June 3, 2005

Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

Almost 14 miles of new trails open in Gilroy

The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department recently dedicated nearly 14 miles of new trails just south of Evergreen in Gilroy.

Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch is a 4,595-acre park that features a 635-acre lake and provides camping, picnic, fishing and boat launch opportunities in the scenic Mount Hamilton Range.

The trail improvements include a new 4.5-mile section of the famed Bay Area Ridge Trail network, planned as a 500-mile trail encircling the Bay Area to provide access for hikers, equestrians, mountain bicyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.

“This is an exciting part of Santa Clara County Parks’ 50th anniversary year,” said Lisa Killough, director for Santa Clara County Parks. “These new trails offer nature lovers a new opportunity to explore Coyote Lake’s scenic backdrop and experience a beautiful segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail.”

“We’re pleased to see nearly five miles added to the Ridge Trail network … and are proud to be a part of such a spectacular setting,” said Holly Van Houten, executive director for the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council.

The first phase of Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch’s trail reconstruction began in October 2004. Approximately 8.6 miles of new trails were built and 5.3 miles of the existing ranch road system was converted into trails. In addition, 6.9 miles of the ranch roads were eliminated and have been restored back to a natural condition to protect the park’s unique habitat.

In addition to the county’s Park Charter Fund, two important partnerships provided funding for the project. The California Coastal Conservancy supplied a $200,000 grant from the voter-approved Proposition 12 state park bond, as administered by the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s offered another $200,000 grant from its Trails, Parks and Open Space Grant Program.

“A tremendous amount of planning, hard work and dedication has gone into this project,” said Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch Senior Park Ranger Christopher Crockett. “The result is something park enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy for years to come.”

The park office is located at 10840 Coyote Lake Road in Gilroy, east of Highway 101, and the contact number is (408) 842-7800. The expansive 4,595-acre park also features a 635-acre lake and provides camping, picnic, fishing and boat launch opportunities in the scenic Mount Hamilton Range.

To visit the park, take Highway 101 to Gilroy and exit Leavesley Road, follow it and turn left onto New Avenue. Turn right onto Roop Road, which turns into Gilroy Hot Springs Road, and turn left into the Mendoza park entrance.

For more information about the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department go to the Web site: www.parkhere.org. For more information about the Bay Area Ridge Trail plans and activities, go to the Web site: www.ridgetrail.org.

About Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park

For 4,000 years the Unajaima Ohlone lived in the area now known as Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park.
In 1776, Juan Bautista De Anza led a party operating under the Spanish Crown and passed through what is now the southern boundary of the park.

From 1776 to 1830, Spanish missionaries passed through the western reaches of the park, while traveling between Mission San Francisco and points south.

In 1830, the Mexican government acquired Alta California and Governor Figueroa granted much of what is now the park to Juan Maria Hernandez. His 8,927-acre ranch was named Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche—“Eyeful of Water”—because of the property’s many springs.

In 1844, Martin Murphy Sr., then 60 years of age, brought his entire family over the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, as members of the Stephen-Murphy-Townsend Overland Party. They were the first Europeans to bring livestock over the Sierras, making the passage one year before the ill-fated Donner Party.

In 1846, Martin Murphy Sr. purchased the Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche for $1,500 and established his homestead. Murphy’s sons, John and Daniel, struck gold in the Sierras, then made a fortune selling dry goods to local miners and Native Americans.

The town they established in the Sierra foothills still bears the family name, Murphys. John Murphy would become a prominent citizen in San Jose as treasurer, coroner and sheriff for the newly formed Santa Clara County. His son Martin Jr. was the founder of the city of Sunnyvale.

John’s other son James established a successful lumber business in Marin County, later establishing his Ringwood Farm estate in north San Jose. In 1854, Daniel Murphy took over operation of Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche and went on to purchase and own more land than anyone else in the world at the time of his death in 1881.

From 1890 to 1940, much of the original rancho was subdivided. In 1940, the Baumgartner family purchased what is now the park. They sold the ranch in 1960 to Harvey Bear, who raised his family and ran cattle until his death in 1994.

The Bear Family sold their 4,448-acre ranch to the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department in 1997.
After many years of planning and development, the park opened to the public this month.