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Coe Park is a backpacker's dream come true. You could easily plan a week-long trip, hiking
10 miles a day and camping at a different site every night. The park has space for over
60 backpacking parties, with a maximum of eight people per party. Sites range from less than
a mile to over 20 miles from park headquarters. The campsites are assigned on a
first-come, first-served basis, but you're almost always likely to get a good campsite, even during
the lovely, busy months of spring.
In the park's Western Area, backpackers camp at designated
sites. In the eastern zones, backpackers can camp wherever they like,
but we limit the number of parties in each zone to ensure a sense of solitude for everyone.
Before starting out on a backpacking trip, you must go to the Visitor Center to register, pay your
camping fees, and obtain a permit. We'll reserve your sites for you
when you register, but you must register on the day of your departure. During registration,
you'll be asked to read and agree to comply with the backpacking rules on the
back of your permit.
SOUTH ENTRANCES. If you want to backpack into the park from one of the south entrances
(Coyote Creek or Hunting Hollow), you must
register and pay your park fees at Hunting Hollow before you set out.
You can self-register at the entrance when it's not staffed.
Please see our entrances page, for important information about using
the park's southern entrances.
No matter how familiar you are with the park, it's always a good idea to talk to park staff or a
volunteer (in person or by phone) before you head out on a backpacking trip. You can get
valuable, late-breaking information about water availability
and trail conditions and tips about the
best routes and campsites. Also, whenever you're in the headquarters Visitor Center, look for
two binders: Trails of Coe Park and Camping at Coe. The trails binder has
highlighted maps of park trails and lists mileages and elevation gains. The camping binder
provides route maps and photographs for backpacking campsites in the park.
- Backpacking groups are limited to eight people.
- In the park's Western Area, backpackers must camp at designated
sites. (The Western Area is the camping zone that extends 5 to 8 miles out from park
headquarters.) The rest of the park is divided into named zones, and when you get a
backpacking permit to camp in those zones you can camp wherever you like, as long as you camp out of
sight of other established campsites.
- Fires are not allowed (except in the Manzanita Point sites), but you can use backpacking
stoves. During the dry season, we ask that you be particularly careful with your stove.
- Dogs and firearms are not allowed in the backcountry.
- Please pack out all your trash.
- Bury human waste and wash dishes at least 100 feet from streams, lakes, and springs.
- Camp out of sight of other campers.
- If you're packing into the park from the Coyote Creek or Hunting Hollow entrance, camp at least one-half mile from
the entrance.
... and Recommendations
- You should purify any backcountry water that you're going to consume.
- Springs and creeks on the map might not have water. Ask park staff about water
availability when you register.
- Be sure to take a map with you. Maps are available in the Visitor Center.
- You might want to take a hiking stick, especially for crossing streams in winter and spring and
any time if you're carrying a heavy pack.
- Some trails and roads, particularly in the Orestimba Wilderness, are in poor condition and some are
hard to find. Ask park staff about the condition of roads and trails on your planned
route.
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