Skip to main content
Park

Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

Learn about our park

Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park offers many outdoor activities.

Start your visit at the park visitor center. There, you can see exhibits of local wildlife, including live reptiles, amphibians, and fish native to the park. You can also pay park fees, purchase annual park passes, check in to your campsite, purchase firewood, and pick up park information.

Rangers provide interpretative programs year-round. Rangers and Docents conduct campfire programs on Saturday evenings between Memorial Day weekend and the end of September. Finally, Ranger-lead programs take place monthly throughout the park.

Three-mile-long Coyote Lake provides power boating, jet-skiing, waterskiing, sailing, canoeing/kayaking, and fishing opportunities. Swimming is not allowed by order of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The boat launch ramp is two miles north of the visitor center. It has two docks, a 3-lane concrete ramp, paved parking, and a restroom. For fishermen, the lake contains bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, carp, and black bass. The lake is closed to boating of all kinds between mid-October to mid-April. Call (408) 355-2201 to make a boating and boat inspection reservation, or go online at Go Outside and Play.

Hikers, horseback riders, and off-road bicyclists can explore over 33 miles of trails that wind through cool oak forests and along breezy ridgelines with beautiful views. 

Numerous family picnic sites are along the west shoreline, and BBQ picnic facilities are south of the Anglers Cove picnic area.

The park's Bear and Mendoza Ranch sections have 35 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails that wind through oak-studded canyons and on top of grassy ridgelines. These trails provide spectacular views of southern Santa Clara Valley. Trailheads are found in all three sections of the park.

The Lakeview Campground is 0.5 miles north of the visitor center. It provides campers with 73 RV and tent reservable sites. All sites have a paved slip, picnic table, BBQ/campfire pit, and food locker. Eighteen RV sites have electricity and water hookups, and a dump station is located nearby. The campground has three restrooms, a shower building with hot water (no charge), and numerous drinking water taps. Campground check-in time is 3:00 p.m., and check-out time is 1:00 p.m. View more information on camping. Call (408) 355-2201 to make a camping reservation, or go online at Go Outside and Play.

Watch A Gaviota trail video

In compliance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ('ADA'), the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services, or activities. The Department will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disability have an equal opportunity to enjoy our programs, services, facilities, and activities. If you need assistance with an ADA request, please contact our ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch provides habitats for many birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and mammals. The park is home to rare western pond turtles, California tiger salamanders, and Bay checkerspot butterflies. Two hundred and nineteen species of birds have been seen, including our “National Bird,” the bald eagle. During your visit, you can also be sure to see black-tailed deer and turkeys. Even mountain lions have been seen by visitors in the park’s hinterlands.

Upcoming events

There are no upcoming events.

View a full list of events at Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch

Entrances

photo of coyote lake county park's main entrance
Coyote Lake (main entrance)

Main entrance
4558 Gilroy Hot Springs
Gilroy, CA 95020
United States

photo of harvey bear entrance at coyote lake - harvey bear county park
Harvey Bear entrance

1950 East San Martin Avenue
San Martin, CA 95046
United States

A park entrance sign made of wood and cement reads "Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park."
Mendoza Ranch entrance

Calaveras Trail
Gilroy, CA 95020
United States