Trail rating – Easy to moderate
Trail length – 15.5 miles
Trail type – Linear
Trail uses – Hiking, jogging, bicycles, and wheelchairs
Elevation change – Some parts of the trail have an 8% grade
Typical grade – Paved
Cellular Service Signal Strength – Good
Accessible Parking and Restrooms:
Anderson Lake Visitor Center - Malaguerra Ave, Morgan Hill
Silver Creek Valley Rd, near Piercy Rd., San Jose
Hellyer County Park, San Jose
Dirt parking lots with limited parking and no restrooms:
Barnhart Ave, off of Old Monterey Rd
Monterey Hwy and Metcalf Rd
The newly-repaved Coyote Creek Parkway is never too far from the Coyote Creek. In some places, it’s just a few feet away while, at a few other areas, the parkway crosses over the creek. One of the things I enjoy most about the 15-mile parkway was the different types of landscapes you to hike through. At the start of the parkway, you’ll hike past vast, open meadows that reach out to the mountains in the far background. At many sections of the parkway, you'll past through corridors of trees that offer comforting shade, which is very welcome during the summer months. Other sections past by businesses, and under Highway 101.
Another thing I liked seeing is how parts of the Coyote Creek Parkway pass by neighborhoods, giving easy access to the parkway for those communities. There are rest areas with picnic tables along the way, though most of these are within the first five miles from the start of the Coyote Creek Parkway at Anderson Lake Visitor Center. In the last couple of miles, however, you arrive at Hellyer County Park, and it has several areas that offer picnic tables and shade.
Most of the parkway doesn’t have water stations, so be sure to bring water with you. I enjoyed all of the 15.5 miles and would recommend starting at either the Anderson Lake Visitor Center or Hellyer County Park first, as they both offer picnic tables, available accessible parking and restrooms.
To see more of Coyote Creek Parkway please watch my video:
