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Henry W. Coe State Park
This is one of our most adventurous runs; not
for the faint of heart! There are two versions, one about 15 miles, and the "real
adventure" at over 21 miles. The trails in this area are steep and rugged. The longer
course requires off-trail navigation skills. If you are not up to navigating through
canyons and over ridges without trails, stick with someone who knows the way or take the
shorter version which is all on good trails and fire roads.
Warning: Both courses are quite difficult! The vertical gain is significant. There are
only natural water sources, so water treatment gear is essential. If it is a hot day, Coe
Park will be even more punishing. It is very dry and exposed to sun.
General course description:
Both courses are long, clockwise loops crossing multiple ridges and canyons.
Beginning at Coe Headquarters, go north toward Frog Lake. Continue generally northeast,
cross Middle Fork Coyote Creek, and climb the infamous "Short Cut Trail" up to
the Blue Ridge (1,500 feet in 1.3 miles!). Follow Blue Ridge Road southeast past Mount
Sizer. The short version continues southeast to Poverty Flat Road and returns to Coe
Headquarters via Poverty Flat Road, Forest Trail, and Corral Trail. Piece of cake!
For the "real adventure," depart the comfort of well defined trails at a
point 0.7 miles southeast of Mount Sizer on Blue Ridge Road. The course goes down into
Rock House Canyon then all the way up Rock House Ridge to Hat Rock. Though this route
starts on the narrow Black Oak Spring Trail, the trail soon evaporates and you must
navigate with map, compass, and good sense. There is no good trail for the next 3.5 miles!
You must get to Hat Rock if you
want any hope of following this course. From there, a faint and intermittent trail will
get you going in the proper direction along Rock House Ridge. Hat Rock is a very
distinguishable feature at the very top of this ridge. It is not visible from any distance
as it sits in a grove of pine trees. If it still looks like you could go higher on the
ridge, you are not there yet! From the creek bed in Rock House Canyon, just go up and
northeast. It is only about a half mile or so, but it seems much longer. You will
recognize Hat Rock if you find it; it is a very tall (40 feet) pile of rock with a flat
rock on top that looks like a sombrero. Once you get there, follow the seldom-used trail
eastward across the very crest of the ridge through abundant chamise. This
trail is good for a while, but it soon becomes intermittent. Stay near the top of the
ridge, and travel generally southeast and down to the junction of East Fork Coyote Creek
and Blue Ridge Road.
Staying adventurous, cross over the road and head south down East Fork Coyote Creek
through the canyon on a faint singletrack. You cross the creek a couple of times and the
faint trail climbs sharply up and west out of the canyon. DON'T go that way! Stay in the
creek bed and continue south through the canyon until you hit Mahoney Meadows Road. There
is no real trail, but the canyon floor is easy to follow. From here, head south to Lost
Spring Trail, and then northeast on China Hole Trail. Continue northwest to finish on
Forest Trail and Corral Trail as in the shorter version.
Details:
| Meeting Place: |
Henry W. Coe State Park
Headquarters ($5.00 parking per car) |
| Distances: |
15 & 21 miles |
| Difficulty: |
Gonzo Abusive (see profile) |
| Water Stops: |
No potable water, but plenty of
natural water sources. Bring filter. |
Features:
This is definitely one of the most spectacular wilderness experiences in the Bay
Area. Remote and rugged, the natural beauty of this park (flora, fauna, and landscape) is well worth the effort. The
training quality is quite possibly unmatched for its rigors in our area. If you can run
all of these trails, you are a machine! See course profile. You may view some photos here.
Special Considerations:
For the adventure run, WEAR GAITERS! No joke, there are miles of
little stickers that will make you very sad if you don't. Rumor has it that the rangers
may let you borrow gaiters from the visitor center if you tell them you are heading to
Rock House Ridge. This rumor is unconfirmed.
Directions to start:
In Morgan Hill exit US 101 onto East Dunne Avenue and go east. Drive up into the
hills through residential areas for the first three miles. At the top of the first ridge
of hills, when you come to a Y in the road, look for a sign that says "Henry W. Coe
State Park, 10 miles." You'll bear right at the Y.
The road crosses a bridge and follows alongside Anderson Reservoir for a ways. Then it
turns into a narrow, winding, scenic mountain road. For passenger cars, Coe Park is about
a 30 minute drive from Highway 101.
Maps and other information are available at the following web site:
http://www.coepark.parks.ca.gov/
Detailed Course Descriptions:
Map: Henry W. Coe State Park, Western Area, 1999 Edition (available at visitor
center for $3.00)
| Shorter,
Non-adventurous Version |
Mileage |
Comments |
| Coe Headquarters |
0.1 |
|
| Monument Trail |
0.4 |
|
| Hobbs Road (left,
north) |
0.9 |
|
| Frog Lake Trail |
1.1 |
|
| Middle Ridge Trail
(left, northwest) |
0.2 |
|
| Hobbs Road (right,
north) |
1.6 |
|
| Cross Middle Fork
Coyote Creek |
0.0 |
|
| Hobbs Road "The
Short Cut" (northeast) |
1.3 |
Very
Steep! |
| Blue Ridge Road
(right, southeast) |
3.9 |
|
| Poverty Flat Road
(right, south) |
1.0 |
|
| Poverty Flat Road
(right, west) |
3.1 |
Steep |
| Forrest Trail (right,
northwest) |
1.1 |
Nice
break |
| Cross Manzanita Point
Road |
0.0 |
|
| Corral Trail to
Finish |
0.6 |
|
| TOTAL Miles |
15.3 |
Seems
Longer |
| The True Adventure |
Mileage |
Comments |
| Coe Headquarters |
0.1 |
|
| Monument Trail |
0.4 |
|
| Hobbs Road (left,
north) |
0.9 |
|
| Frog Lake Trail |
1.1 |
|
| Middle Ridge Trail
(left, northwest) |
0.2 |
|
| Hobbs Road (right,
north) |
1.6 |
|
| Cross Middle Fork
Coyote Creek |
0.0 |
|
| Hobbs Road "The
Short Cut" (northeast) |
1.3 |
Very
Steep! |
| Blue Ridge Road
(right, southeast) |
1.7 |
|
| Black Oak Spring
Trail (left, east) |
0.5 |
Faint
Trail |
| From spring, go east
to creek bed |
0.5 |
No
Trail |
| From creek, climb
ridge to Hat Rock |
0.5 |
No
Trail |
| From Hat Rock,
southeast on Rock Ridge |
2.5 |
Intermittent
Trail |
| Cross Blue Ridge Road
to creek bed |
0.0 |
East
Fork Coyote |
| Schafer Corral Trail
(south) |
1.5 |
Don't
leave creek |
| Stay in creek bed to
Mahoney Meadows |
0.4 |
No
Trail, canyon |
| Mahoney Meadows Road
(left, south) |
0.4 |
|
| Lost Spring Trail
(right, southwest) |
0.9 |
|
| China Hole Trail
(right, northwest) |
4.8 |
Long,
down, & up |
| Manzanita Point Road
(right, northwest) |
0.7 |
|
| Forest Trail (right,
northwest) |
1.1 |
Nice
break! |
| Cross Manzanita Point
Road |
0.0 |
|
| Corral Trail to
Finish (northwest) |
0.6 |
|
| TOTAL Miles |
21.7 |
Be
Happy! |
|
