Location: County: Santa Clara. Nearest City: Morgan Hill. See map 2.

Campsites, facilities: There are 15 sites for tents and 5 sites for tents or RVs. Piped water, pit toilets, fire grills, and tables are provided. Leashed pets are permitted.

Reservations, fees: Day Use- $5.00 per vehicle (no extra charge for horses for day use), $4.00 per vehicle for seniors (age 62 and older), $1.00 per dog (on leash at all times, not allowed in the backcountry). Car campsites - $8.00 per site (allows for up to 8 people and one vehicle), $6.00 per site for seniors, $5.00 per extra vehicle, $1.00 per dog. Backpacking; - $3.00 per person per night (includes vehicle parking). Horse camping - $12.00 per two horses, $2.00 each additional horse. Group Camping - $30.00 per site per night (10-50 people per site) plus non-refundable $6.75 reservation fee. First-come-first-served basis for car camping and backpacking. Reservations available for group and horse camping, made through the Park Office.

Contact: Phone the park at 1-408-779-2728. FAX: 1-408-778-5749.

Henry W. Coe State Park
P.O. Box 846
Morgan Hill CA 95038

Operating hours, seasons: The Coe park entrances are open around the clock, every day of the year. At park headquarters, the visitor center is open on weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and during the busy spring and summer months from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Hunting Hollow entrance is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from March through June.

Directions: From Morgan Hill on U.S. 101, take the East Dunne Avenue exit and drive over the bridge at Anderson Lake, then go another 13 miles (very narrow, winding road) to the park entrance.

Weather, clothing: Hot dry summers, cool wet winters; average of 25 inches of rainfall annually. Spring is the most temperate time to visit the park with cool to warm days. Summers are hot and dry with the latter parts of summer (August and September) being hottest. Fall starts out hot but cools quickly in November and December. The winter can be variable with mild cool dry days alternating with cold wet ones.

Trip notes: This is the Bay Area's backyard wilderness, with 80,000 acres of wildlands, 100 lakes and ponds, and 150 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and wilderness-style camping. It is also the largest state park in Northern California. The drive-in campground is set on a hilltop, and because it is exposed, provides dramatic views and a good spot for stargazing. Before setting out for the outback, always consult with the rangers here--the ambitious plans of many hikers cause them to suffer dehydration and heatstroke. The park has excellent pond-style fishing, but requires extremely long hikes to reach the best lakes, including Mustang Pond, Coit Lake, Mississippi Lake, Kelly Lake, and Hoover Lake. Expect hot weather in the summer; spring and early summer are the prime times. Even though the park may appear to be 120 square miles of oak foothills, the terrain is sometimes steep, and there are many great secrets to be discovered here, including Rooster Comb and Coyote Creek. Bring a water purifier for hikes, because there is no piped water in the outback.

 

Where to go Camping

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Miwok Lodge 439