1 big loop, 100 miles, +20,000 ft of elevation gain and loss
The 100 mile route is shown on the map below, at the bottom of this page. If you plan to use a GPS to navigate, please use this GPX file and a cue sheet. As of 2012, there is also a metric version - 100 km, or about 63 miles, long (GPX file). As of 2018, there are 40 miles (Singletrack Special - 10k climbing, GPX file Strava Route) and 50 miles (Half COEre - 10k climbing, GPX file, Strava Route) routes.
The start is at the Hunting Hollow parking lot (indicated by the red marker on the map) - note that there is a $6 parking fee. Here's a short hand notation of the route and trails covered:
Hunting Hollow Parking Lot > Hunting Hollow Road > Lyman-Willson Trail > Bowl > Steer Ridge Road > Spike Jones Trail > Timm Trail > Coit Road > Anza Trail > Coit Road > Coit Spring Trail > Cross Canyon Trail > Willow Ridge Road > Hoover Lake Trail > Willow Ridge Trail > Narrows Trail > Lost Spring Trail > China Hole Trail > Manzanita Point Road > HQ > Manzanita Point Road > Flat Frog Trail > Hobbs Road > Middle Ridge Trail > Poverty Flat Road > Schafer Corral Trail > Narrows Trail > Blue Ridge Road > Bear Mountain Road > County Line Road > Mississippi Lake Trail > Willow Ridge Road > Pacheco Ridge Road > Heritage Trail > Pacheco Creek Trail > Coit Road > Pacheco Ridge Road > Phoneline Trail > Coit Road > County Line Road > Turkey Pond Trail > County Line Road > Dutch's Trail > Yellowjacket Trail > Tie Down Trail > North Fork Trail > Kaiser-Aetna Road > Burra Burra Trail > Center Flats Road > Wagon Road > Live Oak Spring Trail > Coit Road > Crest Trail > Kelly Lake Trail > Coit Road > Wasno Road > Dexter Trail > Grizzly Gulch Trail > Grizzly Gulch Road > Wagon Road > Vasquez Road > Long Dam Trail > Wagon Road > Hunting Hollow Road to Parking Lot.
Advice: don't think about attempting this unless you are able to navigate on your own (using maps, GPS or memory) and get out of Coe by yourself if needed. It is not a good place to take wrong turns, get lost or rely on others for your well-being.
The cue sheet contains detailed directions and the mileages for all segments of the route.
Route highlights
The route can be thought of to consist of 4 legs: 1) Hunting Hollow (HH) to Headquarters (HQ), 2) HQ to Pacheco Camp (PC), 3) PC past Dowdy Ranch (DR) to the top of Wagon road, and 4) Wagon back to HH.
Regarding logistics: both HQ and DR have potable water (no need for filtering), HQ has a coffee and vending machine (accessible during office hours), PC has a reliable source of water but needs filtering or chemical treatment, and there are many small ponds and lakes along the way with varying degrees of water quality and level that can be used to source water for filtering.
Coe hazards (or highlights, depending how you look at it) include mountain lions, rattlesnakes, wild boar, deer, ticks, poison oak, sharp snagging branches and other overgrowth, and of course: brutally steep trails.
Click below for more detail on the various parts of the route:
[+] Leg 1: HH to HQ (36 miles)
A lot of slow, hard stuff (the Lyman-Willson climb, the Cross Canyon climb(s), the Mahoney Meadows wall to Lost Spring) is served up front. Some of the more technical descents such as Timm* and the traverse of Cross Canyon should provide a good challenge. Cross Canyon, Willow Ridge trail and China Hole offer awesome and fast descents.
(*) Sadly, in early 2012 Timm trail has been somewhat 'neutered', but it remains a fun and flowy descent.
[+] Leg 2: HQ to PC (24 miles)
This part combines one of the best and longest descents of the day (Middle Ridge) with arguably the most grueling climb (Bear Mountain). After scaling Bear Mountain, the route drops the riders to Mississippi Lake (another good source of water - requiring filtering); subsequently, at times primitive trails (Heritage, upper Pacheco Creek trail) lead back southwards to Pacheco Camp.
[+] Leg 3: PC to top Wagon (20 miles)
Probably the make-it or break-it part. It features a deep dive into the Coe backcountry, with as main highlight undoubtedly Dutch's trail: a truly great descent, with some short but stinging climbs mixed in. Near North Fork trail one ends up at the lowest point of the entire route (in elevation, possibly also in morale), leaving a brutal, no-prisoners-taken climb out to Dowdy Ranch and beyond. Burra Burra trail provides some fun singletrack, and a break from the climbing action, but Center (non-)Flats road has a tendency to squeeze all remaining energy out of ones legs.
[+] Leg 4: Wagon to HH (20 miles)
The 'easy' leg, and something to look forward to during the butchery of the preceding miles: it features mostly gradual (for Coe standards) fireroad climbs, and highly entertaining, fun singletrack descents (Kelly Lake trail, Dexter trail), with a long descent home on Wagon road. Oh yes, but with a 500ft tall twist at the end.
How long will it take me?
Coe tends to slow one down - too many bumpy and steep trails, wet creeks, wildlife running in the way, assorted hazards and nice photo opportunities. Fast experienced riders should count on 15-16 hours (self-supported). Check the recaps for more insight - it may take over 20 hours. You may be a lot faster though, only one way to find out!