This past weekend we adventured out to hike at Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park east of Gilroy, California. The hike was full of rolling hills with open views of Morgan Hill and Gilroy. We traversed fire roads and a few single track trails. On the way back, we hiked by the lakeside among the ancient oak trees.

We'd recommend hiking the lakeside Valley Oak Trail if you only plan a shorter hike (under 5 miles). Hiking a Coyote Ridge Trail will add another 5 miles on a fire road and feature rolling hills with views of the cities below.

Our hike was just over 10 miles with plenty of wildflowers, scenic views, and animals.

We started our hike at Lakeview Campground and went up the hill to connect to the Coyote Ridge Trail. Ancient Oak Trees surround the trail on both sides.

Plenty of wildflowers like these are blooming in the shade of the trees.

A small pond is only about half a mile from the trailhead.

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Does anyone know what these are?

We crested the hill and hike on the Coyote Ridge Trail.

We took a quick rest stop in the shade of the tree that looks like tentacles

More wildflowers along the fire road trail.

This photo sums up nicely what Coyote Ridge Trail is like:

In the shade of the trees, these beautiful flowers were still in full bloom.

Views of the Coyote Lake from the ridge trail:

Golden poppies!

We decided to venture out from a fire road onto a side trail, and it didn't disappoint. All that green!

Views of Gilroy in the distance.

Are these hawks?

We went back up to the Coyote Ridge Trail.

Views of Morgan Hill in the background.

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Happy and curious cows!

So many blue wildflowers. Anyone know what these are called?

Finally, we arrived at the dam on the opposite side of Coyote Lake.

We hiked back along the Valley Oak Trail.

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