Don't go unless you know you can handle 10 miles with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, with all the climb in last five miles You might want to stay a while, look around, and picture the resort in its heyday. If I hadn’t been able to track our location via the AllTrails map, we would have had to turn back and abandon our backpacking trip. The site is named for the park's most popular swimming hole, which is about 100 feet downstream. http://coepark.org/ This is one of the local bay area hikes (Morgan Hill) that is wonderful to visit during spring time. 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. Description: This moderately strenuous hike takes you to the site of an old mineral springs resort. This largely undeveloped park welcomes backpackers, equestrians, mountain bikers, day-hikers, and anyone seeking solitude in a nearly untouched setting. The trails in this park are very hilly and steep, so the poles help save your … China Hole is one of the most popular destinations at Henry Coe State Park. Facilities fairly well maintained, trail is very exposed, especially along ridge. #Henry Coe #China Hole #swimming hole #California #South Bay #backpacking #camping #Katie. Elevation Gain (round trip): 1850 feet. Spring rains create a picturesque swimming hole at the confluence of two creeks, making the nearby backcountry campsite a prized locale for overnight outings. Manzanita Point Road - you'll see the Springs Trail on your left after .8 mile. Downhill alllllll the way there and obviously uphill all the way back. Plan accordingly if you want to keep your feet dry. Follow Corral, Forest (both mostly shady), Manzanita Point Road and China Hole Trail to China Hole, a popular swimming hole in summer. Saw deer turkey wild pigs little bit of everything. The picturesque spot, China Hole is perfectly secluded. Henry Cowell State Park (2 River Crossing Hike) Joseph D Grant Hike. This is also a good spot for a break because of … Drive south 19 miles, then merge onto southbound US 101 (exit 1a). Continue along Madrone Soda Springs Creek on Mile Trail, which crosses the creek bed 12 times (something to consider during winter and early spring when the creek might be flowing). Most hikers will start China Hole Trail headed down from Manzanita Point. Ticksgalore!!!! Arenas. Beyond China Hole, you'll travel about a half mile along the rocky course of the Middle Fork of Coyote Creek, which is impassable after heavy winter storms, during spring, you may get your feet wet puddle jumping, rock-hoppable most of the year, and … Description:  This moderately strenuous hike takes you to the site of an old mineral springs resort. The wood was hauled to the Central Valley and used to build houses during a time when wood was hard to come by. Dip in! Mission Peak Hike. Look for the sign post for China Hole Trail on the west bank of the creek. This is a easy one way trail to China Hole in Henry W. Coe State Park. Junction: China Hole Trail/Madrone Soda Springs Trail, Bear Right on the Madrone Soda Springs Trail. MTB Ride with Shifty and other riders down Henry Coe's China Hole. China Hole is one of the most popular destinations at Henry Coe State Park. Down to Poverty Flat Road then up China Hole Trail. Bummer. From San Francisco, drive south on I-280 about 36 miles and exit #12b onto CA 85 south. Located in the South Bay’s vast and scenic Henry W. Coe State Park east of Morgan Hill, China Hole loop is a challenging 10-mile journey through grassy hills and chaparral, and down a canyon to creek-side woodlands and the hike’s namesake swimming hole. Inspect your clothing for ticks -- they are very common in the springtime and can be a nuisance most of the year. FYI the "Narrows" trail is the river bed, which is totally impassable in March unless you have water shoes. #china hole. I will not be returning and recommend others avoid it; there are plenty of other beautiful state parks in California that offer a better experience. There is little in the way of epic hiking, or epic views, or major attractions. bio-child. Still remaining are a few concrete steps, fragments of foundation, and a stone cooler built into a hillside. China Hole is a popular seasonal destination for swimming / picnicking. Go right on the road and keep going until you reach the Madrone Soda Springs trail head (across from Manzanita Point group campsite 7). Most hikers will start China Hole Trail headed down from Manzanita Point. The feeling of upset stomach, gas, diarrhea and general gastrointestinal malcontent. Start at the Park HQ to pay for parking and ask the rangers if there are any trail closures or blockages along this route. Spring rains create a picturesque swimming hole at the confluence of two creeks, making the nearby backcountry campsite a prized locale for overnight outings. Many of the trails are very exposed as well, so protection from the sun is paramount. Hiking staff or poles if you use them. 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. Henry Coe - Dowdy Ranch. China Hole consists of a fairly wide creek with 2 or 3 large pools. Henry W. Coe State Park Coe Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 87,000 acres of wild open spaces. The views open up close to China Hole which is the confluence of the East Forks and the Middle Forks of Coyote Creek. Over the course of the loop we picked about 20 ticks off our legs and torsos. The Mile Trail involved probably 15 river crossings (hopping on slippery stones), while to get to the campsite at China hole required wading through ~3-feet deep water. The water gets more dank as summer progresses -- the puddles remaining after July tend to reek. If you're still feeling strong, retracing your steps on Springs Trail is a nice alternative. A lot of wildlife on this trail: deer, snakes, frogs, birds, and more. The trail turns left into the Mile Trail. China Hole Trail Loop is a 9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Morgan Hill, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The Trip: Our 10-mile loop begins at Coe Ranch and continues along the Manzanita Point ridgeline, providing sweeping views of rolling green hills and widespread oaks. On the first day after Daylight Savings Time ended, I was on the road at 6:00AM towards Henry Coe State Park. DIFFICULT 15.9 mi. Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Black-Tailed Deer, Tule Elk, Gray Foxes, and a wide array of other animals live within park boundaries. China Hole is a deep, clear, calm pool in the creek that is irresistible when temperatures are rising and the trail is dusty. China Hole is a favorite destination for hikers during late spring and early summer. It was closed for public. China Hole is a 5 mile moderately popular black diamond singletrack scenic trail located near Morgan Hill California. Worth it if you have a few hours to hang at china hole creek. Other day hikes beginning at headquarters feature views of the Santa Clara valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains, groves of ponderosa pines, gigantic manzanitas, oak-studded hillsides, and Sada Coe's monument to her father. Definitely prepared enough water for the trail. Drive south on US 101 about 10 miles to Morgan Hill, then exit #366 onto East Dunne Avenue. Granted, this was an absolutely beautiful hike: great views, awesome creek, not too difficult. Matterhorn Peak (12279') Matterhorn Peak (12279') - Attempt 1. Hiked down China Hole Trail and out on Madrone Springs which switches back and forth along the stream and then a quick 1,000 foot climb. Good thing too because the hills were so so steep. How about helping out with annual events or maintenance of springs and trails? parks.ca.gov; Hiking Trails (4) 1. Are you interested in learning more about Henry W. Coe State Park and sharing your knowledge with park visitors? Took 3 liters of water which was plenty. This is a easy one way trail to China Hole in Henry W. Coe State Park. The natural pool is often 20 feet wide and 7 … Great workout, great hike but coming back up to overgrown trail is where you in-counter A LOT of ticks Great scenery but I will never do this trail again. Take the right fork and follow Springs Trail to its end at Manzanita Point Road. Henry W. Coe State Park is over 86,000 acres of relative wilderness right on the edge of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Murry 1620-003 Dam Loop. China Hole is a popular seasonal destination for swimming / picnicking. Download map. If, however, you're more in a mood for getting your hike over with, hike on for about another three-quarters of a mile till you see a sign post reading "Coe HDQRTS. Matterhorn Peak (12279') Matterhorn Peak (12279') - Attempt 1. Trail: China Hole Loop Location: Henry Coe State Park, Morgan Hill, CA Total Time: ~6.5 hours At some point in 2016, I decided that I wasn’t going to let my mental health control me anymore, and that I was going to go out and do more things that I love doing. Coe is home to abundant wildlife common to the Diablo Range. Las Trampas peak. At that point, you can continue on the road or take one of the trails back to the visitor center. 2. China Hole China Hole Camp is a great backpack site, with year-round water, a small sandy beach, smooth rocks for sunbathing, and frog choruses in the spring. Its 89,000 acres perch above the Santa Clara Valley at elevations up to 3,600 feet, offering splendid views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The seemingly endless string of high ridges that make up this area are covered in numerous species of oak and pine, and blessedly enough, not cattle. The trails are really small which make it unique and fun. A lot of uphill and downhill areas which are exposed to sun then covers into manzanita’s. Mt Diablo Area. China Hole is a body of water inside of Henry Coe State Park. We were not prepared for these crossings, so they were very time consuming and cold. Stay on the Springs Trail for 1.3 miles till it intersects with Manzanita Point Road. Morgan Hill, California. Cross the creek a few hundred feet upstream and enter The Narrows. Pine Ridge Association's guide to Henry Coe State Park The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. The terrain of the park is rugged, … We've been there today 03.29.2020 10:30 am. Henry W. Coe State Park (or "Coe" for short) is a large and very rugged park, located in the remote southeastern corner of Santa Clara County, east of Morgan Hill and Gilroy. A mile farther, is the park's most popular swimming hole. The wildflowers on each hill were a bonus too. Look for the flowers blooming in the grass at Henry W. Coe State Park. Mt Diablo Area. Mt Diablo Summit Trail. Watch for poison oak along narrow stretches of trail. Las Trampas peak. When you reach the creek bed, you've reached the site of the old resort. While not all of it is open to mountain biking, its more than 130 square miles of total land area easily dwarfs any individual city around the Bay Area (like San Francisco, at 49 … The trail is covered with a variety of colorful flowers that will keep you and your camera busy. The trail is a bit difficult to follow in some spots and beware of ticks!! Along the way, there are fantastic views of the nearby canyons, and if … Clothing in layers; it's easy to overheat on Henry Coe's trails China Hole is a deep, clear, calm pool in the creek that is irresistible when temperatures are rising and the trail is dusty. Paintball ; Rock Climb ... Henry Coe State Park Campground Morgan Hill, California 2.9 miles W. Henry W. Coe State Park is primarily a wilderness park. Resources. Extras: Before you start out or after you return, you might want to ask someone in the Visitor Center to show you the binder with photographs taken at the Madrone Soda Springs resort during its heyday. Paintball ; Rock Climb ... Henry Coe State Park Campground Morgan Hill, California 2.9 miles W. Henry W. Coe State Park is primarily a wilderness park. There's a lot of water on this route - Madrone Soda Springs Trail crosses a creek several times, and it borders on impossible to get across the creek at China Hole without getting your feet wet. The trials were in good shape and we saw lots of deer, hear several woodpeckers, and even had an encounter with a hunting coyote. However, when I say overgrown, I mean literally wading through shoulder high grass in an attempt to follow the barely visible single track trail. Along the way you'll pass the ruins of an old cabin and an abandoned root cellar carved into the hillside. The trail starts climbing steeply from the beginning. The good news about Coe is that it contains some of the best downhill singletrack in the southern Bay Area. It bottoms out at a creek near the old Madrone Soda Springs. Coming back, we took advice from rangers/ volunteers and used the trail leading to The Narrows. Turn right on Manzanita Point Road. Simple Henry Coe Loop from HQ. You should always be prepared to hike in hot temperatures and carry plenty of water. Take your time and enjoy the view on the way up -- this is the hardest part of the hike, but the trail's switchbacks ease the strain. It has a small, sandy beach and lots of big flat boulders for picnicking, sunning, and snoozing. THE PARK. 37.17325600275, -121.4950189938. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Other Stuff. The picturesque spot, China Hole is perfectly secluded. China Basin Trail [CLOSED] is a 10.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Morgan Hill, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. 3. 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. Henry W Coe - China Hole Loop, CA. ------Return trip: China Hole Trail: Description: This strenuous hike takes you to the site of the historic Madrone Soda Springs resort and to China Hole, the park's most popular swimming hole. MTB Ride with Shifty and other riders down Henry Coe's China Hole. As of August 2020, this park is currently closed due to wildfire until further notice. Had to cross the river after ~3 or so miles. Start at the Coe Headquarters Park Entrance, where you’ll find the visitor center as well as the trailhead for Corral Trail, the first section of your loop. Amazing trail! This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions and has a hard overall physical rating with a 1,272 ft black diamond climb. Find the Corral Trail, just behind the park HQ. The picturesque spot, China Hole is perfectly secluded. Thank you! The Trip: Our 10-mile loop begins at Coe Ranch and continues along the Manzanita Point ridgeline, providing sweeping views of rolling green hills and widespread oaks. Long hikes on a summer day call for a cooling-off period. Additionally, trekking poles are a life saver at Henry Coe. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=561. 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. See here for more info: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30009 About half the time is spent in direct sun, the other half in partly-shaded forest. China Hole Loop@Henry Coe. It's steep and slippery in places. For the determined, China Hole offers a popular and refreshing swimming destination 5 miles into the park with a … Learn about swimming holes such as China Hole, Garden of Eden, Pescadero Creek Trail Area, Memorial Park. Enough water for a six-hour outing Continue upstream on … Off-season and weekdays, it's open 24/7 for hikers and… China Hole is a favorite destination for hikers during late spring and early summer. 37.18608300463, -121.545309914. Hiked this June 1st. After about 3 miles from the pond we reached The Narrows. And when I say bugs I mean the ticks are unavoidable. Henry Coe Park never disappoints in my book. It's a beautiful rocky area at the confluence of two creeks. China Hole is a deep, clear, calm pool in the creek that is irresistible when temperatures are rising and the trail is dusty. Very few people in the park and we had China Hole all to ourselves. 11 mile backpacking overnight to China Hole in Henry Coe State Park. The sight of green went on for miles. The amount of water in the creeks and streams appears to be VERY dependent on the time of year according to some of the comments here. 4 Free Swimming Holes near Henry Coe State Park Campground - Free Arenas. This 10-miler (round-trip) rewards with a mid-hike swimming hole. Bear right on Springs Trail - a very nice single-track that is one of the prime wildlife and wildflower areas at Henry Coe. The essential Henry Coe Hike: 10 arduous miles through the park's demanding mountainous terrain. It's a beautiful rocky area at the confluence of two creeks. Mount Sizer Loop. Camera After another 1.2 miles you'll return to the intersection with Manzanita Point Road and Madrone Soda Springs Trail. Mt Diablo Summit Trail. Henry Coe Hike - China Hole. Mission Peak Hike. #california #china hole #henry coe state park. When you get to China Hole Trail, you can either head back up or go on about a hundred feet to China Hole, a fine place to picnic and watch birds. 41 notes. Los Cruzeros -> Narrows -> China Hole -> China Hole Trail -> Manzanita Point -> Forest Trail -> Corral Trail -> Coe Ranch Headquarters. Henry W. Coe is a massive State Park located about 2 hours outside of San Francisco heading south on 101. We did this hike as part of a larger backpacking trip in late March. Seasonal Popularity. The weather was perfect where it was sunny with a slight breeze. 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. Turn left here: This is the Corral Trail, which returns to the parking lot. Very pretty. China Hole is a 5 mile moderately popular black diamond singletrack scenic trail located near Morgan Hill California. Arenas. Springs Trail and China Hole Trail were better marked with pretty views, and these I would recommend — but otherwise the landscape was dry dirt, weeds, rocky river beds, and plenty of poison oak. Going off trail for camping, bathrooms, dispersed camping etc. Be careful with all the small plants have spines that can hurt you, My ankle got scratched from those plants were really low on the ground. If so, visit our Volunteer page. Henry Coe Park is best explored in the spring, because the wildflowers are its most interesting feature. ... Twitter; Email; directions Driving Directions. Description: This strenuous hike takes you to the site of the historic Madrone Soda Springs resort and to China Hole, the park's most popular swimming hole. Henry Coe Hike - China Hole. Stay on China Hole Trail and follow it back to the Manzanita Point group camps. Henry Coe is by far the largest park listed on this website and one of the remotest. Sprawling across northern California's Diablo Range, Henry W. Coe State Park is an impressive swatch of land. There are 2 entry points, with the easier access located just to the east of Morgan Hill (the southern entry point is east of Gilroy). The view at the top of each hill was amazing. You'll pass through the Manzanita Point Campgrounds, where the next major trail junction is near a privy. Sunscreen - much of this hike is unshaded Located in the South Bay’s vast and scenic Henry W. Coe State Park east of Morgan Hill, China Hole loop is a challenging 10-mile journey through grassy hills and chaparral, and down a canyon to creek-side woodlands and the hike’s namesake swimming hole. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions and has a hard overall physical rating with a 1,272 ft black diamond climb. Formerly ranch lands, many of the routes in Henry W. Coe State Park are dirt roads that were designed for motorized vehicles. Those sneaky little bastards can get under your clothes! Take the trail through the woods for about a half-mile till it intersects with the Springs Trail. The Trip: Our 10-mile loop begins at Coe Ranch and continues along the Manzanita Point ridgeline, providing sweeping views of rolling green hills and widespread oaks. 37.17325600275, -121.4950189938. This is a steep, one-mile descent with awesome views of the nearby hills. Overview. FYI. Junction of Hobbs Rd with Middle Ridge Trail: Junction with the Middle Ridge Trail (Multiply by 1.6 to obtain the distances) Hobbs Rd: Hobbs Rd Arenas. © 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. China Hole, Coe's most popular swimming hole, is the halfway point on a 10-mile loop on Madrone Springs and China Hole Trails. Snacks to keep your energy up There's not much left of the resort - the buildings and the dance pavilion were dismantled during World War II. Very nice views and lots of wildlife. The lesser-known entrance from Bell Station, followed by 7 miles of gravel road, to the Dowdy Ranch Visitor's Center, is open on summer weekends to vehicles. After 1.3 miles you'll come to the intersection with the Cougar Trail. Henry Coe State Park Campground. It's a decent in either way you do the loop, so just make sure you're ready for the ascent on the way out! Really nice down and back, saw a coyote and some deer. You'll want to be on the lookout for poison oak, which flourishes along Mile Trail in all seasons. This trail is not safe. There are no Black Bears at the park. Henry W. Coe State Park, Morgan Hill Picture: China hole - Check out Tripadvisor members' 2,463 candid photos and videos of Henry W. Coe State Park A mile farther, is the park's most popular swimming hole. The canyon gradually opens up as you reach Los Cruzeros. The means the “trails” are steep and the descents are grueling. China Hole - Camp, Hike, and Swim near Morgan Hill, California. Be prepared. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mississippi-lake-from-coe-hq Mitchell Canyon Eagle Peak loop hike. Distance (round trip): 10.2 miles. The scenery was beautiful, though, especially China hole! 10/10 would do again. Erkunde die beliebtesten Routen in meiner Liste 'Henry Coe Backpacking' und lasse dich von detaillierten Beschreibungen, Bewertungen und Bildern inspirieren. 0.7 MI" Henry Cowell State Park (2 River Crossing Hike) Joseph D Grant Hike. China Hole - Camp, Hike, and Swim near Morgan Hill, California. Good luck! We rely on your generous support. The China Hole campsite is on the other side of the creek - unless you're camping out at China Hole, there's really no need to cross the creek; consider it optional depending on how adventurous you feel. This trail goes by Manzanita Point Group Camp 6, Manzanita Point Group Camp 7, Manzanita Point, and China Hole Camp. Fantastic weather for a fun Christmas Eve hike to China Hole. Flat Frog up to Middle ridge. Definitely challenged myself backpacking to Mahoney Pond using the China Hole Trail on 4/6 and 4/7. Route:  Starting at the trail head close to the stop sign, follow Corral Trail to the Springs Trail junction. Drive east 13 miles to the park headquarters and visitor center. Warm day to start but ended hike in thunderstorm. Madrone Soda Springs Resort was a small health spa that thrived during the horse and buggy era. California State Parks page for Henry Coe China Hole helped cement Henry Coe's reputation for butt-kicker hikes. Go right on the Madrone Soda Springs Trail, and watch your step as you hike down the trail. 35 notes. There are lots of trails to explore, if you’re considering China Loop … Henry Coe - Dowdy Ranch. Turn right on Manzanita Point Road and stay on it for about .8 mile. China hole is usually caused by eating fast food or other questionable food products. China Hole is a body of water inside of Henry Coe State Park. This trail goes by Manzanita Point Group Camp 6, Manzanita Point Group Camp 7, Manzanita Point, and China Hole Camp. This largely undeveloped park welcomes backpackers, equestrians, mountain bikers, day-hikers, and anyone seeking solitude in a nearly untouched setting. results in lots of burs and some ticks. Mile Trail was extremely poorly maintained, overgrown with rampant poison oak, and poorly marked — to the point that we got lost and ended up in a very dangerous situation climbing up a near-vertical hill. Mile Trail leads to China Hole at the bottom of a large canyon. We would hike in and out of the river but it felt amazing to step into the stream while the sun was hitting us. Please refer to the Henry W. Coe State Park page on California State Parks website for the latest news on park restrictions and closures. Henry Coe is a fairly low elevation park (2,000-3,000 feet) and can get extremely hot in the summer months. Along the way, there are fantastic views of the nearby canyons, and if … DIFFICULT 28.0 mi. On your return trip, take China Hole Trail back up to Manzanita Point and then follow Manzanita Point Road to the junction with Forest Trail and Springs Trail. Mitchell Canyon Eagle Peak loop hike. Follow. Need to be in good shape but the wildflowers, China Hole, and beauty in spring worth the effort. Morgan Hill, California. If you go for a swim, don't forget to save your energy for the five-mile uphill hike back to the park HQ. (Don't be tempted to head straight for the China Hole Trail -- you'll use that trail on your return route; it's far better to descend along Madrone Soda Springs Trail and ascend on China Hole Trail.). What to bring: More like “Overgrown Tick Hole Loop”. The natural pool is often 20 feet wide and 7 to 8 feet deep. Mile Trail crosses the creek several times - watch your step or you'll end up with wet feet. Lots of nice wildlife...but so many damn bugs and the trail is a bit overgrown but good workout on the uphill. Download map.