On a beautiful, cool, January day, I headed out to complete a short little loop just outside San Jose. The Arrowhead Loop, located in Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, features wide open views and brilliant green hills, all located just a few miles outside the city. The hike is short, but it punches well above its weight!
Miles/Elevation:
3.9 miles
629 feet vertical gain
About Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve:
At just 348 acres, Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve is one of the smaller preserves around the Bay Area. Located at the edge of Coyote Valley between San Jose and Morgan Hill, the preserve protects rolling hills providing crucial habitat for animals, and recreational opportunities for humans!
The preserve was recently opened in 2015, and only contains about 4 miles of trails. The Arrowhead Loop takes you all the way through the preserve, so it’s definitely possible to see everything the preserve has to offer in a morning!
Getting To The Trailhead:
From San Jose, head south towards Gilroy and Morgan Hill on highway 101. Take the exit to Bailey Ave about halfway to Morgan Hill. From Bailey Ave, turn left onto Santa Teresa Blvd. Continue for about 3 miles and then turn right onto Palm Ave. Continue on Palm Ave towards the hills until you reach a roundabout which marks the beginning of the preserve. Take a right at the roundabout and find parking in the lot!
The Arrowhead Loop:
To The First Overlook:
From your car, head to the far end of the parking lot to begin the loop. The trail begins as a faded road and heads around a bend and then into the hills. Continue straight, passing through a fence and crossing a gulley, until you hit an intersection. Turn left at the intersection to begin the loop. You could continue straight through this intersection, but I think the hike feels more natural going clockwise!
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
Once you turn left at the intersection, you will begin hiking up through a beautifully green valley between two grassy hills. You’ll be behind the first row of hills, so you will not be able to see the road or parking lot. It’s nice to get away from signs of civilization so quickly! In winter and part of spring, the vegetation here should be extremely lush, but keep in mind it’ll be burnt and brown come summer!
Once you enter the valley, the trail begins climbing slightly, and as you continue, the incline picks up. You’ll hike most of the way into the valley, climbing gently, and then the trail switches back, turning around 180 degrees. Continue up the hill past the switchback, and you’ll shortly arrive at the first viewpoint of the day.
The first viewpoint provides you with a fantastic view of Coyote Valley stretching from San Jose to Gilroy! The trail crosses from the valley side of the hills to the outer side and some super expansive views open in front of you!
This spot is about 230 feet above the parking lot, and there’s actually a good chance you’ll be able to spot your car from up here. At only 230 of climbing, this view doesn’t take much effort, and I saw a few people actually turn around here for a really easy hike. But I think you should definitely complete the loop!
To The Highpoint:
From the first viewpoint, the trail continues climbing through a couple of switchbacks along the upper slopes of the hills. You won’t be totally on top of the hills yet, there’s still a ways to climb!
After the switchbacks, you unfortunately lose your awesome Coyote Valley views. The trail turns away from the valley and heads deeper into the preserve. As it turns, the trail takes you back into some trees, and continues climbing towards the hill tops.
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
The first viewpoint is about 1 mile from the trailhead, and the highpoint of the hike is just over a mile from the first viewpoint, 2 miles in. You’ll notice you’re getting close once you start to realize you’re on top of the hills and no longer traversing hillsides. No longer will you be hiking up the side of the valley, now you’ll be looking down into the valleys and across the hills!
There are no intersections here, so just continue hiking along the trail and making your way up! You’ll eventually see a couple of structures, remnants from before this place was a natural preserve. This signals the impending arrival of the highpoint. Keep hiking up the final incline, and you’ll be at the highpoint for the day!
The view at the top isn’t really anything all that different from what you’ll have been seeing most of the hike so far, but it is still nice! Rolling grass covered hills, scattered trees, mountains in the distance, it’s a really nice place! The panorama was especially beautiful when I went in January because everything had been well watered! You’ll know it’s the top because there won’t be anything higher for seemingly miles, and the trail will begin a steep descent.
Finishing The Loop:
From the highpoint, you’ll be hiking northwards, first near the crest of a ridge, and then dropping down beneath the rolling ridges of the preserve. The trail continues north for about half a mile, and then turns right back towards Coyote Valley.
Head to Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve for more great views!
Once you make the turn back towards the valley, you are rewarded with one of my favorite views of the day! There’s a little viewpoint with a couple of picnic tables, and looking out, you can see the entirety of the remaining trail! The trail traces the rightmost hills as it meanders down towards the trailhead. In the midground, the hills of the first part of the hike are clearly seen, and in the distance, you can see the beginnings of Morgan Hill!
Looking for huge old growth Redwoods instead? Head to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park!
From the viewpoint, get back on the trail as it descends down and to the right. You’ll be tracing the hillside as you descend, so there’s quite a few twists and turns as you drop back towards the trailhead.
The trail varies from open views on the hillside to forest walking and back, and you’ll cross a couple of very photogenic wooden bridges on this descent as well! This entire hike almost constantly provides stellar views, and this segment is no exception!
A bit over half a mile from the overlook above the descent, you will reach the initial intersection that began your day, and you will regain the road that returns you to the trailhead. Continue walking for a few hundred yards and you’ll be back at the trailhead having completed the Arrowhead Loop!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 9/10
This is a beautiful hike in the winter and spring that provides some excellent views for not a lot of work. My one caveat with this trail is that I wouldn’t recommend it in summer or fall; it will be hot, and the views will not be nearly as pretty as the grass dries out and turns a crisp brown.
In terms of bang for your buck, this is close to as good as it gets. No it doesn’t have Angel’s Landing like exposure or high mountain views, so maybe it isn’t a 10. However, there aren’t many sub 4 mile hikes that give you this good of views, so if you’re looking for a fantastic easy hike, this should be high on your list!
Pros:
- Excellent views
- Nicely built trail
Cons:
- Busy
- Not as nice in summer
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve:
Mt Umunhum is an awesome summit opportunity with more great South Bay views!
Coyote Valley is a 4 season destination; however, each season will give you different conditions. Winter will provide the coolest temperatures and prettiest views, but will have the most rain, and therefore the most mud. Expect winter days to be in the 50’s and 60’s.
Spring is a bit warmer and a bit drier, and would be an awesome time to visit. Summer is the hottest month, and conditions will easily reach into the 80’s or even 90’s on hot days. Fall will yield cooler temperatures as the season progresses, but has the biggest fire risk.
When choosing a time to visit, one specific thing to consider is the condition of the vegetation. The grass covered hills spend all of summer and fall looking burnt and brown during California’s dry season. Winter and spring to me are the best months to visit Coyote Valley as the hills turn a beautiful green once the rain comes. Beware of mud after heavy rain days, but for me, winter and spring are without question the best times to visit!
Links For Further Reading:
Arrowhead Loop Trail – California | AllTrails
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