Somewhere above Coyote Lake, with the trail climbing through dry grass and oak shade, Gilroy began to open below me. The lake flashed blue through the trees as the hills rolled away in folds of gold and green. A deer stood on the trail ahead, ears lifted, watching me with the stillness of someone completely at home. For a few seconds, neither of us moved. Then it leapt away toward the brush and vanished into the shade.
That moment captures the feeling of hiking Gilroy’s east side. Just beyond town, the landscape gives way to rolling hills, quiet trails, open sky and views that stretch across the Santa Clara Valley. And after a morning spent exploring, some of Gilroy's most welcoming wineries are just a short drive away.
Where can you hike and go wine tasting on Gilroy’s east side?
Start at Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, where the Coyote Ridge and Mummy Mountain Trail climbs to sweeping views of Coyote Lake and the Santa Clara Valley. The loop is about 3.9 miles with roughly 564 feet of elevation gain and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. After a cool-down along the lake, it is a short drive to family-run East Side wineries like L&M Vineyard and Satori Cellars for an afternoon tasting and sunset views.
Getting to Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park
The drive into Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park prepares you for the day before the hike even begins. The road winds east from Gilroy and rises into the hills, bending past oaks and dry slopes. As you enter the park, there is a distinct hairpin bend near the Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear entrance, the kind of curve that makes you slow down and demands attention. After paying for parking, I continued toward the day-use area, pulled into the lot and took a few minutes to get ready.
What to Bring for the Mummy Mountain Hike
This is a hike worth preparing for properly. Water, sunscreen, a hat and hiking shoes make a difference, especially on a warm afternoon. The East Side sun is generous and the trail has stretches where shade comes and goes. Be sure to stay on marked paths, since poison oak grows in parts of the park — especially near narrower trail sections and shaded areas.
Hiking the Coyote Ridge and Mummy Mountain Trail
From the parking area, I walked toward the ranch side of the park, past the cattle gate and toward the trail access that leads up in the direction of Mummy Mountain.
The climb starts gently before gradually gaining elevation. First the road, then the trail, then the hills opening wider with every turn. Oak branches twist overhead. Dry grass gradually moves with the wind as your eyes lift up to watch birds circle high above the ridge. The lake appears, disappears and appears again.
The higher I went, the more of Gilroy came into view. From the ridge, the city revealed itself in pieces: fields, homes, vineyards, roads and the broad valley floor. Coyote Lake sat below, bright and calm, with few boats moving across the water. From that height, the East Side felt like one continuous landscape of trail, lake, ranchland, vineyards and wineries all belonging to the same sweep of place.
Best Time of Year to Hike Mummy Mountain
Mummy Mountain is a rewarding hike because it gives you both a workout and a point of view. It is a way to see Gilroy differently. In spring, the hillsides are softened by wildflowers. Later in the year, the colors turn drier and more elemental, with the tawny beauty of California hill country. Either way, the trail has a quiet pull of its own.
Exploring Coyote Lake
After coming down from the ridge, I spent time hiking around Coyote Lake itself. The lake offers a gentler second movement to the day. Families gathered near the water for a picnic. Boats cut pale lines across the surface. The shade along the shoreline felt welcome after the exposed climb.
For visitors who want a lighter outing, the lake area can make a satisfying short walk on its own. For those who hike Mummy Mountain first, it is the perfect place to cool down, take photographs and let the morning settle.
From Hiking Trail to Wine Trail: Gilroy’s East Side Wineries
By late afternoon, the day moved naturally from hiking trail to wine trail. That easy transition is one of Gilroy’s great pleasures. You can spend the morning outdoors, then reach nearby wineries without turning the day into a complicated itinerary. The Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail stretches from Gilroy toward San Jose and includes almost 40 wineries, with 16 in Gilroy alone. Each has its own personality, but the feeling that connects so many of them is warmth. Gilroy wine country is friendly, approachable and relaxed. Many wineries are family-owned or family-run, and that character changes the experience from the first hello.
Sunset Tasting at L&M Vineyard
I saved L&M Vineyard for the heart of the afternoon and sunset, and it quickly became the emotional center of the day. Set on an elevated slope, with wide views across the valley, L&M feels beautifully placed for golden hour. From the open-air pavilion, the vineyards fall away toward open farmland and distant hills. As the sun lowers, the rows of vines, the oaks and the ridges begin to gather color.
What stayed with me most was not only the scenic setting, but the warm welcome. I spent hours talking with Larry and Mandy, the owners of L&M Vineyard, with music in the background and the easy rhythm of a family-run winery unfolding around us. Their hospitality had none of the stiffness people sometimes associate with wine tasting. It felt personal, generous and unhurried.
That is part of what makes Gilroy wineries so appealing. You do not have to arrive as a wine expert or speak in polished tasting-room vocabulary. You can come as you are, dusty from a hike, curious about the valley, ready for a glass and a conversation. The mood is approachable rather than formal, and many of the people pouring the wine are close to the vines, the family story and the land itself. At L&M, a tasting became friendly conversation and that conversation became the memory I carried home.
Satori Cellars
Later, I made a quick touchdown at Satori Cellars, another nearby East Side stop with a colorful, relaxed personality. The setting had an inviting, playful charm: barrels, garden details, open space and the sense of a place made for lingering. It rounded out the evening without making the day feel rushed.
Plan Your East Side Gilroy Day Trip
By the time I looked back toward the hills, the morning hike and the evening tasting had begun to feel connected. Earlier, I had seen Gilroy from above through heat, dust and effort. At L&M, I saw the same valley softened by sunset, with a glass in hand and conversation carrying into the evening.
That is the beauty of this East Side route. It offers a real hike, a scenic lake stop, wildlife sightings, vineyard views and family-friendly wineries close by. Mummy Mountain gives the body a workout. Coyote Lake cools the pace. The wineries nearby bring the day into golden light.
