit Lake and in the morning we took small day packs to a lake called Hoover Lake, (not pictured) following the Ridge Road Trail (around 5 miles round trip), Day Three: We hiked to the Fish and Game Pond on the Coit Road trail, and then hiked down to Kelly Lake where we set up camp (around 3 miles), Day Four: We decided to take a short cut on the way back, we hiked out of Kelly Lake on the Kelly Lake trail and followed the red highlighted trail all the way down past the Anza Trail and back to the entrance (around 7 miles), ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Come and join my family as we venture into the woods! There is a $1 fee for each dog, although dogs are not allowed in the backcountry. Thousands of eager hikers, bikers, and backpackers enter the parks gates to enjoy the wilderness, many of them training for longer trips in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Henry Coe State Park Backpacking Trip Fri, May 24, 2013, 9:00 AM: The description of the event, Henry Coe State Park Backpacking Trip, is available only to members. There are no reservations needed, just a self registration slot at the trailhead. Henry W. Coe State Park moderate (111) Length: 5 mi • Est. Sizer and Mississippi Creek topo quads cover most of the park. I decided I'd keep it in mind if I chanced across some water. Henry W. Coe State Park is one of the few parks in the San Francisco Bay Area not completely overrun by visitors on the weekends. Sites range from less than a mile to over 20 miles from park headquarters. I decided to make camp and do some exploring in the morning mist. The gently rounded hilltops were separated by deep, rugged canyons, which always seemed to be at right angles to my chosen route. Coe veterans will regale listeners with tales of frog and coyote serenades, star-filled night skies, and week long backpacking expeditions. Porpoises escort you to a rugged island where buffalo really do roam. “People come here to train for the Sierra Nevada’s, but locals train the in Sierra Nevada’s to hike Henry Coe,” anonymous. For an additional dollar, the park will enclose a fishing booklet. The permit cost is $3 per person per night. I completed my 6 month contract working for the Canadian Wildlife Service in Yellowknife! Once the home of Ohlone Indians, the park is now home to a fascinating variety of plants and animals, including the elusive mountain lion. Note: Henry W. Coe State Park is often confused with Henry Cowell State Park, which has no trail camping. If you're a beginner backpacker, It's possible to camp near a bathroom. I reached the canyon floor and found a number of good tent sites on the grassy flats along a small stream. Henry Coe State Park backpacking trip. I have not blogged in a while and since my last post a few things have changed. There may be smoke as firefighters continue operations. Park service vehicles perform emergency recoveries for the backpackers who thought Henry W. Coe was easy terrain. Walk among giants in Redwood National Park. Birds are especially plentiful, including nonnative wild turkeys. Please drive slowly & yield to emergency personnel who remain in the area. Its 89,000 acres perch above the Santa Clara Valley at elevations up to 3,600 feet, offering splendid views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. This favorite Pennsylvania destination of our editors is filled with old trees, shale cliffs, wildlife and stunning wildflowers. Coe Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 87,000 acres of wild open spaces. 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