Walk-Up8/10
Henry Coe Backpacking Zone permit
Zone-style permit for backcountry camping. First-come at trailhead....
Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camp Permit
Henry W. Coe State Park · California
One date at a time
Group campsite in the Coe Ranch corridor.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Manzanita Point were gone within 10 minutes.
Plan the full trip, not just the permit
Build your full itinerary start to finish
Add your dates and get a day-by-day plan: what needs a permit, what gear to bring, and one link to share with your whole group to coordinate every step.
Start a plan — it's free
No permit needed to start
Manzanita Point Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelModerate6/10
Manzanita Point Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Manzanita Point in Henry W. Coe State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- The Manzanita Point route covers 2.5 miles, rated moderate.
- Cancelled Manzanita Point permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level6/10
LocationDiablo Range, CA
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
2.5 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Difficulty
ModerateHighlights
- •Eleven separate group camps for parties of 9 or more
- •A 2 to 3 mile hike or bike from the Coe Ranch Entrance
- •Picnic tables, a nearby vault toilet and a metal campfire ring
- •No potable water at all — everything is carried or driven in
- •Up to two gear vehicles allowed in, conditions permitting, then parked for the stay
- •$75 per night including five vehicles
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall are the most temperate and enjoyable times to visit the park. Spring is greenest and busiest; autumn is stable and quiet. Summer means over 90 degrees on an exposed ridge with every litre of water carried in. Book at least seven days ahead, and watch the forecast, because rain closes the gear-vehicle road.
Hazards & Considerations
- !No potable water at Manzanita Point.
- !Hot, dry summers bring highs above 90 degrees, and in the summer it can reach over 100 F in the park.
- !Ticks are active in winter and spring and can carry Lyme disease.
- !Ticks, poison oak, rattlesnakes, wild pigs and mountain lions all live in the park.
- !Significant rainfall closes vehicle access to the camps.
- !Seasonal creeks can overflow, becoming extremely dangerous and impassable elsewhere in the park.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
☀️
78°
56°
Sun
☁️
66°
50°
Mon
⛅
75°
52°
Tue
☁️
77°
52°
Wed
☁️
80°
54°
Thu
☁️
82°
57°
Fri
☀️
85°
60°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand3/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment3/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Groups of nine or more who want a real backcountry night in the largest state park in Northern California, with the option of driving gear in. Good for introducing a group to backpacking terrain.
Recommended Experience
Group water logistics above all. Book seven days ahead, plan for no water at camp, and have a fallback if rain closes the gear road.
Not Recommended For
Parties under nine, anyone with a dog, and any group that cannot carry or drive in every litre of water. Rain can remove the vehicle option at short notice.
About This Permit
Manzanita Point offers eleven hike-in group camps at Henry W. Coe State Park for backpacking groups of 9 or more, a 2 to 3 mile hike or mountain bike ride from the Coe Ranch Entrance. Each camp is primitive, with picnic tables and a nearby vault toilet, plus a metal campfire ring usable when wood and charcoal campfires are permitted. There is no potable water at Manzanita Point, so group campers should plan to carry in enough water and supplies to last their stay.
Unlike the park's individual backpacking permits, these are reservable. Reservations for the hike-in group camps must be made a minimum of 7 days in advance through ReserveCalifornia. The rate is $75 per night including a maximum of 5 vehicles, with $8 per additional vehicle.
The vehicle rule is the practical detail that makes this camp work for groups: conditions permitting, up to 2 vehicles may drive in via a gated one-lane dirt road to carry equipment and supplies. They must then stay parked at the group camp for the duration and drive out once at checkout — shuttling people or supplies is not allowed. Staff prohibit vehicle access when the park has received or is expecting significant rainfall.
Wood and charcoal campfires are permitted seasonally in the park-provided metal rings at Coe Ranch Campground and Manzanita Point, but as of 12 June 2026 they were banned for the remainder of wildfire season. Dogs are not allowed at any of the hike-in group camps.
The Experience
Why It Matters
Manzanita Point is how a group samples Henry Coe's backcountry without everyone carrying everything. The park describes it exactly that way: for backpacking groups of 9 or more who want to sample the backpacking experience without necessarily having to hike in all their gear.
The Route
Manzanita Point offers eleven hike-in group camps for backpacking groups of 9 or more. The campsites are a 2 to 3 mile hike or mountain bike ride from the Coe Ranch Entrance. Each camp is primitive, with picnic tables and a nearby vault toilet, and a metal campfire ring that may be used when wood and charcoal campfires are permitted. Wood gathering is not allowed, so campers must bring their own wood or purchase it at the visitor center.
There is no potable water at Manzanita Point, so group campers should plan to carry in enough water and supplies to last their stay. This is the constraint that shapes every trip here.
Vehicle access exists but is tightly controlled. There is limited vehicle access via a gated, one-lane dirt road; conditions permitting, up to 2 vehicles may drive in to carry equipment and supplies. Once driven in, group camp equipment vehicles must remain parked at the group camp through the duration of the stay and drive out once upon checkout. Shuttling people or supplies to and from the group camps is not allowed. Vehicles must arrive during business hours and no later than one hour before sunset, and park staff will prohibit vehicle access when the park has received or is expecting significant rainfall.
The Feeling
Oak and manzanita on a ridge above the canyons, with the whole Coe backcountry dropping away east. Hot in summer, and no water at all.
Trailhead Information
Coe Ranch Entrance / Headquarters
2,600 ft elevationThe main entrance at 2,600 feet, 2 to 3 miles from the Manzanita Point group camps by trail or the gated dirt road.
Restrooms
Water on site
Weak Signal
Before you rely on this water
Piped spring water at the Coe Ranch Campground; there is no potable water at Manzanita Point.
Parking
$75 per night includes 5 vehicles maximum; $8 per additional vehicle. Up to 2 vehicles may drive to the campsite, conditions permitting, and must remain parked there for the stay.
Getting There
13 miles east of Morgan Hill on East Dunne Avenue; the road beyond Anderson Lake is 10 miles of narrow winding road taking about 30 minutes. Group camp vehicles must arrive during business hours and no later than one hour before sunset. Driving in after sunset is not allowed.
Nearest Services
Morgan Hill, 13 miles west. Supplies are not available in the park.
Rules & Regulations
- •For backpacking groups of 9 or more.
- •Reservations must be made a minimum of 7 days in advance through ReserveCalifornia.
- •$75 per night, 5 vehicles maximum included, $8 per additional vehicle.
- •Up to 2 vehicles may drive to the campsite, conditions permitting; they must remain parked at the group camp through the stay and drive out once upon checkout.
- •Shuttling people and/or equipment and supplies to and from the group camps is not allowed.
- •Group camp vehicles must arrive during business hours and no later than 1 hour before sunset. Driving in after sunset is not allowed.
- •Park staff will prohibit vehicle access when the park has received or is expecting significant rainfall.
- •Dogs are NOT allowed at any of the hike-in group camps.
- •Wood gathering is not allowed; campers must bring their own wood or purchase it at the visitor center. Ground campfires are NOT allowed anywhere in the park.
- •As of 12 June 2026, wood or charcoal campfires are not allowed for the remainder of wildfire season; gas stoves, gas grills and portable gas fire pits are permitted.
Gear Checklist
Required
- All drinking and cooking water for the whole group and the whole stay
- Gas stoves, which remain permitted when wood and charcoal are banned
- Your own firewood, if campfires happen to be allowed
- Sun protection for exposed ridge country
- A group gear plan built around at most two vehicles
Recommended
- Large water containers, since two vehicles can carry a lot of water in
- Long sleeves and long pants tucked in against ticks, which can carry Lyme disease
- Electrolytes for summer days above 90 degrees
- A weather check, since rain closes vehicle access entirely
- Headlamps, given the one-hour-before-sunset arrival cutoff
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Manzanita Point
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
Browse all shuttles🧭
Guide Services
Experienced wilderness guides
Browse all guidesSome links may be affiliate links. Purchases support PermitSnag at no extra cost to you.
Key Landmarks
Coe Ranch Entrance and Visitor Center
The main entrance on an open ridge at 2,600 feet, 13 miles east of Morgan Hill on East Dunne Avenue.
Manzanita Point group camps
Eleven hike-in group camps with picnic tables, vault toilets and metal campfire rings.
China Hole
One of the park's popular hiking and swimming destinations — the park says the best swimming is 10-25 miles round trip over rugged terrain.
Poverty Flat
Another hike-in group camp approximately four miles from the entrance, for groups of 9 to 25, with a very strenuous 1,500-foot climb on the return.
Manzanita Point FAQ
How do I get a Manzanita Point permit?
Manzanita Point permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Manzanita Point?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Manzanita Point permit?
This permit has a demand score of 6/10, making it moderately competitive.
What if I can't get a Manzanita Point permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Manzanita Point.
Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunrise east over the canyons from the ridge, before the heat arrives.
Best Light
Spring, when the hills are green and the wildflowers are out across the Diablo Range.
Beat the Crowds
Spring weekends are Coe's busiest, but eleven separate group camps spread a lot of people out. Weekdays are usually much less busy.
Classic Shots
- 📍Layered ridges of the Coe backcountry at dawn
- 📍Manzanita and oak on the point
- 📍Spring wildflower slopes
- 📍A group camp with the canyons dropping away behind
- 📍The gated one-lane dirt road that gear vehicles use
Can't Get a Manzanita Point Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Henry W. Coe Backpacking Zone Permit
Same AreaFirst-come backpacking permits for designated sites within 1 to 7 1/2 miles of Coe Ranch, or dispersed zones further out.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
No group minimum and no advance booking, at $5 per person per night. But you carry everything, and there is no vehicle assistance at all.
Danielson Ranch Group Campground
Similar ExperienceA group campground in the Point Mugu backcountry, reached by trail from the Danielson Ranch trailhead.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A coastal Santa Monica Mountains alternative, far to the south.
Live Oak Campground
Easier AlternativeDrive-in campsites on Mount Diablo's South Gate corridor.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Drive-in convenience in the same mountain range, but individual sites rather than a group camp, and not backcountry.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Manzanita Point trip
A small favor
One tick helps us more than you’d think
Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our permit pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Add PermitSnag in Google
Takes less than a minute.