Best trails in Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, California

This six-mile loop over the rolling hills of Harvey Bear Ranch introduces hikers to the wild terrain of the Diablo Range southeast of San Jose, California. Harvey Bear is a section of Coyote Lake County Park, which is popular with campers, boaters and paddlers. As the wide-open trails ascend, expansive views of Silicon Valley to the north and the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west open up. Best times to go: The hills turn a shimmering green in February and March, and wildflowers dot the hills throughout the spring. October and November bring the annual tarantula migration, though sightings of the big hairy arachnids can be rare. Summer is typically too hot.Show more

This route starts across the road from the Lake View Campground -- a handy trailhead if you've got youngsters eager for explorations. It's also one of the rare shady hikes in a section of the Diablo Range better known for wide-open expanses dotted by the occasional oak tree. Show more

Start and finish at the Harvey Bear park entrance. Hike up to the Harvey Bear/Willow Spring Trail split. Follow Harvey Bear to Calaveras, to Coyote Ridge, to Blue Oak, to Gaviota, turn left on Rancho San Ysidro then left on Willow Springs to get back to the parking lot. There are two picnic benches along the route. One along the Calaveras Trail and one on Gaviota. The one on Gaviota is about fifty yards along Gaviota when you get to the Gaviota/Blue Oak Trail junction. If you're going down Blue Oak, continue straight. If you are coming from Rancho San Ysidro, just continue down Gaviota instead of turning up Blue Oak.Show more