Manzanita Point Gear Checklist
The Manzanita Point group camps at Henry W. Coe State Park are a 2.5 to 2.7 mile walk from the Corral trailhead, and they are dry. Water, shelter that survives a wet ridge and a plan for a campfire ban are what the groups we read worried about. Three January and February gatherings of lightweight backpackers saw nights from 31 to 45 degrees and rain, and the park now bans wood and charcoal fires for the rest of this wildfire season.
What shapes your gear on Manzanita Point
- The walk in
- Groups walked from the Corral trailhead to the Manzanita Point sites, which they logged at about 2.7 miles in two reports and 2.5 miles in the third. The camp sits at roughly 2,270 feet. The park says up to two vehicles may drive to the campsite when conditions allow.
From Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park, Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California, Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA and California State Parks
- Water
- The sites have no water. Treated water is available at the park headquarters, and the park warns that finding water in the backcountry is hard in summer. Gathering organizers hauled in 50 to 80 gallons by truck and set out jugs for everyone.
From Backpacking Light forum: Official GGG Thread, Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park, Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California and California State Parks
- Night temperatures
- Evenings at the three winter gatherings ran from 31 to 45 degrees, with daytime highs around 50 to 60. The park puts typical winter lows in the 30s and says to dress in layers.
From Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park, Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California, Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA and California State Parks
- Fire and stoves
- As of June 12, 2026 the park does not allow wood or charcoal campfires for the rest of wildfire season, and never allows them in the backcountry. Gas stoves are permitted.
- Booking and rules
- The group camps are reserved through ReserveCalifornia and cost $75 per night with five vehicles included. Dogs are not allowed at the group camps. Organizers' notes say each site holds up to 50 people and has fire rings, picnic tables and a nearby pit toilet.
From California State Parks and Backpacking Light forum: Official GGG Thread
What the agency requires on Manzanita Point
No wood or charcoal campfires
The park says wood and charcoal campfires are off limits for the remainder of this wildfire season and never allowed in the backcountry. Gas stoves and gas fire pits remain allowed.
Dogs stay home
The park lists the Manzanita Point group camps among the places where dogs are not allowed.
What hikers carry on Manzanita Point
Water containers sized for the whole stay
The camps are dry. The organizer's notes tell groups to bring containers for everything they will drink, and the 2012 and 2013 gatherings relied on a volunteer's truck carrying a large water tank.
From Backpacking Light forum: Official GGG Thread, Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park and Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California
A gas or alcohol stove
The 2016 group cooked on canister, alcohol and solid-fuel stoves, and the park now allows only gas appliances for flame. A vendor at the 2013 gathering ran a wood-burning stove all night, which the current ban would not allow.
From Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA, Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California and California State Parks
A shelter that stays dry in rain and gusts
In January 2016 a group sat through steady rain with gusts around 15 mph. Pyramid and mid-style shelters and a bivy stayed dry, while a cheap two-person tent leaked and soaked its owner's gear. People also hung a very large tarp over the picnic area to socialize.
From Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA
A sleep system for the low 30s
The 2013 gathering recorded evening lows down to 31 degrees. A 2012 writer lay in a bivy under a quilt and felt the chill at dawn even in mild weather.
From Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California and Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park
A headlamp with fresh batteries
Hikers kept arriving at the group camp until about 1:30 a.m. in 2013, some by moonlight, and a 2012 group hiked in on Friday night. The 2013 writer suggested hanging glow sticks on the camp sign.
From Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California and Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park
Rain jacket and rain cover
Weather swings from year to year. In 2013 the forecast gave a 20 to 30 percent chance of rain and only two brief sprinkles fell, while in 2016 steady rain on Friday kept most people under shelters. The 2016 gear table included a rain suit and a pack rain cover.
From Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California and Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA
Your own toilet paper and wipes
The sites have pit toilets. In 2012 the organizer personally stocked the pit toilet with rolls, wipes and glow sticks, so a group without such a volunteer should bring its own.
From Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park and Backpacking Light forum: Official GGG Thread
A camp chair
The organizer's gathering notes tell attendees to bring one. Each site has picnic tables and a fire ring.
Going as a group? Split this list between you so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Manzanita Point
A cheap tent that is not really waterproof
One camper pitched an inexpensive nylon two-person tent that leaked terribly in the rain. His gear was soaked, and he ended up sleeping under the big shared tarp.
From Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA
An unsecured tarp in the wind
A strong gust ripped the grommets and stakes out of the large tarp in 2016, and a crowd grabbed it before securing it with a heavy fallen branch and a picnic table. Guy lines and heavy anchors would have saved the scramble.
From Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA
Counting on a campfire for warmth
The 2012 writer says the previous year would have been cold and miserable without trucked-in firewood, and that gathering wood in the park is not allowed. With the current ban on wood and charcoal fires, warmth has to come from clothes and bags.
From Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park and California State Parks
Not knowing your site number
Two hikers in 2016 walked past group sites 4 and 5 to the end of the trail before turning around. In 2013, rumor had it that a few people slept at the previous year's site by mistake.
From Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA and Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California
Gear questions for Manzanita Point
Is there drinking water at the Manzanita Point group camps?
No. The sites are dry. Treated water is at the park headquarters, so bring containers, and plan to treat anything you take from the backcountry.
From Backpacking Light forum: Official GGG Thread and California State Parks
Can you drive to the Manzanita Point group camps?
Mostly no. They are hike-in sites, but the park says up to two vehicles may drive in to the campsite when conditions allow. Past organizers had to haul everything in one trip.
From California State Parks, Backpacking Light forum: Official GGG Thread and Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California
Are campfires allowed at Manzanita Point?
Not right now. As of June 12, 2026 the park bans wood and charcoal fires for the rest of wildfire season. Gas stoves are allowed.
How cold does it get at Manzanita Point in winter?
Evening readings at three winter gatherings ranged from 31 to 45 degrees. The park says winter lows are in the 30s and winter days are wet.
From Backpacking Light forum: 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park, Backpacking Light forum: 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California, Backpacking Light forum: 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA and California State Parks
Can you bring a dog to Manzanita Point?
No. The park does not allow dogs at the Manzanita Point hike-in group camps.
Sources
- Henry W. Coe State Park · California State Parks · Agency
- Official GGG Thread · Backpacking Light forum, Ken Thompson · Forum thread
- 4th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2012: Henry Coe State Park · Backpacking Light forum, Tony Wong · Trip report
- 5th Annual Gathering of Gear Geeks 2013: Henry Coe State Park, California · Backpacking Light forum, Tony Wong · Trip report
- 8th Annual 2016 Gathering of Gear Geeks: Henry Coe State Park, CA · Backpacking Light forum, Tony Wong · Trip report