Pacheco Falls Loop

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Allowed

A nice ride that brings you pretty deep into Henry Coe. It brings you to a series of waterfalls cut into the rock which not many people have seen because it is so remote.

Henry Coe is full of trails both marked and unmarked. Make sure you bring a map, GPS (and know how to use them), and the MTB Project mobile app. Bring plenty of food and water for the ride. Tell your spouse or others about where you are going, and when you'll be back. It is pretty easy to get turned around in the backcountry.

Leaving the Hunting Hollow entrance parking lot, cross the stream and head up the Hunting Hollow Road about 1/8 mile. Turn left on to the Jim Donnelly Trail. This switchback trail brings you up the ridge at a pretty consistent grade. Continue to Steer Ridge Road toward Wilson Peak.

Just past Wilson Peak, take a sharp left onto the Serpentine Trail. This is a challenging intermediate downhill singletrack with some deep ruts. You'll turn right onto Grizzly Gulch Trail and then take a left on Wagon Trail Road. Then take a right onto Live Oak Spring Trail, and another right onto Pacheco Creek Trail for a fairly steep downhill toward the base of the falls. There is a pile of stacked rocks which indicate a hiking trail which leads to a lookout over the series of falls. This is a short walk and well worth it.

The pool at the base of the falls would probably be a great place for a dip in the summer, but not for our mid-February ride. Getting back up the steep trail/road wasn't easy for my tired legs. But once back on the Wagon Trail Road, head north to the Coit Road turn off, and take a left onto Coit Road. This road will start to head uphill at a small grade until it finally gets you to the top of the ridge. Then it's pretty much all downhill toward Gilroy Hot Springs Road with one major creek crossing.