Eric W.
Yelp
Long before I got into hiking, and certainly pre-pandemic, Coyote Hills had always been my favorite spot for a quick escape from the hustle and bustle.
There is a good mixture of everything, from rolling hills, swampy marshlands, and of course the bay shoreline.
Since the park is situated at the lower portion of the bay, waves are not all that high, but they still provide the peace and tranquility that we are all seeking. Sadly, a poor deceased whale also happened to wash up on these shores a couple of years back.
From atop one of the many rolling hills, you are able to see across the bay to the north and south, with many popular landmarks in clear view. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to call this one of the finer locales around town to catch the sunset.
The only drawback is that it does get quite windy at times, even on days when the temperature is quite mild. Funnily enough, there are picnic tables on a few of the peaks, but I doubt the climate is ever pleasant enough for anyone to take advantage of them.
During the lockdown, I have not been coming as often because of other recent discoveries, but I still hold it near and dear to my heart. When I was down and out a few years ago, this was where I visited at least once per week to collect my thoughts.
As of late, it has gotten quite crowded In the evenings, with the free lot adjacent to the street completely overflowing. From this section to the actual park entrance is a good ten minute straight walk with nothing of major interest other than a plain field.
If you are here just for a stroll, it doesn't matter, but if you are interested in spending more time checking out the scenery, you might want to drive inside to the actual paid lots. This will run you a cool $5 per car no matter how many passengers, so obviously the more, the merrier.
Fortunately, there is a not so best kept secret in that admission is often free, so always check by driving up to the gate first. The first parking area is another 10 minutes walking from there, so you can use that extra 30-40 minutes round trip to explore the actual park itself.
As for the trails, while I wouldn't say they are the most difficult, they should provide a decent enough challenge for more advanced hikers, while not being quite treacherous enough to stave off complete beginners. Since all of the paths are more or less in a loop configuration in wide open spaces, it is also difficult to get lost.
As one of the more frequently visited parks in the system, Coyote Hills is very well maintained, with manicured foliage and clean restrooms. If you've got the little ones in tow, there is even a small museum and gift shop (during non-lockdown times) to make this an ideal spot to spend an afternoon with the family.
