HENRY COE STATE PARK
Willson Peak Loop | Gilroy, CA
★★★☆☆
A steady, persistent burn all the way up to the peak, followed by a dramatic slip and slide back down to the trailhead. Supportive shoes (and resilient knees) are a must!
Last hiked 5/2/21
Length: 9.0 mi.
Gain: 2470 ft.
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Strenuous
Crowds: Low
Dogs: No
THE RUNDOWN
Henry Coe is a massive park with so much to offer. It's frequented by hikers, backpackers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. This loop covers some healthy elevation changes, spring flowers, and some great vantage points.
The Hunting Hollow lot was moderately full when we arrived at 8AM. However, spots were still available by the time we finished our hike in the early afternoon.
Park Hours: 24 hours
Fees: $6 at Hunting Hollow Trailhead. Price varies at other lots.
Trailhead: Hunting Hollow Trailhead
Restroom: Yes
Make a counterclockwise loop starting from the Hunting Hollow trailhead.
Henry Coe SP has some pretty serious climbs, and this route is no exception. Be prepared for a strenuous workout! Hike clockwise instead if you prefer a longer, more manageable descent.
Park at the Hunting Hollow Entrance ($6 fee).
STEP BY STEP
↑ Proceed to Hunting Hollow Road
← Make a left onto Lyman Wilson Trail.
→ Make a right on Bowl Trail towards Wilson Camp.
← Turn left onto Wagon Road.
← Stay left at the fork for Grizzly Gulch Road.
← Make a left onto Serpentine Trail.
→ Turn right onto Steer Ridge Road.
Optional: Take a brief detour to Wilson Peak. Frankly, we didn't feel that the views here were necessarily more impressive than those from Steer Ridge Road.
↑ Continue onto Steer Ridge Trail.
→ Make a right onto Hunting Hollow Road to return to the parking lot.
Nothing like a stream crossing to start out a hike!
A stop-and-smell-the-roses moment.
One of the many small ponds that dot the hills within the park.
MUSINGS
Though Henry Coe State Park is the largest state park in Northern California, it doesn't receive as much attention as some of its counterparts in the region. Perhaps this is for the best - we found the trails to be pleasantly quiet and uncrowded when we visited.
The climb from Lyman Wilson Trail up to the peak was persistent and steady, but enjoyable. We caught moments of relief with the occasional cool spring breeze, rare patches of shade, and vibrant wildflowers and butterflies that made welcome cameos along the way. We enjoyed passing by a couple small ponds and meandering through the tall, silver-green grasses lining the way, though both of these features might not be quite as present if you hike here in the summer. Even in late spring, we found that the few shallow creek crossings on this route had either nearly or completely dried up due to the ongoing drought.
Steer Ridge Trail is relatively flat for a short segment, yielding to views of the distant farmland and mountain ranges. Then, the rapid descent begins. For just over a mile, we made up for all the elevation we had gained in the first 70% of the loop. This involved sliding down sandy slopes like land surfers, speedy footwork to keep up with gravity, and a quad workout like no other. We may or may not have tried to walk backwards at one point. We paid for it the next morning with sore muscles, but we had a lot of fun, nonetheless!
If you'd prefer to protect your knees a bit on your descent, we'd recommend doing the loop in reverse, for a much steeper climb but a slightly more manageable descent.
A welcoming sight after a quad-busting climb towards Wilson Peak.
A respite on the way down.
Sunny California landscapes never get old.
MORE INFO
Some Reminders
Do this hike in reverse if you want to minimize the downhill stress on your knees!
Because of the steep grades, hiking shoes are an absolute must.
Remember to share the trail with mountain bikers.
Since we hiked here in the spring, we enjoyed a cool breeze and moderate temperatures. If you decide to hike on a warmer day, prepare adequate UV protection and plenty of water, as these trails have little tree cover. We don't recommend visiting this park in the summer as temperatures can reach well over 100°F.
Remember to do periodic tick checks, as portions of the trail are narrow and grassy.
Good Eats
There are lots of good Mexican options in Gilroy. One that we've tried and enjoyed is Cielito Lindo.