Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park
Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park guide map
Welcome to Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park. This 6,695-acre regional recreation area, nestled in the hills east of Gilroy, CA, features a 449-acre lake for fishing and boating. Coyote Lake has a “world-class” population of black bass, bluegill, black crappie, and Eurasian carp.
Recreational boating of power and limited-power vessels and floatation devices are open for launch from mid-April to mid-October. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 30 minutes before sunset; visit the boating in the parks page for more information. If fishing, see the Fish Advisory for Coyote Lake from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch has multiple entrances - Park Entrances
Park office: (408) 842-7800
Hours and fees
For up-to-date trail closures, please call the trail hotline at (408) 355-2200 and press 3.
The park is open year-round for general day use from 8 a.m. to sunset. Boats must be off the water 30 minutes before sunset during boating season. The park is open for "shoreline fishing only" 24 hours daily.
Vehicle entry fees are collected year-round. Fees are required for camping, boating, and boating inspections. The fees are posted at the entrance kiosk.
Access fee information here: Park fees
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.
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.
