Coyote Valley is the narrow southern end of the Santa Clara Valley, about seven miles long and two miles wide, with Coyote Creek running through it. At its north end, the Coyote Gap, the two mountain ranges come within about 0.37 miles of each other, which makes the valley a vital crossing for animals. North Coyote Valley holds Laguna Seca, the largest freshwater wetland in Santa Clara County. In 2019 tule elk were found to have returned to the hills of south San Jose.
Plans for large-scale development in the early 2000s drew public opposition and were dropped. In 2021 the San Jose City Council and the county Board of Supervisors voted to protect Coyote Valley for open space and farming.