Henry Coe State Park is Located east of Morgan Hill in the Hamilton Range at 37 23 north, 121 30 west.
Go south on Hwy. 101, past San Jose toward Morgan Hill. Take East Dunne Ave. Follow it east, past Anderson Reservoir, up the mountain for 12 miles. Eventually you'll cross a cattle guard, then an additional half mile brings you to a sign identifying the Park, and immediately afterward on the right, a parking lot. This is the SJAA observing site.
The gate to the site has a chain, but there may be a simple snap-link to let ourselves in. If the snap-link isn't there, look for the club padlock: a brass combination lock with a star painted on the side. When star parties are scheduled, the lock is inserted so that we can let ourselves in and out. It is not necessary to re-lock the gate, or even to close it, but we may decide to swing the gate shut to help control traffic.
If you arrive early, the SJAA lock may not be there. Check with the ranger at the park headquarters, another half mile up the road. If you come to the park outside of a club-scheduled event, the site is probably available; go up to the visitor center and ask the Ranger for permission.
The site will accommodate about 40 vehicles, though sometimes there will be others parked there overnight.
For personal observing go an additional half mile past the big parking lot until you see the buildings of the old Coe Ranch, now the park headquarters. Go straight through and follow the road around to the campground.
The park fee is $5 per vehicle, payable in the drop-box at the park entrance.
There are rest rooms in the museum building, down the stairs and to the rear; and also outhouses in the campground.
PLEASE NOTE that the Coe star parties are lightly attended so there may be nobody there even when the weather is favorable.
