Henry W. Coe State Park

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Henry W. Coe State Park

The official page for Henry W. Coe State Park. At over 87,000 acres, it is the largest state park in Northern California.

08/26/2026

This is the earliest known photograph of Pine Ridge (aka Coe Ranch Entrance) and was taken around 1900 after Charles and Henry Coe acquired the property.

For those who have visited the Coe Ranch Entrance, there will be some familiar and unfamiliar objects in this image. The photographer is standing where the Ranch House sits now, as it was not assembled until 1905. The White Barn is partially obscured by a small cabin that no longer exists. If you look to the right of the White Barn, you'll see the roof of the blacksmith shop as well as what appears to be a dilapidated log cabin.

What's missing from the photo? There's no Metal Barn, as that was not built until around 1950. The Visitor Center is also not in this image. New visitors understandably mistake it for one of the old ranch buildings, but it was not constructed until the early 1970s.

To learn more about the earliest inhabitants of Pine Ridge, go to coepark.net and search for the "Winter 2026" issue of The Ponderosa.

08/20/2026

We dedicate this Wildlife Wednesday to the badger, which shouldn't be confused with the honey badger native to Africa and Asia that was made famous by memes over a decade ago. Ours is the good ol' American Badger (Taxidea taxus) found throughout much of North America.

This grassland-loving relative of the weasel is known for its solitary lifestyle and feisty personality. Its long claws and powerful legs are useful in hunting and defense but also in burrowing. Badgers are masterful diggers and will burrow for shelter and to find small prey such as ground squirrels, reptiles, insects, and bird eggs. Their burrows also provide shelter for other animals such as tiger salamanders and burrowing owls!

Unfortunately, habitat loss and fragmentation from development and agriculture has led to a decline in badger populations and made them a Species of Special Concern. Badgers are protected in Coe and can be found in some of its open, grassy areas, though sightings are even less common than mountain lions. If you happen to be one of the lucky few to spot a badger in the park, it's best to keep your distance and admire them from afar.

📷 Joseph Belli

08/12/2026

California Grizzlies once roamed these dry, brushy hills.

Chaparral dominates the landscape of much of Coe's interior. A closer inspection of these sun-kissed and seemingly inhospitable slopes reveals a vibrant and complex ecosystem that provides food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife such as California Quail, Blainesville's Horned Lizards, and Coyotes. And yes, the California Grizzly aka "Chaparral Grizzly" once carved its own paths through this dense thicket.

Much of what you see in these images is new growth since the SCU Complex Fire of 2020. Many chaparral plants grow back fast and have evolved to burn. Chamise produces oils that are highly flammable and have rightfully earned it the nickname "greasewood." The buried seeds of Buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) rely on heat from fire to melt or crack their outer layers. Smoke from wildfires contains compounds called karrikins that stimulate germination in several plant species, including chamise itself. There are some spectacular flowers that only sprout in the years following a wildfire and are aptly named "fire followers."

But that is a topic for another post!

📷Sue Dekalb

08/05/2026

Saturday, August 8th is Global Sleep Under the Stars Night!

Henry W. Coe State Park's ridgetops are some of the best places around the Bay Area to view the night sky. From the Coe Ranch Entrance, take a short backpacking trip out to Ridge View, Old Corral, or Sierra View. Or for the more ambitious, backpack or bike pack from Hunting Hollow up the Jim Donnelly Trail to the top of Willson Peak.

Plan your backpacking trip today at coepark.net

07/27/2026

Due to construction, the Coe Ranch Entrance Visitor Center will be closed Monday, July 27 through Thursday, July 30. The Coe Ranch Entrance is still open and visitors may self-register upon arrival to the park.

The goal of this project is to improve access to the Visitor Center's main entryway. We apologize for any inconvenience. For questions, email us at [email protected].

07/22/2026

Where may a thirsty traveler find water in Henry W. Coe State Park this time of year?

As Coe's streams dry up in summer, both wildlife and visitors rely on the park's many small reservoirs and developed springs as oases in this otherwise parched landscape. Planning a backpacking trip over summer? Visit coepark.net for the latest water resource information. After your trip, report current water conditions by emailing [email protected]. Please remember to purify backcountry water before you drink it.

📷Kingbird Pond at sunset by Eric Simonsen
📷Sierra View Spring by Sue Dekalb

07/15/2026

Join us at the Coe Ranch Entrance this Saturday, July 18th at 7:30 pm for The Sada Coe Story, a film about the life of Henry W. Coe State Park's founder. The film and a talk about Sada's life will be presented in the Interpretive Room beneath the Visitor Center.

07/08/2026

Did you know California now has an official state shrub?

Bigberry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) is a large, tree-like shrub that can be found throughout Henry W. Coe State Park. It has grey-green oval leaves and blooms white, vase-like flowers in winter. Manzanita is Spanish for "little apple," as its small dark red berries somewhat resemble apples.

This shrub's most famous feature is its smooth, reddish-brown bark that peels off in flakes. Some compare it to candle wax. However, since today also happens to be , all we see are branches dipped in delicious chocolate raspberry ganache.

WARNING: Nibbling on tree bark is not recommended, though very tempting in this case.

07/01/2026

Join our State Park interpreter at the Coe Ranch Entrance on Sunday, July 5th and Sunday, July 19th and discover how California plants can be the first on the scene after a wildfire. This free one-mile guided hike climbs up Pine Ridge, offering a picture-perfect view of Henry W. Coe State Park and its natural habitats. The guided hikes will begin at the White Barn at 9:30 am and 12:30 pm.

06/25/2026

Without further ado, Part Two of some of our favorite wildlife camera footage from the park this spring for this .

Once again, thank you to the Felidae Conservation Fund!

Candid critters:

Jackrabbit
Bobcat
Wild Turkeys
Coyotes
Black-Tailed deer buck, doe, & fawns

Address

9000 E Dunne Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA
95037

Telephone

(408) 779-2728

Website

https://www.parks.ca.gov/HenryCoe, https://coepark.net/, https://linktr.ee/henrywcoesp

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