Follow the signs to Manzanita Point Road, a somewhat steep paved road northwest of the Park Headquarters. Turn onto Manzanita Point Road.

The road passes a park staff residence on the right, then turns into a gravel road. Stay on Manzanita Point Road for just over a half mile.

Bear left at the Y, which begins Hobbs Road -- You'll stay on this road for several miles.

Hobbs Road climbs steeply, the first of many on this hike. Excellent views of the nearby mountains open up as you climb.

After about .4 of a mile, a bas relief monument to Henry Willard Coe, for whom the park is named, appears on your right.

Coe, a rancher who grew up on this land, died in 1943, leaving the land to his son, Henry Sutcliffe Coe, who in turn sold it in 1948 to a land company that created the network of roads now passing through the park. ... More

Henry W. Coe's daughter, Sada Sutcliffe Coe, bought the ranch back in 1950, and donated it to Santa Clara County in 1953. In 1958 the land became part of the California state parks system.Less

Hobbs Road descends sharply after the Coe Monument, crossing a creek and climbing again to a ridge overlooking Frog Lake.

Take a potty stop at the privy over on the right if the urge hits.

After the privy, Hobbs Road climbs for about a half-mile, then begins a 2-mile descent to the Middle Fork of Coyote Creek.

... More/> Note: this crossing can be treacherous in winter through early spring.Less

Rest up a few minutes for this climb, it's a doozy: 1,400 feet of ascent in 1.4 miles.

This is the infamous Short Cut -- mention Henry Coe to veteran Bay Area hikers and some will inevitably ask, "Have you done the Short Cut?" Being able to answer "yes" is a point of significant pride.

Why is it called "The Short Cut"? B... Moreecause this old road was the most direct route to the remote lands on the far side of Henry Coe State Park -- driving there on paved roads took hours longer.Less

Once you've conquered the Short Cut, turn right at Blue Ridge Road and rest up on the old bench.

The hike along Blue Ridge Road climbs gently compared to Hobbs Road. The vistas along this section are amazing.

Mount Sizer isn't much of a mountain -- it's really just the high point along Blue Ridge. A spur trail to the high point appears on the left after about a mile.

It's worth a stop, however, to soak in the views.

Once you get back on Blue Ridge Road, continue downhill for about two miles.

Blue Ridge Road takes a sharp westward bend, and Jackass Trail shows up on the right after about .2 mile.

Jackass Trail is a narrow singletrack -- often overgrown in places -- tracking a ridge that suffered significant burn damage in a wildfire in 2007. The recovery from the fire damage has created one of the most starkly beautiful pl... Moreaces in the park.

Jackass Trail goes southward for about 1.4 miles, intersecting with Poverty Flat Road.Less

Turn right on Poverty Flat Road, which starts as a gentle descent, then dives steeply down to the Poverty Flat campground area.

The descent levels off at Poverty Flat, which has a privy over to the right of the trail and several campsites on the left.

Coyote Creek offers a chance to soak your feet and restore your water supply (make sure you purify drinking water you take from the creek).

Here you revisit the Middle Fork of the Coyote Creek, last seen at the foot of the Short Cut.

Cross the creek (you'll probably have to take your shoes off, depending on the water level) and begin the last steep climb of this hike -- 1,000 feet in 1.7 miles to the crossing at Manzanita Point Road.

From here you could just turn right on Manzanita Point Road and follow it all the way back to the park headquarters.

A much more relaxing and scenic option is to cross the road and take the Springs Trail, a pretty single-track that goes most of the way back to the HQ.

Wildlife sightings are common on the Springs Trail -- ... Moredeer, turkeys, coyotes, perhaps even a bobcat.Less

After about a mile, Springs Trail intersects with at the Corral Trail. Turn right on Corral Trail and take it all the way to the parking lot.