Drinking water is not available at the Hunting Hollow Entrance (nor at the Coyote Creek entrance), so be sure to bring all the water you'll need. (entrance information)

Up the Hollow and Back	Distance (round trip)	Elevation Gain (round trip)
	7 miles	300 feet
Description:  This relatively easy, nearly level hike takes you from the parking area at Hunting Hollow to the end of the Hollow and back again on the same dirt road.  This hike (or a reduced version of it) is perfect for families with young children, older folks, creek and wildflower photographers, and just plain nature wanderers.  This hike may well be the flattest one of this distance in the whole park.  Wild turkey have been known to perform their mating dances near the end of the Hunting Hollow road in the early winter, wild pig can be spotted on many days, and even a mountain lion sighting has been reported in the second meadow past the windmill.  The hike takes you across 18 creek crossings, so be prepared to rock hop or walk in wet shoes during winter and spring.  If you look for them, there are ways to go around the crossings to avoid wet hiking boots.  The creek crossings are separated by large and small meadows, each with its own unique characteristics, all with some combination of sycamore, bay, and live oak trees and riparian habitat.  You may want to venture into one of the many side canyons along the way, where you'll find places to explore, picnic, or sprawl out and nap. Route:  Start at the Hunting Hollow parking lot and follow the road past the vehicle gate to the first creek crossing.  During winter, spring and early summer, you can hop the rock "bridge" over the creek just left of the road crossing.  Proceed along the road 3.5 miles to the signpost at Wagon Road.  You can actually continue up the Hollow road as it climbs a small hill to the park boundary gate (an extra quarter mile).  Return on the same route.  Side Trips:  There are several short side trips to consider on this hike.  We've listed three of them here.  1. At the corral (a little over a half mile from the parking lot), turn left (going east).  There's a cattle gate that you'll need to unchain and pass through.  Be sure to replace the chain from November through June, when cattle may be grazing in this part of the park (they'll be gone in a few years).  Continue east over a small rise.  Follow the trail along the little creek.  A signpost in a small flat area between creeks points the way to Willson Peak.  Ignore the signs and take the animal trail that follows the rightmost creek to the right and takes you into Braen Canyon.  You're sure to find a good spot for lunch in this beautiful creek setting.  2. At Coon Hunter's Gulch, about 1.75 miles in (check your map), turn left (going east), cross a flat meadow, and walk over a small rise to a protected meadow alongside Coon Hunter's Creek.  If it weren't for the cattle deposits, this would be an excellent place to camp, eat lunch, or paint a picture.  The cattle won't be in the park much longer though, so you might want to check it out.  3. Just beyond Coon Hunter's Gulch, take the trail that goes up the steep but relatively low (for Coe Park) hill to a flat hilltop in a grove of blue oaks.  You'll be rewarded with great views of Hunting Hollow canyon and the surrounding ridges.  Pigs and deer bed down on the hilltop, so ascend quietly and you might catch them napping.

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Willson Peak Loop (via Steer Ridge and Lyman Willson trails)	Distance (round trip)	Elevation Gain (round trip)
	6 miles	(tbd)
Description:  This relatively short, strenuous hike rises quickly from Hunting Hollow and provides expanding views of the Hollow and Coyote Creek, the parks's southern ridges (Osos, Middle Steer, Jim Donnelley, Lyman Wilson, and Phegley ridges), and the fairly spectacular Palassou Ridge, rising up from Coyote Creek in the northwest.  When you reach the top of Steer Ridge, you'll hike east under blue and valley oaks toward Willson Peak, with views north and south (look for Fremont Peak some 20 miles or so south).  On Willson Peak and beyond, you'll be able to see landmarks from all parts of the park, including Blue Ridge, Red Mountain, the Rooster Comb, Mustang Peak, and park headquarters on Pine Ridge.  On clear days, you'll be able to make out the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the east and Monterey Bay glistening in the sun to the southwest.  In springtime, the blue-green serpentine outcrops on Willson Peak are studded with wildflowers, providing great photo opportunities of birds'-eye gilias, poppies, and goldfields. Route:  At the first creek crossing beyond the parking lot, turn left on Steer Ridge Trail, heading for Willson Peak.  Your heart will be pumping fast right away because this trail wastes no time gaining elevation.  Follow the trail to Steer Ridge Road and continue, heading east now, to Willson Peak.  About a mile beyond Willson Peak, you'll come to the Lyman Willson Trail junction.  Take the Lyman Willson Trail down to the Hunting Hollow Road, turn right, and hike less than a mile back to the entrance parking lot.  Option:  Substitute Middle Steer Ridge Trail for Steer Ridge Trail.  You can also substitute Jim Donnelley Trail, though the trail is often so overgrown that it's easy to lose your way.  These steep trails begin at the same point.  At the trail sign, turn left to take the Jim Donnelly Trail, or cross the small creek and follow the trail up the middle ridge, between the two creeks, to take the Middle Steer Ridge Trail.

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Phegley Ridge, Willson Camp Loop	Distance (round trip)	Elevation Gain (round trip)
	9-10 miles	(tbd)
Description:  On this hike, you'll experience all the finest features of the Hunting Hollow area:  creek habitat, wildflower profusion in the spring, breathtaking views, historical sites, wildlife, and excellent fishing opportunities.  You'll follow the idylic wandering of the creek in Hunting Hollow and hike past the old homesite of the first settlers in the Hollow, a husband and wife who had 12 children and supplied game to Gilroy restaurants (look for the windmill across the creek from the homesite).  You'll travel through meadows and past canyon openings on your way to the Phegley Ridge trailhead, which has no signpost but is easy to find.  In the spring, goldfields carpet the bowl-like open hillsides as you climb the demanding ridge.  When the trail levels off some, you'll pass under coast live oak forests and arrive at Redfern Pond.  From this year-round pond, returning hikers have reported catching bass as long as their forearms.  Along Wagon Road, you'll see ranchlands and ancient peaks across the rol ling ridgetops south of the park, and then you'll descend into the headwaters of Coon Hunter's Gulch, a good place to rest in the shade.  Or you can keep going and rest at Willson Camp on the porch of the old ranchhouse.  Behind the ranchhouse, follow the Bowl Trail to the next trail junction and turn left on the Lyman Willson Ridge Trail, which will take you back to Hunting Hollow Road, giving you fine views into the depths of Coon Hunter's Gulch along the way. Route:  Follow the road from the Hunting Hollow entrance 1.75 miles to Phegley Ridge trailhead.  The trail is unmarked but visible from the road just before the second creek crossing beyond Coon Hunter's Gulch.  Follow the trail to Wagon Road and then go north to Willson Camp.  Behind the ranchhouse, follow the Bowl Trail till you come to a junction and then go left on the Lyman Willson Ridge Trail, which will take you back to Hunting Hollow Road. Options:  1. Bypass Phegley Ridge Trail and continue to Wagon Road, another mile and a quarter up Hunting Hollow.  Take Wagon Road up the hill, pass the junction of Phegley Ridge Trail, and continue to Willson Camp.  2. Continue past Willson Camp up Steer Ridge Road to Willson Peak, the highest point in the southern part of the park and a fine vantage point for viewing many Coe Park landmarks.  >From Willson Peak, you can descend back into Hunting Hollow on Middle Steer Ridge Trail, Jim Donnelly Trail, or Steer Ridge Trail.

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Grizzly Gulch, Willson Peak Loop	Distance (round trip)	Elevation Gain (round trip)
	11 miles	(tbd)
Description:  On this hike, you'll travel through the Grizzly Gulch canyon, hike over Willson Peak, and descend into the Hunting Hollow canyon.  The changes in terrain are dramatic on this great outing.  On Grizzly Gulch Trail, you'll pass through dense forest above Grizzly creek, then cross the creek and climb the flank below Jackson Peak through oaks and grasslands.  Then you'll travel east across the mid section of the ridge, where you'll pass grassy canyons and recesses on one side and constantly changing views across the big Grizzly Gulch canyon to the Willson Peak, Steer Ridge mountain flank on the other side.  On the Serpentine Trail you'll climb the last few hundred feet in elevation to the Willson Peak area.  Watch for deer, turkey, and wild pig, which hikers often see along this beautiful stretch of parkland.  You'll be rewarded with fine views to the north, east, and south as you reach the top of the ridge.  In late winter and throughout the spring, the wildflowers on Willson Peak are spectacular. Route:  This hike can begin and end at Hunting Hollow or at Grizzly Gulch, which is just inside the Coyote Creek entrance.  If you plan to start at one point and end at the other, you can either walk the two miles between the two points on the paved Gilroy Hot Springs Road, or you can do a car shuttle, parking one vehicle at Hunting Hollow and driving the other vehicle to the Coyote Creek entrance and beginning your hike at Grizzly Gulch.  We recommend Grizzly Gulch as the starting point because that route spreads out the elevation gains and has several flat areas between the steep uphill sections. Note:  If you park at the Coyote Creek Entrance, be forewarned that vandalism is sometimes a problem (mostly at night on the weekends).  Keep all valuables out of sight. Recommended Route:  From Hunting Hollow, follow Gilroy Hot Springs Road to the Coyote Creek entrance.  Then follow the dirt road past the locked park gate.  At the ramada, bear right up the slight hill.  There's a portable toilet on this rise.  Walk south from the toilet under the oaks, then pick up the trail to the left.  Continue less than a quarter mile to the Grizzly Gulch trailhead and go left on the trail.  You'll hike through a forested area about a half mile as the trail winds back down to the Gulch.  The creek is beautiful here, with rock pools in the midst of the steep canyon.  Cross the creek and follow the trail halfway up Wasno Ridge (roughly north) to the sign pointing east toward Willson Ranch, still on Grizzly Gulch Trail.  Follow the old road as it crosses the middle section of the big mountain, providing great views of Grizzly Gulch canyon, Willson Peak, and Steer Ridge. You'll criss-cross Grizzly Gulch on the upper end, pass Tule Pond, then climb for a quarter mile to Serpentine Trail.  Hike west on Serpentine Trail about one mile to Willson Peak.  At Willson Peak, continue west a quarter mile to Middle Steer Ridge Trail and follow the trail, for about two miles, down to the creek crossing.  Then follow the creek and the trail out into Hunting Hollow, where you'll find signs showing you the way back to the parking lot.

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