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| The New Visitor Center |
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The Bell's Station Gate and Dowdy Ranch Visitor Center reopened for the season for weekend day use on May 3rd, 2008. |
The Dowdy Ranch visitor center situated in the southeast corner of Coe Park. It is open on weekend days from May through mid-October for day use.
The Dowdy Ranch is accessible from Bell's Station on Highway 152. The Bell's Station entrance is open from 8:00am to sunset on weekends and holidays through the middle of October. The visitor center is staffed from 8:00am to 4:00pm. The cost per vehicle is $5.
The Dowdy Ranch area (elevation 1600 feet) includes a new visitor center, restrooms, drinking water, a horse trailer and staging area, shade ramadas, and picnic tables. There are great views looking east and north to the hills of the Diablo Range. The landscape looks almost exactly as it did when early explorers like Juan Bautista de Anza traversed it in 1775. The few signs of human presence in this remote and beautiful area are old ranch roads on the ridges and a scattering of stock ponds that were once used by the cattle that roamed these peaceful hills. Stock ponds in Coe Park and are now enjoyed by wildlife as well as hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and equestrians and their horses.
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| Burra Burra Peak in May 2005 |
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"Lovers Leap" from the Bell's Station gate |
For more information about the Orestimba Wilderness and the remote east side of Coe Park, see Tom Stienstra's article in the San Francisco Chronicle, April 22, 2007.
Directions to Dowdy Ranch
Bell's Station on Highway 152 is located 6.5 miles east of the Highway 152/Highway 156 junction. If you're driving east from this junction, look for the unmarked left turn lane and indicate your intention to turn left well in advance. You'll first see a high rock outcrop on the south side of Highway 152, then the old white Bell's Station building on the north side of the highway. Move into the left turn lane and turn very carefully across oncoming westbound traffic. If you're traveling west from Interstate 5, the Bell's Station turnoff is approximately 22 miles from Interstate 5. Again, look for the old white Bell's Station building on the north side of Highway 152 and turn north at Bell's Station. If you miss the turn into Coe Park at Bell's Station traveling from either direction, proceed to the next safe place to turn around, which might be three or four miles.
The distance from Bell's Station to the Dowdy Ranch visitor center is seven miles. The road is unpaved, quite rough in some areas, a somewhat steep climb in the lower reaches, and has many turns and bends. Drive slowly and enjoy the gorgeous views opening up on all sides. Beware of dust and slow down if a vehicle approaches from the opposite direction. The road is safe to drive in 2WD vehicles, but carry a spare tire and extra water just in case. Plan on 30 minutes each way for the trip. There is no parking along the road until you reach the Dowdy Ranch area. The speed limit is 25 mph.
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| Dowdy Ranch is accessed from Bell's Station on Highway 152 |