Completed: May 18, 2024 | Elevation: 2,210′ | Trail: Hunting Hollow Road > Lyman Willson Ridge Trail > Vasquez Road | Distance: ~10.4 miles (out and back)
This past weekend we returned to Henry Coe State Park, our third time in about a month. The drive to the parking lot at Hunting Hollow was becoming a weekend routine.
All hikes from this entrance begin with a short walk to and across a tributary of Coyote Creek, the first of many water crossings, however, the park is so big that from this point there are multiple routes to choose from. To reach Wilson Peak, we made an immediate left onto Steer Ridge. For Bills Hill, we continued straight on Hunting Hollow Road for two miles before turning right. And this time, we stayed on Hunting Hollow but diverted onto Lyman Willson Trail in less than a mile.
While the hike to Vasquez Peak can be done in a day, we decided to make a backpacking trip out of it. After turning on to Lyman Willson Trail, it was another 3.1miles to Willson Camp where we would be spending the night.
We started hiking around 10:30 A.M., and didn’t reach camp until 12:00 P.M. Thank goodness for the fog. Unlike last weekend when we did Bills Hill, we didn’t have to contend with a blazing sun.
Despite carrying a large pack, the trek was actually pleasant.
It was also a good thing we had modified our hike to Willson Peak a few weekends ago, otherwise this would be our second time on this trail to Willson Camp. As it turned out, it was all new to us, even though we couldn’t see much because of the heavy fog.
Two other people were staying at the camp, which has a vault toilet, a sheltered picnic table and a faucet. We found a spot down the hill near an abandoned cabin. It was secluded and as the fog lifted, we had views of the surrounding mountains.
After setting up our tent and eating our sandwiches, we decided to finish our hike to Vasquez Peak. By now the weather had cleared and the sky was a cloudless blue. We headed to the trail and about 0.2 miles up the hill past the camp, we came to a junction. A sign post pointed the way to the peak.
The hike took us down to a creek and then climbed gradually. There was not another soul to be seen and the park stretched out endlessly around us.
We had to use GPS to find the actual peak since there’s no marker. Ironically, Rock Springs Creek, farther along the trail, was actually higher. However, we had reached our objective so turned around.
On our way back to camp, we stopped to admire a dead tree pockmarked with holes likely made by a woodpecker. Several holes were filled with acorns. I had never seen anything like it.
At camp we relaxed, letting the sun warm our backs as the afternoon wind picked up. We prepared an early dinner and were warmly ensconced in the tent while it was still light out.
Since we had already completed Vasquez Peak, there was no rush the next morning. We woke up to fog, lazed around and finally motivated ourselves to get up and break down camp. It was 11:00 A.M. when we headed up to the picnic table with our gear and cooked breakfast.
Unlike the hike up, our return was under a clear blue sky. The landscape, previously cloaked by fog, now revealed itself.
We arrived at the car around 1:45 P.M. Even though we had eaten breakfast not too long ago, we had to make a stop at our favorite barbecue joint, BBQ 152 in downtown Gilroy. This time we got a combo plate—brisket and pulled pork—one new item, one tried and true. I think pulled pork is still my preferred style.
Camping, hiking, bagging one more Nifty 90 and BBQ—another successful weekend accomplished.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.