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    Uvas Canyon County Park

    4.6 (284 reviews)

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    Mona A.

    Long overdue review, but this is from 2019 trip, loved hiking there, checked out a few waterfalls, and the area is absolutely gorgeous. You do lose signals so it was hard to tell which trail you are on and can easily get lost, so plan ahead. Overall a gorgeous spot

    Greater Periwinkle
    Emanuel L.

    It was my first nature hike & I absolutely loved it! We could water running the entire time. It was so peaceful & calming. Their campground is really nice. I could definitely spend a weekend there. There are multiple trails to choose from, from easy to hard. There's something for everyone. It's kid friendly and pets on a leash are welcome. It's all incline but not too difficult at all. On to the next one!

    Sarah S.

    We were looking for a scenic hike with waterfalls and to get a little exercise and man we got all of that! As a matter of fact my calves are still feeling this hike, but was so worth it. We kept forgetting we needed to book in advance online as weekend parking reservations fill up quickly so we decided we would park on the road and walk in. It only added an extra 0.7 miles at most and was a beautiful walk with cute cottages along the river we enjoyed so I recommend it. When you enter the park will see the waterfall loop trail, which is what we chose and you don't have to walk far before seeing some beautiful smaller waterfalls. We soon started to climb, and I swear AllTrails is lying with only showing a 630 ft elevation gain, since my legs and eyes told me otherwise. I honestly thought we would never stop going up..lol My guy's smart watch showed over 1k elevation gain. Anyways, the views at the top are really nice and totally worth it. Much of the hike is alongside the water and shaded which is relaxing. We ended up with between 4 to 5 miles total, after adding the walk from the road in. I highly recommend, especially if you're looking for a booty and leg blaster workout!

    Constance L.

    Great retreat in the South Bay for shady trails, waterfalls, and LADYBUGS!! Omg I didn't know ladybugs lived in colonies and this was the first time I'd witnessed so many of them in bunches -- super cool! The park has a good variety of trails at different lengths so you can choose depending on your mood. There's also a great campsite in the heart of the park that has some of the cleanest and nicest facilities I've seen at a campsite (automatic flushing, always clean, free pads/tampons, and warm water in the sink!). Day use parking is $10.

    Rach S.

    Made reservation online for parking which only cost $6. It was easy and we arrived 30 minutes earlier than our time slot. Love the hike to the waterfalls. Easy to moderate hike. Went last weekend and the weather was perfect.

    Trail is packed dirt-  some shade, some exposed. Put on DEET to avoid ticks.
    Jacqueline S.

    This park is a favorite place to hike! With all the rain this spring it is full of flowers, waterfalls and happy growing groves of trees. We really enjoyed the wild flowers and grand vistas (hikes can be steep). There are steep gravely (slippery) trails and flatter trails. Wear hiking shoes or sturdy shoes with tread. We went on Monday and saw a couple other groups- weekdays are a great peaceful time to come. Families enjoy hiking up to see the closest water falls. Bathroom facilities are available in parking lot. Note: there are ticks in the grass and poison oak too- stay on the trail. (Do a tick check when you return to the parking lot after hiking) Get a free map of the park & trails at the trail head. Downside: A lot of time spent trying to pay online for parking/reservations before we came and needed to print the $6 parking pass to put it on the dashboard. Then, when we arrived, there were only a couple cars in the large lot. Sigh. Not much cell service en-route or at the parking lot. Come prepared with a map to the park, water, snacks, hat.

    Lower waterfalls with my crush
    Pauline N.

    The campsite was nicer than I thought, but it is not very "wilderness" since the neighboring campsites are so close. Animals we saw: Slug, snake, blue jay Amenities: 2 parking spots per campsite, 1 tap water fountain for every 3 campsites or so, 1 wooden picnic table & fire pit & storage area per campsite, free shower area, restrooms, free tampons & pads in restrooms. This park is a cute area to have a small camping trip with your kids, but know that all the campsites are pretty close to one another. Luckily, my friends and I booked 4 campsites (1 name can book 2 sites) so we had plenty of private space. However, you can still see the tents and cars of neighboring sites so it did not feel the most immersive with nature. Hiking: 3/5 - 7 mile hike available but we did the 1 mile hike - One trail closed due to tree fall - Waterfalls are suuper small (thanks California drought) and the areas to stand near it is too small for larger groups (10) - But, there are areas to swim in which is very cool - One waterfall has a watering hole on top which was very cooling and nice - Watering hole downside: fits 3-4 people comfortably and a bit unsafe to get to - Saw a large snake swimming in the river, so be careful when swimming! Showers: 3/5 - Free - About 4 shower rooms available - Lukewarm is the warmest setting - Lights can be finicky - Grateful overall

    LJ T.

    A great place for beautiful hike so bring a good camera. It can be a little steep if you are not a regular hiker but otherwise it's pretty easy.

    Absolutely beautiful campground! Bathrooms are spotless and campground is perfectly maintained! Trails are beautiful along the creek with waterfalls. Even if the water is low it is beautiful. After the rain it is amazing. Dogs welcome on leash. Make a reservation at gooutsideandplay.org

    Anahi A.

    Amazing ! The views and the water falls are all amazing ! We got to see ladybug clusters and the hike up was worth it. Did have to get parking reservations but easy. Clean bathrooms as well. Would recommend!

    Samantha C.

    Checked this place out with a couple of friends in hopes of seeing ladybug clusters and waterfalls as seen on here/Google Maps. We had to get a vehicle reservation pass for parking which can be found on the park's website. Just make sure you print out your parking pass and keep it on your car dash once you park. There's timed entries by the hour once the park opens probably to stagger entries. We entered the park during 8AM-9AM window and once we were done, the lots were full so I would recommend visiting either once they open or nearing closing hours. Despite all the cars there, we only encountered two or three groups. We did the waterfall loop (yes it is full of beautiful waterfalls) which is completely shaded and has scenic views throughout. It is also not a difficult trail and starts uphill, ends downhill and the map is easy to follow.

    Sunil R.

    Beautiful beautiful Uvas Canyon! What a wonderful park to do some "forest bathing" and get some negative ions. We went on a very scenic hike and saw several waterfalls which were spectacular and very relaxing. I wish it was closer and I could go every weekend. It was not crowded and parking was a piece of cake but remember to book a spot online before you go.

    Elaine L.

    I've visited Uvas Canyon 4 times now and have loved it every time. I loved showing this beautiful gem of a park off to my family and friends who have never been here before and I get the same reaction every time. "I had no idea this was out here. It's beautiful" Almost the entire trail is shaded. So although I came on an extremely hot day (over 90 degrees), it was bearable. There's a beautiful stream, small waterfalls, and the loop trails are easy to follow. Remember to reserve a parking pass before coming

    River

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Uvas Canyon County Park

    Hi, does anyone know which trail have the waterfalls. My sister wants to do a beautiful hike for her 40? I've heard this one is very nice. Thank you

    There is a trail not far from the lot called the Waterfall loop trail. Easy to follow, although the full loop is closed right now for repairs. It's an out and back, currently. Trails are well signed to point out side trails to other falls and… 

    Hi, is the trail safe/toddler friendly (I have a 2yr old) enough to where I won't need to put them in a carrier?

    How I am just wondering which phone services did or did not have service? Ie. Version y/n T-mobile etc.

    Hi there. We had cell service in the parking lot. Our carrier is AT&T. As we got deeper into park for our hike, we had very little to no cell service at all.

    I have a parking reservation for 2 cars on this Saturday at slot 9am-10am and I can't go due to some urgent things. I want to share it for those who want to go. Do you know where I can share the info or reach me if you want?

    I know its late but there are two California camping groups on facebook where folks regular share canceled reservations.. one is northern California camping

    I came without researching & I need to purchase a vehicle pass. Am I guaranteed the slot for the time I purchase? I can't go over that time? Also I lost reception after making a right on Cory rd then I got lost. What's the best way to drive up here?

    You should be able to get in during the time slot you purchased. If you arrive past your entry time slot, there is no guarantee that the park rangers will still let you in, but it's still worth asking them. It's at their discretion if you happen… 

    To make a two person hiking reservation on the website, do I just make a reservation under the vehicle day pass? I'm having a hard time navigating the website.

    Yes-just order the vehicle day pass. That will cover the two of for entry to the park.

    Is it an open very sunny hot hike? Or are there lots of shady areas?

    Tons of shade along the waterfall trail. In fact I'd say it's 80-90% shaded

    Do we need reservation to visit Uvas Canyon and why?

    Reservations will be required for day use parking on 7 days a week (and holidays) through July 5, 2020. Please visit http://gooutsideandplay.org/​ or call 408-355-2201 to make your reservation.

    Are the trails stroller and/or kids (4-6yo) friendly?

    Yes the trail to the left is steep but can be walked up. There are trails to the right inside the parking lot and towards the campground that are not as wide but still accessible for kids.

    Is the hike stroller friendly?

    You can bring a stroller, I see many parents do it, but you have to be willing to push up the left trail which elevates really fast. The left portion of the trail has less stairs and is wider than the right side which has more scenery and mini falls.

    Is uvas canyon open yet?

    Yes . Now you have to make reservations and pay 6$ per person.

    How long does the 4.1 mile hike take for someone who is moderately active?

    I visited yesterday 08/08/2017 and still close to public road maintenance still need to get done.

    Is Uvas Canyon open again? Both the website and the voicemail say that they are closed indefinitely, but it looks like people have been this 2017 spring. Any answers? Thanks!

    Still closed as of today 5/14/17

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    Review Highlights - Uvas Canyon County Park

    I love taking my three and 1 year old here because the waterfall loop trail is short enough for them to walk.

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    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

    4.4
    (28 reviews)
    7.1 mi

    Back Valley Located…read morebetween San José and Morgan Hill is a gorgeous ±348-acre park that offers a no-frills hiking experience and superlative views of The Valley. This is one of OSP's smallest parks, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality. The Good: * Free to visit! * Mountain biking on certain trails (check map & signage) * Horseback riding on certain trails (check map & signage) * Restrooms in the parking lot * Picnic tables along the trails * The Arrowhead Trail Loop (±4 miles) is fairly easy, but does have a few decent uphills. However, we did it with three young children of varying ages, so it really wasn't an issue. * Great place for wildflower viewing--especially one year we barely had to leave the parking lot to be ensconced in Poppies! The Meh: * No dogs allowed * No trash cans, so pack it in and pack it out The Ugly: * The parking lot seems to have doubled since the last time we were here, which is a good thing because it used to fill up fast. It is still fairly small and only holds 27 cars--assuming no horse trailers are parked. There is also NO parking on Palm Ave. Conclusion: Small but mighty!

    I hiked Sat 4/17/21 at Coyote Valley OSP, Morgan Hill. It's a 40min drive from North Fremont, Free…read moreparking, but on Saturdays have to be there before 8am. Park opens 7am-Sunset. Only 1 unisex vault toilet, it had tp and hand sanitizer. We did the 4mile loop hike: Heart's Delight Trail and Arrowhead Loop Trai, it's a One-Way trail due to Covid19. Gentle hills so there is climbing, they call it challenging, but it's really just moderate. Some views. Nice short hike in Morgan Hill.

    Photos
    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve

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    Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
    Coyote Creek Trail and Bike Path

    Coyote Creek Trail and Bike Path

    4.1
    (45 reviews)
    10.2 mi

    Beautiful views and great trials and wonderful running water with alot of greenery good parkingread more

    Is it beautiful? Well, Chris Martin would like it because it was all yellow…read more There's quite a few places to start (Stonegate Park, Hellyer Park, Metcalf parking lot), but Google "Coyote Creek Visitor Center at Anderson Lake" if you want to start at the trail's most southern point. If you want photos of that intelligent but impish silver fox, Google "Coyote Creek Visitor Center at Anderson Cooper" My experience that follows is based on starting from the south, but check my photos for updates. The Visitor Center has a huge parking lot (virtually empty at 2pm a hot September Saturday) that will leave everything it touches with a fine white dust. Your shoes and bike, and subsequently your floor mats, will look like they partied with John Belushi. We made the mistake of riding out of the lot toward the creek, following a rocky dirt road for over half a mile. (See Photo). Until we intercepted the actual trail, I was angrily writing the Yelp review in my head in the voice of Inigo Montoya: "Paved? I do not think that word means what you think it means." (To avoid this, begin the trail on Eagle View Drive that borders the parking lot opposite the creek.) With the honey-colored grass dotted with murky green oaks, standing in stunning contrast to the gold, the landscape reminded me of Napa Valley, but instead of wine, dog poop. I'm not saying there was a lot of dog poop, but there's more poop than shade. The smooth, paved two-way trail is 22.1 miles long and has long stretches of seemingly straight paths but it's never static, thanks to a few sharp turns, blind curves, interruptions for utility roads, and various sites. In the 8.4 miles we rode north from the Visitor Center toward San Jose to Coyote Ranch, we would sometimes veer west where you'd feel like you're in the country. With the rolling green hills in the background, and intermittent low hanging trees among the super dry patches of grass, the landscape reminded my wife of Southern Oregon, but instead of award-winning breweries: dog poop. I'm not saying there was a lot of dog poop, but there were more poop to mistake for a family of motionless brown beetles than actual families. But for every turn toward the hills, there was a turn back east toward the 101 to remind you that you're in a city (the 17th most expensive housing market in the US, to be exact) - the 101 is sometimes 4000 feet in the distance, sometimes within 500 feet, and even under it. One shady underpass made for a secret and sheltered shallow spot for kids to swim. Well, at least it WAS secret. Yes, along the way, you'll see the 63-mile long Coyote Creek, a river that parallel a fault, running from Diablo Mtns east of Morgan Hill to Anderson Lake through Coyote Valley and San Jose that empties into the bay at Alviso. The creek is most often shielded by a row of trees: at some points it's a dry bed, at one point a water supply for a pair of deer, or you cross over it on a cool wooden bridge or two, or a reservoir, a designated fishing point, and if we ever get rain again, the trail could dip into the water itself like feels like the Universal Studios tram ride, but instead of staged interaction with a holographic cast of Fast & Furious: dog poop, which is basically the same thing. It seems barren, but there are a few surprises. Besides numerous structures that either look like, depending on your level of cynicism: a) a treasure to an amateur photographer who makes you look at his pictures of random concrete tubes, old barns, and barely habitable shacks or b) a place where you'd find Lovely Bones. Also, a few pieces of graffiti (the only waterfowl I saw in the area was a spray-painted duck), some tree trunks that look like tractor engines. For some reason you'll pass fences that separate that patch of dry yellow grass from this patch of yellow grass. Landmarks include: the Santa Clara Model Aircraft Skypark. Signs actually instruct you to keep moving and duck! Maybe that's what the spray-painted duck was for. Plus, Ogier Ponds, Coyote Creek Golf Club, and the Gene Simpson Memorial Dog Training Area. Crap, I didn't know he died. I love KISS! We stopped at Coyote Ranch, which is (allegedly) "perfect for weddings". If you hate your bride. Had we gone one more mile, we would have made it to the Metcalf parking area after passing the "Tamienne Monument", an easy-to-overlook, extremely non-monumental plaque, which is said to be the geographical center of the Santa Clara Valley and not my co-worker Teresa who often thinks she is. Visitor Center to Metcalf is 9.4 miles, I haven't gone north of Metcalf yet but the trail passes through a chain of city/county park, dipping under the 101/85 interchange, and through San Jose six miles to Cottonwood Lake. You can go an extra 3.3 miles to Tully Library (where it seems to end), but your money shot is likely Hellyer County Park, so named because, "Hell, yer probably meet some of the dogs that pooped on the trail at the dog park.

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    Nice view
    Nice view
    Coyote Creek Trail and Bike Path
    Good view

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    Good view
    Henry W Coe State Park

    Henry W Coe State Park

    4.2
    (128 reviews)
    15.7 mi

    Henry Coe has been in my "to hike" list for quite a while. It's the largest in the State Parks…read moresystem and while, technically, in the South Bay, requires a long, windy drive once you're off the 101. It can seem overwhelming to pick a day hike, given the vastness of the park, so I'd recommend coepark.net. That site lists several day hikes and shares route maps. It was a huge help to me, when deciding to hike the trail to Frog Lake. Henry Coe is popular for backpacking but moderate day hikes can be found and the loop to Frog Lake and back was a wonderland of green hills, tiny wildflowers and vast views of the Diablo Range. It's more about the journey than the destination and I enjoyed hiking through various eco systems that included marsh-like trails, rolling green hills, woodland and a small lake. Parking is self-paid or via the CA State Parks pass. There's a nice visitor center with rangers helping to acclimate you to the park, along with flush toilets and a small gift shop. You feel like you're in the foothills, while really, just a 30 minute drive from Morgan Hill. Now that I've acclimated a bit to the park and its hikes, I'm finally going to add Henry Coe to my State Parks rotation

    Best hiking in the Bay Area PERIOD. Amazing rangers that help you plan out your hike, and mostly…read morewell maintained trails(although some smaller ones can be overgrown). Starting with small hikes is best as the elevation gain and drops are pretty intense.

    Photos
    Tons of ladybugs by creek before The Shortcut 10/29/23
    Tons of ladybugs by creek before The Shortcut 10/29/23
    10/29/23
    10/29/23
    Henry W Coe State Park

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    El Toro Mountain

    El Toro Mountain

    5.0
    (1 review)
    7.6 mi

    So easy to get distracted these days by things that don't matter, or matter a lot but are then…read moretwisted by people that don't matter into tools for deception and sheep herding. Fall down this rabbit hole to your great detriment. For those that have fallen and are in the rabbit hole, fear not. The rabbit hole only feels durable. As a matter of fact, it isn't. It's paper. You can tear a hole in it and be free. El Toro Mountain will tear a hole in your rabbit hole wall. Wake up early because in afternoon summertime Morgan Hill has a temperature equivalent of a stage in the inferno below. But in the morning it's generally cool and still and there aren't a ton of humans out and you can get up and down this mountain in like an hour if you hustle and an hour of exertion in this space with the view at the top and birds and dust and voila, no more rabbit hole. On the way up the steep bit all you're thinking about is damn this is steep and not much else. At the top after good exertion you're rewarded by a view, maybe a fellow traveler, and the realization that this is what matters, not what they're trying to do to us. If I lived in The Hill I'd be up this mountain once a week come rain or come shine. In rain I bet it's a messy affair. There are two ways up. I've so far only sampled one. Go to the West Hills Church on DeWitt. You can park down DeWitt from the church or on Spring Avenue. Walk onto the property with the church on your left then up the paved driveway to the school. Keep the school on your left and head for the back of its parking lot and there you'll find the trailhead. Which is dirt road for access to a water tank and the powerlines and it's gated and ppl say you aren't supposed to be going up there but ppl do and you should too. Probably don't go on school days and don't park in the school lot even if the gate is open bc somebody could close it while you're escaping the rabbit hole and you'd come back and be locked in and that would be a drag. Be it El Toro or Diablo or Mt. Umunhum or whatever is closest to your backyard - sample it on a regular basis. Keep yourself sane. Keep your heart strong. Do it for you and the folks that love you. You'll be a whole lot more fun to be around.

    Photos
    View of El Toro from DeWitt Avenue
    View of El Toro from DeWitt Avenue
    El Toro Mountain
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    Middle Ridge Trail

    Middle Ridge Trail

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    15.7 mi

    REVIEW OF MIDDLE RIDGE TRAIL. The areas of Henry Coe Park nearest the headquarters (elevation…read more2,800 feet) include Flat Frog Trail, a valley with Coyote Creek (elevation 2,100 feet) running down the middle, Middle Ridge (elevation 2,900 feet), and another valley (elevation 1,640 feet). Beyond this other valley is Mt. Sizer and Blue Ridge Road (elevation 3,274 feet). Middle Ridge is flanked by these two valleys. This info from topo map available from hikingproject dot com. Our hike of March 7, 2021 took us from park headquarters, north along Flat Frog Trail, north along the short Frog Lake Trail, and towards the southeast on Middle Ridge Trail. Then, we took Fish Trail and descended into the valley with Coyote Creek, crossed the creek, and ascended the opposite side of the valley on Fish Trail. Coyote Creek can easily be crossed by stepping from stone to stone. Our starting and ending point was a trail marker located near park headquarters, where this trail marker has arrows pointing to Flat Frog Trail, to Fish Trail, and to Forest Trail. The length of this hiking loop, consisting of Flat Frog Trail, Frog Lake Trail, Middle Ridge Trail, and Fish Trail, was 6 1/2 miles. Most of Middle Ridge Trail is on a 100 foot wide, fairly flat meadow, situated at the very top of Middle Ridge. The meadow is peppered with many trees, and many areas are free of impenetrable tangles of bushes, vines, and weeds. Along the trail are many patches of Indian Warrior plants. Indian Warrior is related to Indian Paintbrush. Indian Warrior is a parasitic plant that thrives by attaching itself ot the roots of manzanita, including the bigberry manzanita found at Henry Coe State Park. PHOTOGRAPHS of MIDDLE RIDGE TRAIL, FISH TRAIL (return route), and COYOTE CREEK (needs to be crossed during return route). ( 1 ) Trail marker pointing to Middle Ridge Trail. The marker states that Middle Ridge Trail is 0.8 miles ahead. ( 2 ) Many large pine cones are found near Middle Ridge Trail. I placed it in a tree and took a photo of it. ( 3 ) Weirdly shaped dead tree and nearby Indian Warrior. The wood is entirely gray colored. ( 4 ) Bird's eye view of an Indian Warrior plant. ( 5 ) Field of about 50 Indian Warriors near Middle Ridge Trail. ( 6 ) Y-Shaped part of a dead tree. Each branch of the Y has a crevice that is long and narrow, where each crevice is surrounded by sinuous streaks of white-colored wood and light brown-colored wood. Obviously, this Y-shaped object is a space alien, and likely a distant relative of E.T. ( 7 ) Another weirdly-shaped dead tree near Middle Ridge Trail. ( 8 ) Typical view of Middle Ridge Trail, showing a well-worn dirt path surrounded by grassy areas that are flat and free of bushes. ( 9 ) Photo of trail marker on Middle Ridge Trail that identifies Fish Trail. You need to take Fish Trail in order to return to Park Headquarters. Fish Trail leads you down the slope of Middle Ridge and to Coyote Creek. Once you have crossed this creek, you will find another trail, and this is also called, Fish Trail. ( 10 ) Photograph of a gruesome-looking pumpkin growing on a manzanita. This is next to the descending part of Fish Trail. ( 11 ) Photo of a manzanita next to Fish Trail, where half of the tree-trunk is covered with orange bark, where the other half is gray-colored and is free of orange bark. The photo also shows part of the trail decorated with a pattern of shadows created by the sunrays passing through branches of nearby trees. ( 12 ) Hiker crossing Coyote Creek. ( 13 ) Photo showing Coyote Creek and of the ascending part of Fish Trail on the far side of Coyote Creek. ( 14 ) Mossy stones sitting in Coyote Creek. REFERENCES ( 1 ) Teddy Goodrich (2005) Names on the Land. A History of Henry W. Coe State Park. ( 2 ) Robert J. Keiffer (2012) Indian Warriors Welcome Spring at HREC. University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center. ( 3 ) Michele Driggs (2013) The Record Searchlight. Redding, CA. ( 4 ) Toni Corelli (Botanist, Curator Emeritus of the Carl Sharsmith Herbarium) Plants That Like Hosts.

    Nice trail to combine with other trails if you are visiting the park. Beautiful, peaceful and…read moremoderately trafficked on a Saturday afternoon.

    Photos
    Indian Warrior plant.  Many of these are next to Middle Ridge Trail.
    Indian Warrior plant. Many of these are next to Middle Ridge Trail.
    Hiker beginning to cross Coyote Creek.  Fish Trail is located on both sides of this creek.
    Hiker beginning to cross Coyote Creek. Fish Trail is located on both sides of this creek.
    Coyote Creek with ascending part of Fish Trail on the other side of the creek. - - -Tom Brody

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    Coyote Creek with ascending part of Fish Trail on the other side of the creek. - - -Tom Brody
    Flat Frog Trail

    Flat Frog Trail

    5.0
    (2 reviews)
    15.7 mi

    FINDING FLAT FROG TRAIL. My first visit ever to Henry Coe State Park was on my birthday, March…read more7th. My goal was to take the 6 1/2 mile loop trail, consisting of: (1) Flat Frog Trail, (2) Frog Lake Trail (a short connecting trail), (3) Middle Ridge Trail, and (4) Fish Trail. The parking lot is situated at the edge of Dunne Avenue. A one minute walk further along Dunne Ave. brings you to Coe Ranch Headquarters. About 50 feet east of Coe Ranch Headquarters is Corral Trail. Corral Trail takes you to Springs Trail, and Springs Trail takes you to a trail marker. The trail marker is at the branching point of three trails, Flat Frog Trail (to your left), Fish Trail (in the middle), and Forest Trail (to you right). The photo of me, with a tall dead tree behind me, was taken near this trail marker. Once you reach Middle Ridge Trail, you will find many bright red Indian Warrior plants. These plants are parasitic, and they acquire nutrients from roots of the bigberry manzanita. The only steep areas on the entire loop trail (described above) are on the parts of Fish Trail that descend into the valley to Coyote Creek, or that ascend out of this valley. FLAT FROG TRAIL and FROG LAKE. Flat Frog Trail follows the contour of the land, the trail loops out where a hillock of earth protrudes, and then loops back in, where there is a naturally occurring gulch. My photos show a manzanita where the outer covering of orange-colored bark includes areas of separation, where the orange bark separates from itself, and exposes the gray-colored wood under the orange bark. Where Flat Frog Trail meets Frog Lake Trail, you will encounter a trail sign (see, my photo) pointing to Frog Lake, to Middle Ridge Trail, and to Hobbs Road. Hobbs Road is named after Louis Hobbs and Estelle Hobbs, who were married in the year, 1904. Mr. Hobbs owned two saloons in San Jose. Eventually, in the year 1919, Estelle sold her homestead to Rhoda Coe. In 1953, the Coe family transferred their property to Santa Clara County, as a park to be used by the public and in 1958 the land was donated to the State of California. A dam resulted in the creation of Frog Lake. Before that, what was situated here was a spring called, "Boden's Spring," named after homesteader Henry Boden. The homestead claim was made in the year, 1886. PHOTOS ALONG FLAT FROG TRAIL & FROG LAKE TRAIL. (1) Tall gnarly tree near the trailhead to, Flat Frog Tr., Fish Tr, and Forest Tr.; (2) Me in front of the gnarly tree, holding a triangle rock with a white interior (resembling a Hostess Twinkie) surrounded by green mineral, probably serpentine; (3) Trailhead for the above three trails; (4) Grand vista of valley to east of Flat Frog Trail; (5) View from Flat Frog Trail of massive cliffs on Middle Ridge; (6) Huge manzanita near Flat Frog Tr.; (7) Tattered manzanita near Flat Frog Tr.; (8) Boulder next to Flat Frog Tr.; (9) Sign reading, CAUTION BICYCLE WALK on Flat Frog Tr.; (10) End of Flat Frog Tr. where sign points to Frog Lake Trail; (11) Orange lichen next to Frog Lake Trail; (12) Mossy stones by Frog Lake Trail; (13) Me standing next to Frog Lake, holding same triangle rock. REFERENCES ( 1 ) Teddy Goodrich (2005) Names on the Land. A History of Henry W. Coe State Park. ( 2 ) Robert J. Keiffer (2012) Indian Warriors Welcome Spring at HREC. University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center. ( 3 ) Michele Driggs (2013) The Record Searchlight. Redding, CA. ( 4 ) Toni Corelli (Botanist, Curator Emeritus of the Carl Sharsmith Herbarium) Plants That Like Hosts.

    Beautiful scenery and very peaceful. This trail wasn't too busy on a Saturday afternoon. I would do…read morethis one again.

    Photos
    At edge of Frog Lake Trail is this rock covered with orange lichen.
    At edge of Frog Lake Trail is this rock covered with orange lichen.
    Thank you fir the clarification
    Thank you fir the clarification
    This is me at Frog Lake.  At side of this lake is a huge cluster of tall reeds.  In middle is a tall dead tree.  I'm holding triangle rock.

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    This is me at Frog Lake. At side of this lake is a huge cluster of tall reeds. In middle is a tall dead tree. I'm holding triangle rock.

    Uvas Canyon County Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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