Introduction:
Where?
: Coyote lake county park located on the south east section of Santa Clara
county, just east of San Martin.
GoogleMap Link
What? :
The large park covers the hills of the Coyote Ridge and the long and narrow
Coyote lake. In the main Coyote Lake park entrance, it has large camping site and
boat ramp near the lake and two other entrances for hiking with large parking lots.
When? :
The lake and campsites are popular at summertime, excellent place to hike
during nice winter day.
Due note: The park has 2 main sections (3 parking): the lakeside (payed entrance) and the west hills side, you can combine them both with long hikes
My thoughts: During 2020 winter months I visit many times this park. In one of my earliest trips another nature photographer point me to a Bald Eagle nesting. Unfortunately it will be very difficult to find it unless you know what and where to look for.
After that I came many times to see the two chicks grow up, most at late afternoon until sunset.
The late afternoon is excellent for wild boar (pig) watching, in this park I saw them the most and up close.
The Visit:
The park has 3 main parking lots that have different park visit experience:
- Harvey bear to the west (nearest to 101)- Mendoza Ranch at the south
- The main park entrance near the lake
Coyote
Lake entrance:
This is the main park entrance that has the camping site, boat ramp and lake access.
There is a 4 miles long road going all the way to the north end of the lake
where the large dam is located. you can also find at the end a parking lot and hike options.
Near the entrance there is a large Lake view campground and after 2 mils there is a parking lot with boat ramp, after 4 mils you are reaching the large dam that create the lake.
There are many others smaller roadside parking spots and picnic area with
lake access.
From
most of those parking lots you can have trail leading up the hills connecting to the park main trails
system that are laid out on the hills to the west of the lake.
Mendoza
Ranch entrance:
From
this point most of the trails will be on the main park mountain ridge.
A
recommended loop trail from this entrance (Orange trail on the map):
Take the Mendoza Trail, keep going on Mendoza Trail left when connecting with Coyote Ridge Trail, on our way back we will come from this direction.
After 0.4 mile from the parking lot turn right into narrow Mummy Mountain Trail climbing on the ridge. After some twists and turns this single-track climb to the top of the Mummy Mountain with a very nice view of the lake and the valley to the west.
Keep going down
and the trail connecting back to Mendoza Trail, turn right and after hundred
feet you will reach Coyote Ridge Trail.
Here you have an option to go back to the parking lot on relatively easy trail (1.1 mile back, total of 3.6 mile loop).
If you want to extend this loop you can do
this in two options, in both you keep going north on Coyote Ridge Trail.
Option
1 (additional ~3 mils): after 0.8 mils, once you reach Blue Oak Trail turn
left, after 0.6 miles you will reach Gaviota Trail, turn left and after 1.5
mils you are back at the junction (1.1 away from the parking lot).
Option 2
(additional 2.4 mils): after 1.1 mils on Coyote Ridge Trail turn right into the
nice Valley Oak Trail that will take you back to the junction you start from.
Harvey
Bear entrance:
This is
the most north & west park entrance, closest to the 101 hwy and 30 minutes shorter
car ride compare to the main park entrance.
From this entrance you can access all the west hill slopes that are used as cattle grassland.
No shade in any trails where the large oak trees are spread across
the landscape, preferred visiting time is winter and spring, at summer all is
dry, yellow and no protection from the sun.
There
is a 1.9-mile paved trail surrounding the Western Flats meadows, very popular for locals hikers and runners.
There are few long loop hikes options:
tart with going up on Willow Springs Trail going up the hills, after a mile you can turn left on Townpsirgns Trail.
You can keep going up and after 0.1 mile turn right on Savannah Trail. If you keep going up on the steep trail you will reach Coyote Ridge Trail.
Here you can turn left (north) and go for 1.5 mils up to Harvey Bear Trail that will take you back to the parking lot (2.6 mils), if you turn right (south) and go for 0.5 mils you will reach the right trail that will take you down and connect you with Rancho San Ysidro Trail.
After 1.7 mils north on Rancho San Ysidro Trail
you are back on Willow Springs Trail and from here you have 1.1 mile down trail
to the parking lot.
www:
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/CoyoteLake.aspx
Map:
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Documents/Coyote%20Lake%20Harvey%20Bear%20Ranch%20Guide%20Map.pdf
Pictures:
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