Henry Coe is vast, empty, and surprisingly rugged for a park an hour from San Jose. An off-season destination for Bay Area backpackers and great place to get your feet wet with backcountry trips.
A Bay Area backpacker's training ground. Coit Lake is the classic destination in the beautiful Henry Coe State Park. Roll in after work on Friday, hike in Saturday morning, and be back for Sunday dinner. It won't blow your mind like the Sierra, but it'll keep your legs ready for when it does.
Start: Hunting Hollow Entrance
End: Hunting Hollow Entrance
Water: Coit Lake, seasonal streams
Exposed, rolling climb through golden oak woodland and chaparral typical of Henry Coe. The Narrows section follows a seasonal creek in a shaded canyon — a welcome reprieve. Coit Lake sits at 2,600ft with decent shoreline camping.
Water: Seasonal streams
Retrace your route down to Hunting Hollow. Much of the elevation comes back quickly on the descent through oak woodland. Start early in warm months — the return across open ridgelines gets hot by midday.
Kelly Lake Trail extension
Very hot in summer (avoid Jun-Sep); self-register permits with no quota; rattlesnakes common; good off-season option when Sierra has snow. Extend for a layover day at Coit Lake to fish or explore.
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