Camping

Camping at Henry W. Coe State Park

Coe Ranch Campground

Drive-in camping is available at the Coe Ranch Campground at the end of E. Dunne Avenue. The campground is located on top of an open ridge at 2,600 feet, has views across the ridges and canyons of the backcountry and into the southern part of Santa Clara Valley.

Each of the 20 drive-in campsites has a picnic table and campfire pit with a grill grate. Primitive Campsites have a tent pad and parking spot suitable for sleeping in one's vehicle adjacent to a picnic table. Tent Primitive Campsites have a tent pad and parking spot NOT suitable for sleeping in one's vehicle near where you camp. Vault toilets and potable water are near each site. There are restrooms (with flush toilets, sinks and mirrors) in the Visitor Center a short walk away. There are no showers (or hot water) or RV hookups. There is a maximum of eight people per site and one vehicle is included in the camping fee. The maximum vehicle length permitted is 22 feet (20 feet for trailers).

Reservations: Campsites can be reserved online at www.reservecalifornia.com by calling Reserve California at
1- 800-444-7275. We have one ADA accessible site (003) that can be reserved if you are disabled. Sites that haven't been reserved are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The campground tends to fully book on Saturday, and many Fridays, during spring, summer and holiday weekends.

Dogs are allowed in the Coe Ranch Campground and the 1/2-mile Live Oak Trail, which begins near the Visitor Center. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length at all times and in one's vehicle or tent at night. Dogs cannot be left unattended and are not permitted anywhere else inside the park.

Backpacking

Henry W. Coe State Park contains over 80,000 acres of rugged backcountry for hike-in camping. One could easily plan an overnight trip or a weeklong excursion, hiking 10 miles a day and camping at a different site every night. The park offers designated backpacking campsites with 1 to 7 1/2 miles of the Coe Ranch Entrance and dispersed camping in outlying zones and at least 1/2-mile beyond the Hunting Hollow and Dowdy Ranch Entrances.

Backpacking permits are required and issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the Coe Ranch and Hunting Hollow Entrances - as well as seasonally at the Dowdy Ranch Entrance. Permits are usually available year-round, though we recommend registering early in the day if arriving during the busy spring months or on a holiday weekend. Parking availability is also very limited during the busy season.

Backpacking fees: $5 per person, per night (up to 8 people max.) and $8 per vehicle, per night ($6 per vehicle, per night at Hunting Hollow). State Park Annual Passes cannot be used for camping fees, as they are for day use fees only.

Dogs are NOT allowed in the backcountry.

Ground fires are NOT allowed in the backcountry.

For help planning a backpacking trip, please visit Backpacking Recommendations.

Hike-In Group Camping

Coe has twelve hike-in group camps for at least 9 and up to 50 backpackers, depending upon the site. Dogs are NOT allowed at any of the hike-in group camps.

Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camps

Manzanita Point offers eleven hike-in group camps for backpacking groups of 9 or more who want to sample the backpacking experience without necessarily having to hike in all their gear. The campsites are a 2 to 3 mile hike or mountain bike ride from the Coe Ranch Entrance. Each Manzanita Point hike-in group camp is "primitive" with picnic tables and a nearby vault toilet. Each site has a metal campfire ring, which may be used when wood and charcoal campfires are permitted. Wood gathering is not allowed, so campers must bring their own wood. Wood and charcoal campfires are prohibited during wildfire season or when weather conditions warrant a campfire ban. There is no potable water at Manzanita Point, so group campers should plan to carry in enough water and supplies to last their stay.

There is limited vehicle access to the Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camps via a gated, one-lane dirt road. Conditions permitting, up to 2 vehicles may drive in to carry equipment and supplies to one's group camp. Once driven in, group camp equipment vehicles must remain parked at the group camp through the duration of one's stay and then drive out once upon checkout. Shuttling people and/or equipment and supplies to and from the group camps is not allowed. Plan to carry in enough food, water, and supplies to last one's stay. All passengers in equipment vehicles must wear a seatbelt, and small children must be secured in child seats as required by state law. Those who are not passengers in the equipment vehicles must walk or bicycle to Manzanita Point. Groups must have at least 9 people to drive equipment vehicles to their site. Group camp vehicles must arrive to the park during business hours and no later than 1 hour before sunset to drive to Manzanita Point. Driving in after sunset is not allowed. Park staff will prohibit vehicle access to Manzanita Point when the park has received or is expecting significant rainfall. Campers with special needs may make arrangements with park staff in advance for access. Please call the park at (408) 779-2728 for more details.

Poverty Flat Hike-In Group Camp

The Poverty Flat Hike-In Group Camp is intended for groups of 9 to 25 people and is located approximately 4 miles from the Coe Ranch Entrance. While the hike to the campsite is mostly downhill, it is a very strenuous 1500' climb on the return journey. Poverty Flat has one nearby vault toilet. Wood and charcoal campfires are not allowed at Poverty Flat. There is no potable water. However, there is a creek nearby that has seasonal water that must be purified before it is consumed. The creek dries in late summer and can become difficult or dangerous to cross after significant rainfall, which can make the group site inaccessible. There is no vehicle access to the Poverty Flat Hike-In Group Camp. The road is not suitable for public driving access.

To make a reservation for the hike-in group camps, contact Reserve California at www.reservecalifornia.com or by calling 1-800-444-7275.

Campfires
Wood and charcoal campfires are permitted seasonally in the park-provided metal rings at the Coe Ranch Campground and at the Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camps. If campfires are allowed, campers must bring their own firewood or purchase it at the Visitor Center. Wood gathering is not allowed. Ground campfires are NOT allowed anywhere in the park. Wood and Charcoal campfires are prohibited during wildfire season or may be banned at any time without notice if dangerous conditions warrant it. Contact the park for more details.