Best time to go: spring, when the hills are green and the wildflowers are popping, and early summer, when it's warm enough to swim at China Hole. China Hole is one of the most popular destinations at Henry Coe State Park. There are over 250 miles of trails that roam throughout the varied topography of the park. Before starting out on a backpacking trip, you must register, pay your camping and parking fees, and obtain a permit on the day of your departure. We hiked to Kelly Lake and hiked back the next day. I carved out 3 days and 2 nights in the family schedule. Please see our entrances page, for important information about using the park's southern entrances. Im sure there was a few dead ticks as well but I didn't have my glasses on. Our Henry Coe Backpacking Trip . Explore the most popular backpacking trails in Henry W. Coe State Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. You'll also descend along the Madrone Soda Springs Trail and the Mile Trail, which passes the decayin… With hills to test our endurance and easily accessible backcountry permits it would be a great spot to break back in our outdoor skills and test all the gear we planned to bring. Coe Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 87,000 acres of wild open spaces. The essential Henry Coe Hike: 10 arduous miles through the park's demanding mountainous terrain. Spring rains create a picturesque swimming hole at the confluence of two creeks, making the nearby backcountry campsite a prized locale for overnight outings. The first 2 miles was on a paved road, fairly flat. It was the extreme opposite of the last trip: we had a hot and dry weekend at Henry Coe State Park. From the main park headquarters, head for China Hole. This variety of terrain means you'll see lots of wildlife and flowers. Henry Coe is the largest state park in northern California and it is located in the coast range just east of Gilroy. Henry Coe is a good spot close to San Francisco for backpacking … Sites range from less than a mile to over 20 miles from park headquarters. Backpacking … Visit their official website to learn more and check out this sweet trip review by … #5 - Mississippi Lake from Coe HQ [CLOSED], #6 - Pacheco Falls Loop via Coyote Creek/Hunting Hollow [CLOSED], #8 - Kelly Lake Loop: Jim Donnely to Bear Gulch [CLOSED], #9 - Redfern Pond from Hunting Hollow Trail [CLOSED], #10 - Kelly and Coit Lakes Trail [CLOSED], Los Cruzeros Camp via China Hole Trail and the Narrows Trail [CLOSED], Pacheco Falls Loop via Coyote Creek/Hunting Hollow [CLOSED], Kelly Lake Loop: Jim Donnely to Bear Gulch [CLOSED], Redfern Pond from Hunting Hollow Trail [CLOSED]. It’s actually quite a big park - the second biggest state park in Northern California to be exact. "View All" and other viewing options are at the … Spring rains create a picturesque swimming hole at the confluence of two creeks, making the nearby backcountry campsite a prized locale for overnight outings. © 2019 - Pine Ridge Association at Henry W. Coe State ParkPrivacy Policy(function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script"), tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load", loader, false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload", loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window, document); Pine Ridge Association Board of Directors, © 2019 - Pine Ridge Association at Henry W. Coe State Park, Henry W. Coe State Park page on California State Parks website. As with any camping, preparation is key to your enjoyment and safety. The sweltering summer temperatures in Henry Coe State Park have become reasonable. Coe Park is a backpacker's dream come true. With over 250 miles of trails and the nearest place to the bay area that allows dispersed camping it’s a popular destination for backpacking, particularly in the Spring, which is the best time to visit the park. The other zones being too dry to venture into in the summertime. A day hike to China Hole is a perfect alternative if you hate to sleep on the ground but love to get your heart pumping under the California sun. The seemingly endless rolling hills of Henry Coe offer a real challenge for hikers and backpackers of all skill levels. If so, visit our Volunteer page. Liz and Craig and I spent the weekend backpacking at Henry Coe State Park. You'll also descend along the Madrone Soda Springs Trail and the Mile Trail, which passes the decaying remains of an era when the springs were a major tourist attraction. The park is located closest to the city of Morgan Hill, and is located in both Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. A quick weekend backpacking trip with Lexi to Kelly Lake in Henry Coe. I'm not sure why - I've been to every corner of this park in all kinds of weather and different kind of conditions. You could easily plan a week-long trip, hiking 10 miles a day and camping at a different site every night. There were tons of squished newts on … For the camping trip I also treated my backpack and the 5x7 "softtarp" I sleep on. You can get valuable, late-breaking information about water availability and trail conditions and tips about the best routes and campsites. As I researched local backpacking spots to test all the gear, I came across Henry W. Coe State Park. I was accepted to grad school at the University of Alberta! I have not blogged in a while and since my last post a few things have changed. China Hole is one of the most popular destinations at Henry Coe State Park. In the park's Western Area, backpackers camp at designated sites. If you would like to stick to the clearly labeled paths to Kelly lake and Coit lake and avoid the cattle trail try this page: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/kelly-and-coit-lakes-trail, #4 - Los Cruzeros Camp via China Hole Trail and the Narrows Trail [CLOSED]. Typically, only the Western Zone/Portion of the park is accessible year round. No matter how familiar you are with the park, it's always a good idea to talk to park staff or a volunteer (in person or by phone) before you head out on a backpacking trip. Permits may also be acquired at the Dowdy Ranch Entrance on weekends from May through Labor Day Weekend. No reservations need to be made prior to the trip. Backpacking at Henry Coe—May, 2009. Always ask the rangers about how the springs are running before you head out. Backpacking Henry Coe State Park Henry Coe is an underrated park close to San Francisco. Without AllTrails gps tracking it is possible to get lost. A day hike to China Hole is a perfect alternative if you hate to sleep on the ground but love to get your heart pumping under the Califo… Henry Coe State Park is the largest State Park in Northern California (the second largest in the California Park system) just south of San Jose. It is also one of the few parks where you can backpack and wilderness camp without The park has space for over 60 backpacking parties, with a maximum of eight people per party. Within Coe Park are the … At the Hunting Hollow Entrance or when the visitor centers are closed, self registration is available. Also, there is no parking at the Coyote Creek Gate, so you must park at Hunting Hollow and walk 1.8 miles up the mostly flat road before you start in on the trail. From there continue on for about another mile up the Narrows until making camp along the valley floor. Permits for these sites cannot be reserved ahead of time and are given out on a 1st come-1st served basis each day. With its mountains, cliffs, canyons, lakes, and miles of trails, Henry Coe SP is perfect for backpacking trips. Coe Park is a backpacker's dream come true. Also, whenever you're in the headquarters Visitor Center, look for two binders:  Trails of Coe Park and Camping at Coe. 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. The campsites are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, but you're almost always likely to get a good campsite, even during the lovely, busy months of spring. We rely on your generous support. Henry Coe State Park has over 87,000 acres of wilderness just an hour south of the San Francisco Bay Area. This was the second backpacking trip of the Sierra Club backpacking class that Lori and I are taking. 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