henry coe state park Archives

Tie Down Peak

Burra Burra and Tie Down Peaks, Henry Coe State Park

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:May 16, 2014
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:2 Comments

I frequently hike in Henry Coe State Park and have written about it here a lot. With challenging trails it is a perfect training ground for getting ready for summer climbing trips, and there are many options to choose from. After all, it is the second largest state park in California (behind Anza Borrego).

Deep in the park is a rarely open entrance station known as Dowdy Ranch. I’ve never been to this entrance station, so since it is open right now I decided to head out and do a short hike. I’m recovering from a calf injury, so I decided I’d hike the short loop to Burra Burra peak.

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Hiking the new Jim Donnelly Trail in Henry Coe State Park

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:January 6, 2013
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:6 Comments

The Jim Donnelly trail was just like every other trail in Henry Coe, climbing steeply to Wilson Ridge. Trails like this are strenuous on the way up and rough on the knees on the way down. Whoever built the trails in Coe had never heard the word “switchback”. Several trails climb the steep hillsides to Wilson Ridge (Steer Ridge, Middle Steer Ridge, Spike Jones), and none of them are easy. Someone finally managed to apply some common sense to one of the trails, and it has been rebuilt and rerouted with well graded switchbacks. It took about 2 years, but last summer the new Jim Donnelly Trail was opened much to the appreciation of mountain bikers, equestrians, and hikers alike.

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Whitney Benchmark

Mount Whitney Training Hikes: Bay Area Edition

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:April 28, 2012
Post Category:Resource
Post Comments:8 Comments

Modern Hiker recently published a great post about training and preparing to climb Mt. Whitney. Casey wrote about some training hikes in Southern California, and that inspired me to think…

Henry Coe Backcountry Weekend: Jackrabbit Lake and Mustang Peak

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:May 2, 2011
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:5 Comments

Once a year Henry Coe State Park opens the gate at Bell's Station on Highway 152 for a weekend, allowing access to the more remote areas of the backcountry. With…

Mount Sizer and Jackass Peak, Henry Coe

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:April 19, 2010
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:9 Comments

Another beautiful spring weekend in the Bay Area means two things: allergies and hiking. I don't let the first get in the way of the second, although here I sit…

Henry Coe Backcountry Weekend: Mississippi Lake and Bear Mountain

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:April 27, 2009
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:3 Comments

Once a year, Henry Coe State Park opens up the gate to the remote and less-traveled east side of the park, including Orestimba Wilderness. This Backcountry Weekend allows people to…

Mount Sizer Dayhike

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:April 22, 2007
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:0 Comments

A few weeks ago I took on a Bay Area beast, Mt Sizer in Henry Coe State Park. Like all hikes in Henry Coe, it's a long slog up and…

Kelly Lake overnight backpack in Henry Coe SP

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:January 16, 2006
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:0 Comments

Over the rainy weekend we headed to Henry Coe State Park with a group of Northern CA Hikers. Saturday was cold and wet, but Sunday morning the sun peaked out…

Overnight Backpack in Henry Coe State Park to Vasquez Peak

Post Author:Rebecca
Post published:May 22, 2005
Post Category:Trip Reports
Post Comments:1 Comment

David and I went to Henry Coe for an overnight this weekend. We went in the Hunting Hollow entrance and headed toward Vasquez Peak. We thought it would be a…