78. Mount Sizer Clockwise Loop in Henry Coe State Park

https://youtu.be/5YVxosuulss

Henry W. Coe State Park (often known simply as Henry Coe or Coe Park) is a state park of California, United States, preserving a vast tract of the Diablo Range. The park is located closest to the city of Morgan Hill, and is located in both Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. The park contains over 87,000 acres (35,000 ha), making it the largest state park in northern California, and the second-largest in the state (after Anza-Borrego Desert State Park). Managed within its boundaries is a designated wilderness area of about 22,000 acres (8,900 ha). This is officially known as the Henry W. Coe State Wilderness, but locally as the Orestimba Wilderness. The 89,164-acre (36,083 ha) park was established in 1959.

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The Pine Ridge Association was formed in 1975 to assist park staff in providing interpretive and educational programs to the public. It provides funds to support guided walks, evening talks , and the state park's volunteer program. It also sponsors the annual Mother's Day Breakfast, the fall Tarantula Fest and barbecue, the Backcountry Weekend, and other park events.

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Enjoy this 15.9-mile loop trail near Morgan Hill, California. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 9 h 5 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You'll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren't allowed on this trail.

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Mount Sizer is one of the highest points in Henry W. Coe State Park. While the peak is really just the high point along Blue Ridge, getting there and back via this loop requires four climbs totaling well over 3,500 vertical feet, including one of the steepest trails in the Bay Area.

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This southern-most trail in the NorCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge lies east of Morgan Hill. This 15-mile loop touches just a small part of the park, but provides creeks, lakes, ridgeline vistas and options for overnight camping and backpacking.

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Henry Coe State Park is the largest in the California State Park system, and there are a number of entrances to the park. This hike begins and ends at the headquarters, located at 9100 E Dunne Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 – also generally the closest entrance to the Bay Area. From Highway 101, take East Dunne Avenue all the way to the end. Get turn-by-turn directions via Google Maps here. I got there just as the first rays of sunlight kissed the grassy hills.

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