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Welcome

Welcome to Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park.  This 4,595-acre park - features a 635-acre lake with boat launch facilities and fishing access. "Coyote Bear" also has a 74 site campground with showers and facilities.  There are also 23 miles of horse, bicycle and hiking trails - nestled in the Diablo Range east of the cities of Gilroy and San Martin. Dogs are also welcome in the park on a max. 6 ft. leash.

How to Get There

There are three entrances into Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park:

Bear Ranch - from U.S. Highway 101 in San Martin, take the San Martin Ave. exit. Proceed east on San Martin Ave. for 2 miles. The entrance to the park is on the left, one-quarter mile east of Foothill Avenue.

Mendoza Ranch - From U.S. Highway 101 in Gilroy, take the Leavesley Road exit. Proceed east on Leavesley Road 2 miles to New Avenue. Proceed north on New Avenue .5 miles to Roop Road. Proceed east on Roop Road 3 miles into the foothills. Turn left into the park.

Coyote Lake - From U.S. Highway 101 in Gilroy., take the Leavesley Road exit. Proceed east on Leavesley Road 2 miles to New Avenue. Proceed north on New Avenue .5 miles to Roop Road. Proceed 3.5 miles east on Roop Road into the foothills past the Mendoza Ranch entrance. Turn left into the park and proceed one mile north to the entrance station and visitor center.

Activities

Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park offers a myriad of outdoor activities.

Start your visit at the park visitor center. There you can see exhibits on local wildlife, including live reptiles and amphibians. Here you can also purchase annual park passes, check-in to your campsite, purchase firewood, and pick-up park information. Rangers provide interpretative programs year-round. Between Memorial Day weekend and the end of September, rangers conduct campfire programs on weekends.

Three-mile long Coyote Lake provides opportunities for power boating, jetskiing, waterskiing, sailing, canoeing/kayaking and fishing. Swimming is not allowed. The boat launch ramp is located two miles north of the visitor center. It has two docks, a 3-lane concrete ramp, paved parking and a restroom. For fisherman, the lake contains bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, carp and black bass. The lake is closed to boating of all kind between mid-October to mid-April.

Family picnic sites are located at numerous locations along the west shoreline. BBQ picnic facilities are located south of the Anglers Cove picnic area. The Lakeview Campground is located .5 miles north of the visitor center. It provides campers with 73 reserveable sites. 18 sites have water and electric hook-ups for RV's.  Each site has a paved slip, picnic table, BBQ/campfire pit and food locker. There is a RV dump station in the park.  The campground also has three restrooms, a shower building, and numerous drinking water taps. Campground check-out time is 1:00 p.m.. Campground check-in time is 3:00 p.m. Call (408) 355-2201 to make a camping reservation or go online at https://www.gooutsideandplay.org.

The Bear and Mendoza Ranch sections of the park have 23 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails that wind through oak studded canyons; and on top of grassy ridgelines, providing spectacular views of the south Santa Clara Valley. Trailheads can be found in all three sections of the park.

Hours and Fees

Vehicle entry fees are collected year-round. Fees are required for camping.  Fees are also required for boating. Fees are posted at the entrance kiosk. The park is open for general day use from 8 am to sunset.  The lake closes to boating each day one-half hour before sunset.  The park is open for "shoreline fishing only" 24-hours a day.

Accessibility

Many of the park's facilities meet those standards established by the Americans with Disabilities Act. For other specific information or special accommodations, contact the park office.

Park Trails Hotline:  (408) 355-2200, press 7, then press 2 for trail closure information. For general open/close information, please call (408) 225-2147.