Henry W. Coe State Park

Henry W. Coe State Park (or Coe Park for short) is a state park of California, USA, preserving a vast tract of the Diablo Range. The park is located closest to the city of Morgan Hill, and is located in both Santa Clara and Stanislaus counties. The park contains over 87000acre, making it the largest state park in northern California, and the second-largest in the state (after Anza-Borrego Desert State Park). Managed within its boundaries is a designated wilderness area of about 22000acre. This is officially known as the Henry W. Coe State Wilderness, but locally as the Orestimba Wilderness. The 89164acre park was established in 1959.HistoryPrior to its use as ranch land, the Diablo Range backcountry now covered by Henry W. Coe State Park was traversed by La Vereda del Monte, a trail between the Central Valley and Point of Timber on the Sacramento River Delta. Joaquin Murrieta and his gang used the route to drive stolen horses south from Contra Costa County, passing into the area via the San Antonio Valley. Horses were held at several locations now contained within the park, including Mustang Flat and Coit Camp. Both Mustang Peak and Mustang Flat derive their names from the activities of Murrieta and his gang.