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FastHiker
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Can someone tell me what “The Narrows” is like at Henry Coe State Park? Are you basically walking down the middle of the creek or is there some place to walk along the bank? As I understand it, The Narrows isn’t passable in winter and early spring when there is a lot of water.
I’m thinking of hiking to some place like Hoover Lake but at this point don’t know if I have the endurance to go up all those hills. The Narrows would bypass the Jackass Peak hill. That’s two less hills to climb.
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Total Posts: 256 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 2:04 pm on Nov. 30, 2008 | IP
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gambolin man
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Hey, Fast Hiker - the Narrows are cool, especially when water is flowing through them! There are trails up and around, so exploring should be fun and adventurous. By the way, if you look at your Coe map, there's another area along the South Fork Orestimba Creek in or on the edges of the Orestimba Wilderness with a section called the Narrows. I haven't checked that one out, as it's pretty remote and difficult to get to. Anyone been there?
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Gambolin' Man
http://gambolinman.blogspot.com
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Total Posts: 122 | Joined Feb. 2006 | Posted on: 9:31 am on Dec. 1, 2008 | IP
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FastHiker
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Thanks Gambolin Man.
I couldn’t find the other Narrows but my map is out of date. It’s dated 2002 from the Pine Ridge Association. I see there is a 2006 version. I’ll have to get one.
It would be nice to visit the eastern and northeastern parts of the park. The only way I see of getting there is through the southern entrance. Anyone know what the parking situation is down there? Not to confuse anyone, I’m talking about the Dowdy Ranch entrance off 152, not the Coyote Creek or Hunting Hollow entrances on the west side.
[edit]
I guess that entrance is closed for the season.
http://www.coepark.org/dowdy-vc.html
(Edited by FastHiker at 5:09 pm on Dec. 1, 2008)
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Total Posts: 256 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 5:01 pm on Dec. 1, 2008 | IP
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majordanby
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"Anyone know what the parking situation is down there?"
There is plenty of parking at the dowdy visitor center. Just make sure you bring a map and follow the colored tape on the branches...the area isnt that well marked. I hiked up to mustang peak from that entrance earlier this year. Beautiful day and in my full day there i only encountered 2 hikers.
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Total Posts: 10 | Joined Aug. 2007 | Posted on: 5:21 pm on Dec. 2, 2008 | IP
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FastHiker
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Thanks for the info. As soon as the gate opens again I think it would be fun to do some hikes from the Dowdy visitors center.
What is the road like on the way to the ranch? I have an old V6 2WD Toyota. Given how a little moisture on the road can cause the tires to spin I don’t have a lot of faith in the traction on a steep hill. If I lived on a farm I could put a bale of hay in the bed over the rear tires. I don't though.
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Total Posts: 256 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 6:53 am on Dec. 3, 2008 | IP
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Lee Dittmann
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While the Narrows of Coyote Creek at Coe does have usage trails alongside it, and you are not just walking down the middle of the creek bed, it can be impassable when water levels are high. This is basically because you can't stay all on one side of the creek.
Water levels usually don't remain consistently high, though, for more than about a day after heavy rain. Also, most of the time that you would have trouble getting through the Narrows, you would not be able to get across Coyote Creek at all, and to reach the Narrows, you either have to cross at Poverty Flat or at China Hole.
Its always very important to monitor rainfall forecasts before going out overnight in winter and spring at Coe Park, for you can get your exit blocked by rainfall-swollen creeks. In such cases, the alternative to waiting it out a day or two is to go out via Coyote Creek or Hunting Hollow entrances, preferably having arranged by cell phone (if you can get a signal) for someone to be there to pick you up.
The only Orestimba Creek Narrows I'm aware of are outside of the park boundary. The Northeast corner of the park does have some nice pools in Orestimba Creek great for a dip, similar to China Hole.
The only steep part of the road to Dowdy is the first mile and a half, the rest is fairly gentle. Ordinarily, you shouldn't have any problem with a two-wheel drive vehicle; the grade is similar to the steepest parts of the Dunne Avenue entrance, though unpaved. (There was some plan to gravel that first section, but I don't know if that ever got done.) If it is so wet that vehicles would start sliding on it, they would probably close the gate.
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See the unofficial Henry Coe State Park website at http://www.coestatepark.com
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Total Posts: 46 | Joined Sep. 2001 | Posted on: 7:54 pm on Mar. 10, 2009 | IP
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Randy
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Wow, if there's a trail through there I certainly couldn't find it the last time I went through. It must have gone very obscure with lack of use. Interesting hike though. Fire roads tend to get boring. The link below is my trip report.
http://randyswaypoints.blogspot.com/2009/01/willow-ridge-hike.html
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Total Posts: 147 | Joined Sep. 2004 | Posted on: 12:35 pm on Mar. 12, 2009 | IP
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Bay Area Hiker Discussion Board
The Narrows at Henery Coe SP
