Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

    3.8 (36 reviews)

    Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

    Recommended Reviews - Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Visitor's Center
    Carissa K.

    Whenever we have a weekend to ourselves, we plan to go hiking and/or explore. We knew we were going to Garlic World so we searched for a park in Gilroy. We both found this place and decided to check it out. Our first stop was the visitor center. It's small but extremely well done. It appears to be set up for nature classes for kids--lots of education. We wanted to hike around the lake so we talked to the ranger. She said there wasn't a trail around the lake but said we should park at Sandy Beach and walk along the shore. On the way there, I think we saw at least 11 deer. The view around Coyote Lake is gorgeous. And it was such a beautiful day. Hardly anyone around so it was extremely peaceful. Perfect for us. There are loads of picnic tables everywhere. We were kicking ourselves for not planning ahead that day. I would love to return and definitely bring a picnic lunch.

    Sara G.

    Nice place to camp if you can handle all the wild pigs! My fiancee and I went camping here the last weekend in September. The campsites were very crowded as all campsites were sold out that weekend. Each campsite comes with a fire pit, storage lockers for food, picnic tables, and a spot with running water. The bathrooms located on site are actually pretty clean, which was a nice surprise. The scenery is very nice, peaceful, with a nice view of Coyote Lake. However, night time is very noisy. The wild pigs will constantly walk around and raid all the campsites looking for food. If you wake up at all during the night to go to the bathroom, it will look like Old MacDonald's Farm with pigs everywhere. Seriously, I saw so many of them. They are very loud and annoying and are not afraid of humans. Make sure to lock up your food in the storage lockers they provide or else the pigs will trash your campsite over night. Even one spec of food left out will cause the pigs to come out in masses. The campsites are also really close to all the hiking trails. I didn't get a chance to hike this time around, but would love to come back and explore the trails. I probably wouldn't camp again because there are way too many pigs here for my liking.

    Carmen V.

    Wonderful smell! That is my best memory from this fantastic lake. Even more than the majestic look and quietness of the lake, the smell of high end fresh shower gel got registered in my pituitary! So good, don't know exactly from what trees (not eucalyptus for sure, those also smell so good, this was more pine but still a different kind of pine that I am used to). Go and tell me! We went bike ride, but then we realize (my bad) that is mostly for mountain bikers and the small loop for cruise bikes was far from our entrance, as they have several. This lake and park is a wonder for everybody: campers, boaters, fishermen and women. Family oriented, it is a perfect place to camp as the bathrooms are awesome. This place is worth the $6 it cost to enter and I can't believe it is so close to San Jose! Definitively my favorite green area so far in Gilroy. There are so many picnic areas that is difficult to feel you are in a crowd (we felt very 'in solitude' event though we saw tons of campers in the camping area, but you can definitively have a picnic solo or as a date and you will be in solitude). You will also share space with wildlife, so pretty views, well taken care of park and facilities, tons of miles of hiking opportunities and you won't even need a shower when back home because with that smell you will think you went to a spa instead.

    In parking lot 1 pit toilet
    Ann L.

    Went to Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch Co Park Mendoza Ranch Entrance on Sat 1/31/15. FREE parking at this and Harvey Bear Ranch Entrance, at the Coyote Lake Entrance you gotta pay (don't know cost). Parking lot as one pit toilet. Bring toilet paper because they can run out! They did have paper seat covers to use. We did maybe 10 miles total, lots of hiking. From the Mendoza Ranch Entrance, went up Coyote Ridge Trail to Mendoza Trail - down to the Rancho La Polka Trail a 1.4 post sign, though map says 1.0 loop. There are 2 picnic tables there, scenic vista, and many official bird nests. Then we went up on Mummy Mtn Trail - nice scenic views and 3 picnic tables - 1 in the sun (best views), 2 in the shade lower down the trail (views not that good). After lunch we went on the Valley Oak Trail (flat trail) saw lots of deer running, then up on Coyote Ridge Trail (steeper trail) all the way back near the parking lot. Though we were tired, we did the Roop Pond Trail 0.3 ea way to see a big pond, 2 benches to sit on. It was out and back to the pond. About 58 miles from my place in Fmt, 1hr drive each way, returning home is always worse lots of traffic.

    Allan K.

    This is my go to, over the night camping. My friends and I would go here several times a year to camp after work and leave the next day to work. It's always dead during the week, which I love, especially during the winter and fall. It's cold but I love it. The lake goes up and down. Last time I went it had a good amount of water, not sure if there is fish. I'll have to try next time. Such a nice place. Vast and peaceful. That is the rare thing about car camping these days, you don't quite get a good view or a meadow.

    Stacy S.

    I love this location. My family and I go here every time we visit Gilroy. We try to visit every month, so believe me when I say that this is our go to spot. It is family friendly & a great location to camp. There is a lot of wildlife and the fishing is excellent here. The scenery is breathtaking, but recently we have noticed that the scenery has dried up a bit due to the recent drought. Hopefully it starts raining soon so the trees and grass come back to li

    Deer in the morning
    Jason P.

    Definitely a nice place to camp. The bathrooms are clean and have soap, water, toilet seat covers (gasp) and a hand dryer. Lots of trash cans, bear bins, water spigots and places to spread out. We joined our extended family on a quick overnight trip. The road to this place was definitely winding and challenging at parts. We drive it after dark so just be aware that the final 2 miles into this place is a slow driving must. The parking station was automated and accepts cards. We paid $10 for the additional vehicle overnight fee. Worth it. There is so much wild life here that it felt like we were camping in Jurassic Park. Wild boar, deer, raccoons, quail, crows, wild turkeys...so much to see at dusk and dawn. They are used to people and get really close but don't pay much mind to your presence. The boars have left quite a mess with some grassy areas so finding a flat spot for a tent can be rough. We were definitely treated to an early morning courtesy of the turkey calls, but it was fun. Lots of animal sights and sounds if you're into that sort of thing. The lake is low so don't plan on boating. There are some really cool trails for hiking though and you could spend a morning, like me now, just chilling at the fire pit enjoying the view of the mountains and wildlife roaming. I'm told it gets super hot and dry in the summer, so take advantage of the lingering warm weather now.

    The hills are alive...with the Sound of Music...
    Sidney S.

    Wilson: Who's Harvey? Miss Kelly: A white rabbit, six feet tall. Wilson: Six feet? Elwood P. Dowd: Six feet three and a half inches. Now let's stick to the facts. "The first thing I look for in the Sunday papers is who is below the Mendoza line." -- George Brett, who helped popularize the term Mendoza Line for sub .200 hitters. After the 11 mile hike in Big Basin, I needed something a bit less strenuous and acting on a tip for a Santa Clara County work peer, headed over to Harvey Bear Ranch County Park/Mendoza entrance. This fit the bill perfectly as I was a bit stiff from yesterday's adventure. Using the Coyote Ridge/Mummy Mountain/Mendoza South trail as my loop, I had a fun four mile hike (usually loop is 3.6 miles but I forgot my phone in my car so had to backtrack to retrieve it) that with the perfect winter weather was quite enjoyable. The loops starts with a gradual incline that may be tough at first but really is only a moderate elevation gain. However your work is rewarded with stunning views in all directions. To the left is the agricultural areas of the Santa Clara Valley and to the right are beautiful vistas of the Coyote Lake area. Most of this loop is in shade as it takes you through beautiful oak groves that occasionally have a picnic bench resting underneath although no one was using them today. Pity too because it was a perfect day for it. You can add additional mileage to this by hiking over to the other areas of this park including the New Ave. entrance or Coyote Lake areas. Dog friendly, I saw numerous couples with dogs and it also has excellent mountain biking. Santa Clara County's collection of public parks is certainly stunning in its variety! I only gave this park 4 stars though because I imagine in the summer the views are less pristine and most likely more snake and bug activity. But in the Winter and Spring, it is quite lovely. There is a memorial to a light plane crash that killed a couple and two small children in the immediate area. Most people pass by without stopping but I took the time to pause and pay my respects. I later looked up the accident and it was a classic case of a newly licensed pilot not knowing his limits, and making the decision to fly, when he should have stayed home. Very tragic.

    Such a gorgeous park!!! I never knew this hidden gem was here! Felt like we were many hours away from city life!!! Who knew?
    Dana W.

    Such a beautiful place! Beautiful views and saw lots of wildlife! We saw many campers there bringing in the New Year and saw some fishing happening too. Bathrooms were clean and grounds were clean around the park! Did we just discover a hidden gem? I believe so!!!! My dogs were even in heaven! My son has already asked when we will be heading back! And bonus...on the way in the park we passed Blended winery!!! So of course we wrapped up the day with wine tasting! Just a wow kind of day!!! Happy New Year!!!!

    See all

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kasi M.
    47
    154
    626

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lina H.
    0
    27
    30

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa L.
    59
    217
    123

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 33
    Thanks 0
    Love this 35
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara G.
    167
    520
    1007

    7 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great place. Not super crowded, even over the holiday weekend. Would highly recommend.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Very beautiful view out there . Perfect for camping and fishing and hiking too! Also bring dogs too :)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ann L.
    413
    3314
    42204

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anson W.
    1205
    1102
    1264

    9 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave L.
    469
    38
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sidney S.
    1954
    1076
    1585

    13 years ago

    Helpful 19
    Thanks 0
    Love this 18
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dana W.
    1
    16
    17

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tony S.
    55
    27
    10

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kate R.
    1
    28
    26

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick T.
    2
    24
    19

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Janet L.
    6
    147
    53

    9 years ago

    Great piece of nature. Have gone here multiple times. Enjoyed the trails, deer, and wild turkey. Watch out for cows.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of mindy l.
    151
    31
    5

    13 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

    How many tents per campsite is it? 2 or 1?

    2

    Will this be a good lake to paddle board on?

    I have seen them here before

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

    We saw many campers there bringing in the New Year and saw some fishing happening too.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hiking 665 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    McAlpine Lake & Park

    McAlpine Lake & Park

    2.5
    (72 reviews)
    13.7 mi

    there were humongous fish and the water was clear. There are so it's easier to fish and the fish…read morecome up right to the dock.

    I've had nothing but positive experiences here. It's definitely more focused on the beginner…read moreangler, as the lake is small in size ( approx 7 acres?) and stocked regularly with trout during the cooler months. Small bass, bluegill and catfish are present in the lake also. The lake is maintained by the McAlpine Family, with Chase and Randall providing advice on techniques, tackle and water conditions. Chase is especially well known for his depth of knowledge in the aquatics of the lake and he is responsible for stocking the trout on a regular basis. Sister Scarlett and her husband Rob are managing the lake and also staff the General Store. All are super nice people and customer-friendly. The staff of Chris and "Tahoe Joe" keep the lake and facilities clean and in good order. Shout out also to "Paq" who is a multi-species angler and claims McAlpine Lake as his testing grounds for "Frenzy Spoons", which is his lure manufacturing businesses. Paq also assists at the lake and is quick to share his expertise with novice anglers. Some people "complain" that McAlpine Lake charges both an entrance and overage fee. Listen up folks, this is a private lake that has overhead costs including employee payroll, property/income tax, insurance and $$ per pound of Mt . Lassen Trout (10-12 Hour roundtrip) that Chase picks up and delivers every two weeks or so during Trout Season. There are other places to fish for free, if this doesn't work for you.

    Photos
    Dinner
    Dinner
    McAlpine Lake & Park
    McAlpine Lake & Park

    See all

    Garlic Farm RV Park

    Garlic Farm RV Park

    2.3
    (23 reviews)
    6.3 mi

    No pool for use ONLY if you pay additional $ each time you use oh and it's open ONLY weekends if…read moreManager wants to open it. No gym. Laundry room dirty and small. No new bathrooms and showers. So many stray cats it's ridiculous. Management is awful. Yell at residents and guests. Preferred treatment among residents. Racists. Condescending. They should clean the RV park and stop lying on website instead of bullying people. Karma!!!

    Management truly brings down the quality of this park. Monica Jones is so unprofessional it's…read morebeyond words from cussing to racism; She lets certain renters do things that she doesn't allow other renters to do by choosing favorites. There were about 6 months straight of homeless people living in RVs on all sides of the park and she didn't do anything about it because she claimed she couldn't, a RESIDENT actually got the city to kick them out, a resident did the job better than her, pathetic. There's a stray cat problem on the property, monica will see a litter get born and allow them to stay on whosever property they were born on instead of taking them to the shelter! And she gets upset at residents when the kittens grow up and reproduce more. There are MULTIPLE RESIDENTS who take the time out of their day to go to the shelter and take unneutered cats to get fixed because she won't do anything. She even knows of a resident who is poisoning animals but hasn't done anything about it, probably because it's getting rid of the cats! Even after over 6 PETS were killed! She advertises amenities THAT are NOT ACCESSIBLE. The pool has been open for maybe 2 months out of 5 years I've lived here. The game room is not open because the front office is never open. The laundry room is always dirty and it's been years since all of the washers and dryers worked. The gym is locked and not accessible, they claim you need to call the office to have them unlock it for you, the thing is the office number is just Monica's personal phone which she doesn't answer. I've went to the office to complain in person about 5 times but it's been closed on all separate occasions, so here I am writing this review. The bathrooms on site are all closed. There's a reason this company has multiple lawsuits all across California, simply look up harmony homes lawsuit and you'll see multiple class actions against them. This company is embarrassing and its parks like these that continue to make it look like a joke. I also saw an argument ensue at a meeting where a resident told the manager he didn't know there was a rule for a four foot fence and the husband started yelling and nearly assaulted the resident, the wife had to step in between them and I'm convinced he didn't fight the resident because there was another resident recording. How embarrassing.

    Photos
    Garlic Farm RV Park
    Garlic Farm RV Park
    Garlic Farm RV Park

    See all

    Oak Dell RV Park

    Oak Dell RV Park

    3.4
    (10 reviews)
    7.7 mi

    Everything about their application process. They require a…read morebackground check and interview, which I can understand. But they don't get busy doing it. Leaving you waiting and not knowing if they forgot. Not worth the effort in my opinion.

    Very slow getting into the park as their open hours were rare, but overall, a nice quiet place that…read moreis ran well. At night you hear nothing but the occasional animal sounds...a great break from reality from the hustle and bustle of the work world in San Jose. During the day, pretty much the same, I almost feel guilty talking to my daughter outside and making noise that may disturb someone....it is colder right now, so that may change in the summer, but either way, I kind of like the peace and quiet. The place is surrounded by beautiful green hills in the springtime and is close to town, yet surrounded by nature, a perfect blend. I was able to get a great spot that is somewhat private with privacy fencing and the lot is not too big and not too small (have a 32ft and could fit another 32ft right next to it and still have room. A little worried that new managers are coming in, so we'll see how that goes, but so far so good! The only downside is the cell service, but the manager let me know to turn my phone to wi-fi calling which worked, the only bad thing is I still don't get text messages...not too much of a deal since I don't really text, but I do miss an occasional work text. The washers and dryers are fairly inexpensive in relation to neighboring laundromats, which is helpful. One of least expensive parks in the area which is very appreciated in this over-inflated area. Overall, no major concerns, I would recommend this place to others who may be looking.

    Photos
    Oak Dell Manager (Janet)
    Oak Dell Manager (Janet)
    Lots of nature to enjoy!
    Lots of nature to enjoy!
    Nice terraced sites.

    See all

    Nice terraced sites.
    Thousand Trails Preserve Ranger Station

    Thousand Trails Preserve Ranger Station

    2.5
    (31 reviews)
    8.3 mi

    We arrived here on Thursday, June 26th. Everything was the same as before, there was nothing…read morespecial or improved. But the only thing that made us feel very lucky was that we met the same cleaning lady again, her name is Debbie . It was a coincidence that I met her in the restroom and always saw her cleaning very seriously and hard. She was very friendly and we were very grateful that she kept the bathrooms very clean. Of course, it won't last long, because there will always be people who destroy the public environment and litter, making the girls' bathroom very dirty and smelly. Fortunately, Debbie works very hard to keep the environment clean! The 5 Stars for her , Debbie .

    I went here this weekend and another time during memorial day weekend. I would recommend this…read morecamping site for those that like glamping. Pros: 1. Lots of space per area. 2. Swimming pool is large (up to 5 feet). 3. Bathrooms in both the pool area a and the bathrooms near the campsites are clean and have warm running water. 4. Basketball courts (I would recommend bringing your own ball because the ones that they have are flat. There's also tennis and volleyball courts available. 5. On certain days there are fun activities such as live bands, arts & crafts and movie nights. 6. You can bring dogs (there's also a dog park that they can roam around in). 7. Location is local, so the drive isn't too bad. Cons: 1. I wish there were more hikes available (you can see a small part of the Uvas Falls, but it's just a stream). Overall, I enjoyed my time at the campsite and would come back.

    Photos
    Stickers that apparently were peeling
    Stickers that apparently were peeling
    Thousand Trails Preserve Ranger Station
    Trailer

    See all

    Trailer

    Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park - hiking - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...