Henry W. Coe State Park
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Trip Reports, Page Six
A Bikepacking Journey to Mississippi Lake and the Orestimba
David Shelly: March 13-15, 2004
I had studied the Henry Coe Park Map and finally managed to head out for a "bikepacking" adventure on March 13, 2004.   In preparation, I purchased a pair of panniers and a rear rack for my somewhat ageing Trek 930 (no suspension) mountain bike.  Since the forecast was for fair weather, I was able to pack pretty lightweight, foregoing a tent and other heavy items.  To keep things simple and to avoid the weight and bulk of a stove, my primary diet for the planned three-day trip was going to be granola bars and peanut butter on pita bread.

My original plan was to attempt to do a loop encompassing County Line Road and Red Creek Road (open to mountain bikes) through the Orestimba Wilderness.  However, upon registering at park headquarters, I was informed that (despite its somewhat conspicuous inclusion on the official park map, complete with mileage) there is no public access on the portion of County Line Road that leaves the park on its way up to the Upper San Antonio Valley.   So I altered my plans slightly, registering to camp the first night in the Interior Zone and the second night in the Mississippi Zone.   Because it had taken me a long time to pack for my first bikepacking trip, it was already around 4 pm and I decided I had better get moving.  I took Poverty Flat Road down to Poverty Flat, climbed up over the pass next to Jackass Peak and descended down to the East Fork Coyote Creek.  

This part of Bear Mountain Road is, in parts, actually part of the creekbed.  Since this was still fairly early in March, the creek had substantial water in it, but mostly it was shallow enough to still be rideable.  By the time I got to the base of the steep portion of Bear Mountain Road, it was beginning to get dark, and I considered camping there.   I was determined, however, to make as much progress as possible that first day so I decided to keep going.  Looking at the steepness of Bear Mountain Road (it's REALLY steep) I knew I'd better get some of that vertical out of the way if I hoped to make good progress the next day, so I refilled my water bottles and started up.

Bear Mountain Road was much too steep for my legs and biking ability.  In fact, walking my bike was even quite difficult in places due to the extreme grade, the slippery gravel of the road, and the panniers sticking out to the side on the rear of my bike.  In places, to avoid slipping backwards, I had to "row" my bike up.  I would stand in one place and push the bike up, then lock the brakes and take a step up myself.  After making some progress up the climb, it was getting pretty dark, so I found a flat grassy spot beside the road to lay out my ground cloth and sleeping bag.

The next morning I woke up early to a glorious spring morning, had some breakfast, and continued my climb up Bear Mountain Road.   Luckily the grade wasn't as steep as it was down lower, but there were still steep stretches where I had to dismount and walk.  Finally I reached the top of the climb, and then descended via County Line Road, to Mississippi Lake.  I stopped at the ramada, took a late-morning nap, and had some lunch.  After detaching the panniers from my bike and stuffing a few granola bars in my camelback along with some chlorine water-treatment solution, I headed off for a lighter-weight day ride.

I rode south along the west shore of Mississippi Lake, then east across the dam to get back to County Line Road.  I then headed south to the Alquist Trail and descended the wonderfully twisting single-track to Orestimba Corral.  From there I headed north along the Orestimba Creek Road, passing the junctions to trails leading to Kingbird and then Mustang ponds.  I continued up the sometimes soft and deep gravel, making multiple crossings of Orestimba Creek, with the water occasionally up to the bottom bracket of my bike.   At Red Creek Road I pedaled the short distance up to Paradise Flat, one of the few large flat areas in Henry Coe and possibly one of the most beautiful, at least in the springtime when the grass is brilliantly green.  I made the short, worthwhile side-trip to Paradise Lake before deciding I'd better begin my journey back to my camp at Mississippi Lake.  At the junction with Orestimba Creek Road, I paused, and looking north noticed at least half a dozen tule elk.  I had heard that elk existed in the park, but never actually seen them.  I watched them for a while before heading south a short way to the junction with Long Ridge Road.  Partly to avoid the deep gravel and partly to see new territory, I forded the creek and headed up Long Ridge Road.  

The road climbs gradually above picturesque Jackrabbit Lake, then climbs steeply to Long Ridge proper.  I was enjoying the undulations of Long Ridge and nearing Mustang Peak, when I looked ahead of me and saw the most ridiculously steep hill I had witnessed so far.  The road seemed to go straight up, so I tried to follow, walking my bike and resting every dozen steps or so.  I was briefly thankful that I was not trying to ride down this stretch, as the eroded nature of the road would have made that terrifying.  Finally, I passed below Mustang Peak and could enjoy the long, relatively gradual descent on County Line Road to the junction with Kaiser-Aetna Road.  At this point I was pretty beat (something beyond 30 miles of hilly riding would be the day's total), so the climb on County Line Road back to my camp at Mississippi Lake was a long and arduous one, requiring multiple rest breaks and periods of walking.  It didn't help matters that all of the water fording had made my chain stiff and uncooperative.  Luckily, I had a little tri-flow back at camp.

The next day, my goal was just to make it back to headquarters.  I headed back on Willow Ridge Road (sometimes appropriately called Roller Coaster Ridge), absorbing a fair bit of hill-climbing punishment for almost no net elevation gain.  Turning right, I headed down the precipitous drop that is the Willow Ridge Trail, hanging on for dear life (although I was going slowly) on some of the steepest parts.  Along the way, I made a mental note to try to avoid ascending this trail in the future.   At Los Cruzeros, I hopped the creek and ate lunch in a picturesque shady spot under a large oak tree.  Partially rejuvenated, I climbed Mahoney Meadows Road to Poverty Flat Road, descended to Poverty Flat and then made the final, demoralizing climb back up to park headquarters.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip.  I had the good fortune of spectacular spring weather, no mechanical failures (although I did have a flat tire), and no crashes or other injuries.  I also saw no one beyond Poverty Flat, except for a park staff member with a vehicle at Orestimba Corral and a volunteer doing a water resources survey in a Toyota 4runner along County Line Road south of Mississippi Lake.  I did, however, see a couple coyotes, a herd of elk, a wild pig, and numerous birds that I am not skilled enough to identify.  The hearty dose of solitude did me good, and got me thinking about my next trip exploring Coe.

Text copyright © by David Shelly.  Used with permission.  
Minor editing by Lee Dittmann.  


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