50 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} (first-come, first-served). For campers, there are both drive-in and hike-in sites. Lock down your site at reservecalifornia.com or by calling 800-444-7275. If you prefer to saddle up, you can access equestrian trails from any of Coe’s entrances. Drive in with your trailer at some sites, or pack-in at others. The six designated horse camps offer corrals and nearby water sources. For those ready to roll, mountain bikes make a great way to traverse Coe’s ridges. To plan your best route and avoid restricted areas, download a map at the Visitor Center. Fancy an al fresco fish dinner? Coe’s lakes and ponds teem with bluegill, largemouth bass, green sunfish and more. Cast your line in a creek and you may land a rainbow trout, but make sure you have a valid California fishing license with you. Check coepark.net/fishing for details. As I conclude my visit, the final lines on Coe’s monument encapsulate the power of this spectacular park: “May these quiet hills bring peace to the souls who are seeking.” Or, as our guide Richard puts it: “If you’re open, you’ll feel something special here.” Getting There • Coe Ranch Entrance/Visitor Center: 9000 East Dunne Avenue, Morgan Hill. • Hunting Hollow Entrance: 4826 Gilroy Hot Springs Road, Gilroy. • Dowdy Ranch Entrance: northeast of Hollister off of Highway 152. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==