Local : City Beat Morgan Hill
Get ready City Beat to ‘ unplug ’ and ‘ recharge ’ in Morgan Hill
Unhinged after so much time indoors ?
By Amy Whelan , City of Morgan Hill
Unfettered is more like it , now that summer is here ! Morgan Hill is the right place to find open space , inspiration , and freedom in the City and region ’ s extensive parks and trails . So many options , let ’ s get going !
Area parks : Bikes , hikes and horses
A great intro to Henry W . Coe State Park , the largest state park in Northern California , is the Frog Lake Loop , starting at Coe Ranch entrance . Considered moderate , but an easier trail compared to others in the Park , it extends 4.5 miles round trip and has a 640 feet elevation gain . Binge nature , lake views and spectacular wildflowers with the whole family .
An easy haven right in town is the Coyote Creek Trail , which is part of a long , mostly flat trail system that extends into San Jose . The trail ’ s southern reach spans between Tully Road and Morgan Hill ’ s Anderson County Park for a total of 16.8 miles . It features fully paved paths , winding in and out of open space , and welcomes horse-back riding , as well as cyclists , hikers and leashed pets . You can stay on the paved trail or venture off on one of its dirt tributaries for a more remote outing .
And for a tougher continual climb , Uvas Canyon County Park ’ s Knibbs Knob Trail beckons the brave . It typically takes a few hours to complete the steep – very steep – path . To add an extra mile and beautiful scenery , try the Waterfall Loop Nature Trail that is nestled between Knibbs Knob and Alec Canyon Trails . Advance reservations are required because of limited parking and high demand , but it is well worth the effort .
Be sure to check each park ’ s webpage for the latest on reservations , closures , weather or health updates .
Near Morgan Hill Henry W . Coe State Park : 9000 E . Dunne Ave ., coepark . net Anderson Lake County Park : 19245 Malaguerra Ave ., sccgov . org Uvas Canyon County Park : 8515 Croy Road , sccgov . org
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