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Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2008: Bikepacking in Henry Coe State Park

Bicycle camping in the backcountry of Henry Coe State Park in early September can be a hot, desert-like experience—brutal, but beautiful. It hasn't rained here in four months.

The thermometer rose above 100 degrees F several days in a row during this one-week trip and I didn't see another person for six days.

The trip started at Henry Coe's Hunting Hollow entrance. I camped three nights at Paradise Lake, three nights at Pacheco Camp and the final night at China Hole, before the ride back home to downtown San José. Two days were used for day hikes.

Though I commute to work by bicycle, I've hardly done any longer bike rides since my last Mojave National Preserve trip four months ago, so I could be in better shape. No worry, this adventure will whip me into shape soon enough...