Mendoza Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Mendoza Trail start is found from the parking area at the Mendoza Ranch Entrance to Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park on Roop Road. From here take the Access Trail to its trail junction with Coyote Ridge Trail and Mendoza Trail. Go straight here onto Mendoza Trail.

Mendoza Trail begins in the grass hills of Coyote Lake - Harvey Bear Ranch County Park. It starts off heading southwest, climbing Coyote Ridge gradually. At about the 0.3-mile mark it reaches the ridge top and passes two other trails - Rancho La Polka Trail and Mummy Mountain Trail. Mummy Mountain, a high point on Coyote Ridge is to the right (north).

From here, Mendoza Trail veers right to go around the southern end of Mummy Mountain and begin heading northwest on the western side of Coyote Ridge and Mummy Mountain. Trees are sparse here on the grass-covered western side of Coyote Ridge. Mummy Mountain is to the right, and the trail gradually begins climbing this western side of Mummy Mountain/Coyote Ridge. The trail's high point is reached at the 0.7-mile mark and the trail begins to gradually head down the Mummy Mountain/Coyote Ridge hillside. Expansive views of southern Santa Clara Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance, can be seen to the left (west) for about 1.3 miles on this trail section.

The northern end of Mummy Mountain is reached at about the 1.6 mile mark. Mendoza Trail bends right to circle around it. The trail becomes surrounded by the grass hills and valleys of the park as Palassou Ridge on the far (eastern) side of Coyote Lake come into view, and the Santa Clara Valley/Santa Cruz Mountain views are left behind. The northern end of Mummy Mountain Trail is passed at the 1.7-mile mark.

Almost immediately after passing Mummy Mountain Trail, Mendoza Trail ends at Coyote Ridge Trail in a saddle on Coyote Ridge at the northern end of Mummy Mountain.

Deer roam these grass hills. Wildflowers bloom in the spring.