Harvey Bear Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Harvey Bear Trail starts from the parking area at the Coyote Lake (Reservoir) Dam. This is at the end of the road that runs along the Coyote Lake shoreline in Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park. Its endpoint is along Willow Springs Trail, very near the Harvey Bear Ranch Entrance to the park on San Martin Avenue.

Starting at the dam, Harvey Bear Trail enters the woods and starts gradually climbing Coyote Ridge. After about a quarter mile, the woods give way to grassy hills with stands of oak trees. This area is pasture land, and many cows can be around and on the trail. Be nice to them.

Harvey Bear Trail continues to climb gradually, passing two trail junctions with Ed Willson Trail. At the 1.0 mile mark, the ridge top is reached. Then, almost immediately, the trail junction with Coyote Ridge Trail appears, marking the endpoint of Coyote Ridge Trail.

After passing Coyote Ridge Trail, Harvey Bear Trail descends gradually, winding its way through the grass hills. This western side of Coyote Ridge has far fewer trees than the eastern side. There are expansive views of southern Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance. If one looks carefully, one can pick out Mt. Umunhum.

Harvey Bear Trail ends after 3.3 miles at a trail junction with Willow Springs Trail. This trail junction is a close 0.4 miles to the parking and picnic area at the Harvey Bear Ranch Entrance to the park.

Cows and deer can be found here. Birds abound as well—common ones are yellow-billed magpies, red-wing blackbirds, steller's jays, and hawks. Wildflowers bloom in the spring, especially bright yellow mustard, some poppies, and lupine.