1. Hunting Hollow to Headquarters
11 miles • 3,700 ft • ~2 hours
Mainly fire roads, with a variant through China Hole. Start at the Hunting Hollow entrance on Coit Road, left on Mahoney Meadows Road, then either cross the creek up China Hole Trail to Manzanita Road (preferred), or continue to Los Cruzeros and climb the unfun Poverty Flat grade. A very nice trail crossing the park south to north.
2. Blue Ridge
14 miles • 4,600 ft • ~2h30
A classic Henry Coe ride, mainly fire roads with a short cut on Jackass Trail. From Headquarters to Middle Ridge takes about 25 minutes; the short cut (Hobbs Road on the map) is very steep, and crossing the Middle Fork Coyote Creek can be tricky in winter. The view from the top of Blue Ridge is excellent, passing Mt. Sizer (3,216 ft) before continuing on Jackass Trail or the Poverty Flat alternative.
3. Middle Ridge
8.5 miles • 3,000 ft • ~1h45
A short, moderate, and very popular ride. From Headquarters on Manzanita Road, left on the steep start of Hobbs Road, past Frog Lake, then right on Middle Ridge Trail — a steep, technical single-track descent. Climb back up via Poverty Flat Road to Manzanita Road and Headquarters.
3bis. Middle Ridge and China Hole
14.5 miles • 4,400 ft • ~2h45–3h
A longer variant with plenty of single track. Same start down Middle Ridge Trail, then climb Poverty Flat Road to Jackass Pass, down to Los Cruzeros, up the single-track Lost Spring Trail to Mahoney Meadows Ridge, down China Hole Trail, then back up to Manzanita Point and Headquarters.
4. Mississippi Lake (1)
22 miles • 6,600 ft • ~4 hours
A long fire-road ride deep into the wild part of the park. From Headquarters via Poverty Flat Road to Los Cruzeros, climb the steep Willow Ridge Trail, left on Willow Ridge Road (the Roller Coaster Ridge, lots of fun ups and downs). Turtles are common near the lake.
5. Mississippi Lake loop (2)
23 miles • 6,000 ft • ~3h45
From Headquarters to Poverty Flat, up Jackass Peak, past Mahoney Meadows Road down to Schaffer Corral Trail (mostly riverbed in the wet season — consider Blue Ridge Road instead). Climb Bear Mountain Road for a beautiful view of the Orestimba Wilderness, then a right turn off the summit road down to the west side of Mississippi Lake (about 1h45 from Headquarters). Continue on the Roller Coaster Road, down the Willow Ridge single track to Los Cruzeros, then back up Poverty Flat Road — or climb China Hole instead for a rockier alternative.
6. Mississippi Lake loop and the Narrows (3)
25 miles • 5,900 ft • ~4h30–5h
Check water levels at the Visitor Center before attempting the Narrows — too high in winter and early spring. From Headquarters, down China Hole Trail to China Hole, then into the Narrows (carry your bike much of the way, and watch for rattlesnakes in the river). Up Willow Ridge Trail, left onto Rat Spring Trail to Pacheco Creek Trail, reaching Mississippi Lake. Return via Willow Ridge Road and Trail, across Coyote Creek at Los Cruzeros, and up to Headquarters.
7. Coit Lake loop
24 miles • 5,300 ft • ~3h–3h15
Easier than the Mississippi Lake loops. From Headquarters down to Poverty Flat, up Jackass Peak to Los Cruzeros, then climb Willow Ridge Trail and turn right onto Willow Ridge Road, passing the old landing strip for the first view of Coit Lake. Continue on Coit Road past Kelly Lake and Mahoney Meadows Road, then down the China Hole single track to China Hole and back up to Manzanita Point and Headquarters.
8. The three lakes: Mississippi, Coit & Kelly
36 miles • 7,800 ft • ~5 hours riding, 6–6h30 total
A really long ride — be prepared and trained. From Headquarters down to Poverty Flat, along Blue Ridge Road, then down to Bear Mountain Road (about an hour to the base of the climb). Up Bear Mountain, right onto County Line Road past Mississippi Lake, left onto Coit Road, across Mississippi Creek to Pacheco Camp, past Coit Lake and Kelly Lake, then left onto China Hole Trail down to China Hole and back to Headquarters via Manzanita Point Road.
More information
- Henry W. Coe State Park official web site
- Wikipedia on Henry Coe State Park