Horse camping at Henry Coe |
Henry Coe Park is actively encouraging equestrian camping at the park.That said, horse camping at Henry Coe is not a walk in the park — plan for an authentic backcountry camping experience. While equestrians are welcome to pack into almost any area of the park, there are six established horse camps, of which five are pack-in sites.
Coit Camp, is a pack in horse camp site at the south side of the park. The campsite is at the heart of some of the best trails in Henry Coe, including a portion of the historic De Anza trail. Kelly Lake and Coit Lake are an easy 4 to 5-mile ride from camp. Coit camp is essentially a dry camp. Nonpotable water is available from two water troughs that are filled from two storage tanks. Rain is the only source of water at Coit camp, so the water supply is limited and unpredictable. There may be no water remaining at the end of a very dry season. A cattle pen provides a place for your horse, and the camp has picnic tables and a non-flush toilet facility. No fires are allowed. Good camping in all seasons, weather permitting, however the months of July and August are extremely hot. The entrance to Coit Camp is located at Coyote Creek, about two miles beyond the Hunting Hollow entrance on Gilroy Hot Springs Road. You should pay your fees at the Hunting Hollow entrance before riding to the camp. On special occasions Coit Camp might be vehicle accessible, but only during Pine Ridge Association sponsored events where State Park volunteers are on site. Usually there is a Coit Camp Outing once a year that you can apply for. See the Event Calendar for dates and details. Blue Oak Horse Camp can be used as a horse camp that you can trailer into from Coe Park Headquarters. Though it had been classified as a horse camp in the past, it has been reclassified as a group camp with the same fee schedule as the Manzanita Point group camp. Nothing larger than a two-horse trailer is allowed on the 2-mile stretch of dirt road to the camp. Trailers longer than 20 feet are NOT recommended and gooseneck trailers are NOT allowed due to the narrow curvy access road. No more than two rigs are allowed at Blue Oak Horse Camp. Extra vehicles can be parked in the overflow lot. Bass Pond has good fishing and water for the horses and is about 100 yards from the campsite. Oak trees shade the camp area. There are two pipe corrals. You'll need to pack in water for your own consumption. If you want to use the Blue Oak campsite, check in advance with park staff about the condition of the dirt road, camp availability, and special regulations. Fees would be paid through ReserveCalifornia. The other horse camps are pack-in sites located near lakes, springs or creeks. Some have a permanent non-flush toilet nearby. There is no potable water at any of the camps except at headquarters and Dowdy Ranch.
Listed below are approximate distances to designated horse camps from Hunting Hollow:
Camping Rules
Camping Recommendations
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