The trail is The only other thing along Los Gatos Creek Trail that stands out in my mind is the tiny Los Gatos Creek Dog Park. There are at least a couple of good mountain biking trails that connect to this route, but you'd be better off planning to ride those on their own, since any rider who'd be interested in the ease of this ride would find those too challenging, and any rider who'd think of those side trips as the main attraction wouldn't see any interest in the rest of this reservoir loop. The trail passes through a number of jurisdictions. I live a short walk from Los Gatos Creek, well downstream of Lexington, in San Jos. The first settlers, a Spanish family arriving in 1839, were scouting for a homestead in the area when they heard mountain lions roaring and fighting. It's easy to navigate, and you can venture here by foot or by bike. Its one thing to have the power out for a day, its another thing to get one evacuation warning after another, after another, after another and even if youre OK, you dont know whether or not your neighbors are OK, said Flaherty. Portions of the Los Gatos Creek Trail in Campbell and Los Gatos are now closed because of spillover from the . Now, the Main Street establishment offers a robust drink. At the Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos, crowds gathered Monday to see what was happening, while maybe worrying a little bit about whats next. The only "real climb" along the ride is as you approach the farthest point of the reservoir. The reason I park in Los Gatos is out of habit more than anything else, and it also provides the benefit of not having to drive more and park again if you want to grab a bite at the end of the ride. The Guadalupe River Trail can be reached by travelling east on the nice bike trail on Willow Avenue, turning left onto Delmas Avenue and then right onto Virginia Avenue. It's a very popular destination for picnics and other kinds of low-intensity outdoor fun. . After travelling under Highway 85, the trail next enters Los Gatos Creek County Park. There are mile markers. and. At Lexington Reservoir, follow the steep and rocky 1.5-mile climb up to the 1,250-foot summit of St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve, where there are dramatic views of the creek and valley.. The trail then passes the 1854 Forbes Mill, which houses a history museum. A bike/pedestrian bridge across Highway 17 connects to the trail at this point; the bridge leads to Bascom Avenue in the city of San Jose.[1]. Los Gatos Creek Trail to Saint Josephs Hill is a loop trail that is moderately difficult located near Los Gatos, California. Small waterfalls show how saturated the ground still is and drivers have to make their way through many spots of standing water. The Town of Los Gatos has applied for grants to improve this access. It's true that you'll be doing more uphill pedaling through these in the return half of the ride than you do in the first half. High winds also made driving difficult. You'll notice on the elevation profile above that you actually lose about 250 feet in the first half of the ride and then gain it back on the return, but this is mild enough to be unnoticeable even for casual bikers. Besides the Los Gatos Creek, emergency officials are also monitoring the Uvas and Little Llagas Creeks in south Santa Clara County. Los Gatos Creek Trail. The north portion of this trail is for pedestrians only as it is windy and goes down to the stream level in several places. in pittsburgh, forced evacuations overnight. 01/17/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2023 22:18. This is a flat ride on a paved trail that is easy enough to be undertaken by the entire family (at least in portions) and long enough to constitute a reasonable option as a light workout for experienced riders. officials are trying to release all of this water out of their swollen reservoirs faster than the rain is filling them up. The vegetation is frequently thick around the trail and there are a moderately high number of turns and curves, which means that the possibility of encountering a biker approaching from the opposite direction around a curve at 25 MPH while you're trying to pass to the left of some pedestrians while doing 25 MPH or close to it yourself is made a prospect scary enough to discourage you from high speeds on this trail. . 17770 Alma Bridge Rd Los Gatos, CA 95032 Park Office: (408) 355-2375 Lexington Reservoir County Park is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains above the Town of Los Gatos. Its causing some issues because the ground is so saturated and our reservoirs a lot of them are full, said Marty Grimes of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. If you're okay with riding the 1.5-mile gravel portion of Los Gatos Creek Trail that is south of Los Gatos, this can be connected to an easy and fairly pleasant 8-mile road loop around Lexington Reservoir. maybe ever. However, stream resident coastal rainbow trout populations remain in the portions of the creek maintaining permanent flow, just below and above of Lexington Reservoir. Creating its own thread because the lil crik is incredible this year. Useful Funny Cool Matilde O. Small Town Service | Community Stewardship | Future Focus. The City of San Jose suggests that trail users connect from the main trail to the northernmost segment by exiting the main trail at Willow, approximately 0.8mi (1.3km) short of the terminus on Meridian, then proceeding north/east along Willow to Lonus via Glen Eyrie and Lincoln.[4]. 102 Creekside Village Drive, LOS GATOS, CA Sold $1,620,000 Lot Size 1,804 sqft Home Size 1,348 sqft Beds 2 Beds Baths 3 Baths Year Built 2005 318 Creekside Village Drive, LOS GATOS, CA Sold $1,655,000 Lot Size 3,050 sqft Home Size 1,348 sqft Beds 2 Beds Baths 3 Baths Year Built 2005 See all Creekside Village . It then crosses from the east to the west of Highway 17 via a dedicated bridge. Oak Meadow Park. A paved trail which leads you south to Old Town, to access the Lexington Reservoir/Dam trail. Take a look at the whole trail from the beginning to end. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There aren't many distractions along this trail. River and creek levels across California continued to fall. There used to be a "walk your bikes" sign for this stretch in the downhill direction, which disappeared a while ago and hasn't been replaced since. From Santa Clara Valley, take the Bear Creek Road exit and proceed over the overpass and re-enter Highway 17 north. rescue crews used rubber boats to bring 12 people to safety . The water district said it is releasing more than 3,200 gallons a second -- enough to prevent the reservoir from flooding but also keeping in mind to protect the Los Gatos Creek Trail from being overwhelmed. Enjoy this 10.1-mile point-to-point trail near Los Gatos, California. Parking, restrooms, playgrounds, picnic areas and trail access. All rights reserved. If you live in Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Lexington Hills, Cambrian Park, Saratoga, Campbell, Lompico, Fruitdale, Zayante, Cupertino, Boulder Creek or Brookdale you're less than 10 miles from Lexington Reservoir. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Its next named tributaries are Hooker Gulch Creek, Moody Gulch and Hendrys Creek, also joining from the north, before Los Gatos Creek enters Lexington Reservoir. It is 3.8 miles and makes for a great way to get exercise and relax in nature. Travel east on W. Virginia Avenue until you reach the termination of the Guadalupe River Trail, which is on the northside of W. Virginia Ave, just east of the bridge over highway 87. In Los Gatos, Vasona Reservoir is another reservoir along the creek located in Vasona Park, one of the most popular parks in the Santa Clara County parks system. Not long after leaving Vasona Park behind, the vegetation grows less dense; while there's still plenty of it on either side of the trail, it's no longer thick enough to provide shade over the trail itself in the "northern" half of the trail. Basically, you might have to circle around a little bit before you find a place to park. The Los Gatos segment of this trail has several access points: On this trail, you'll be more likely to polish your track-standing and crowd-weaving skills instead. Vista Trail is a loop trail where you may see wildflowers located near Los Gatos, California. A 3,35 km . The resumed trail travels north under I-280. Los Gatos, California Hike Los Gatos Trail to Jones Trail Loop 3.8 mi / 511 ft gain This trail winds its way along the Los Gatos Creek and ends at the Lexington Reservoir before looping back to the start. Read more . The Guadalupe River then continues onward into San Francisco Bay. In the last quarter of the loop around the reservoir (about a quarter mile before the Bear Creek Road interchange), you'll notice that the route starts to follow a trail right alongside the paved road instead. Sign up for NBC Bay Areas Housing Deconstructed newsletter. The trail includes nice shady spots, a gazebo and an exercise circuit when you go towards, It goes through several parks, Vasona Lake and goes between mountains and up to, I heard that they opened a new section of the trail near downtown San. The dam and reservoir were completed in 1952. At the end of the trail is the Lexington Reservoir, with views that make the hike worthwhile. The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a 9.7-mile (15.6 km) pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs through western Santa Clara County in California, from Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos, California through Campbell, California to Meridian Avenue in San Jose, California alongside Los Gatos Creek. One important word of warning is about the popularity of the trail. That's not your only option. 408.356.2729 Lexington Reservoir County Park is a scenic 960-acre park and reservoir in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Santa Clara County. In 1866, extreme flooding of the Los Gatos Creek caused it to naturally cut a new channel in what is now the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, running west and north of its original channel. Mount El Sombroso via Kennedy Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Los Gatos, California. In the 1920s, people discovered that Santa Clara Valley was sinking because of groundwater pumping. Here, along with rainbow trout, beaver, bobcats (Lynx rufus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and puma (Puma concolor) are extant. The ground is saturated causing trees fall and Lexington Reservoir is spilling over resulting in high creek levels and flooded trails in certain areas . When you reach the top of Lexington Dam, you start a clockwise road loop of the reservoir. 250yd (230m) to the north, there is an access point and a parking lot with a few spaces meant for the trail next to a small park north of Old Town that can be reached via Miles Avenue.[1]. As the trail reaches downtown Los Gatos, the first access point is at the Main Street bridge. In fact, this entire ride could be done as part of just such a day at Vasona Park. Start at the entrance on Meridian Ave and bike all the way up to Lexington Reservoir. Visitors admit being torn about whats causing this scenic attraction. Mudslides and falling trees near roads were all over the area around Uvas Reservoir in Morgan Hill where the storm has hit especially hard. It is worth a visit whether you are hiking on Los Gatos Creek Trail or not. From this point northward the trail is paved. This is a popular trail for road biking, running, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. . The park includes a 475-acre reservoir which can be traversed in rowboats, sailboards or electric powered boats. This trail winds its way along the Los Gatos Creek and ends at the Lexington Reservoir before looping back to the start. [15] Historical evidence of beaver in the area includes reference by Captain John Sutter who around 1840 recorded that 1,500 beaver pelts were sold "at a trifling value" by the Indians to Mission San Jos, the latter only 25 miles from the town of Los Gatos. Los Gatos Creek Trail. In spite of these events, much of the creek maintains its natural course and beauty. There are multiple free public parking lots around downtown Los Gatos, though they fill up quickly on nice weekends. The Santa Clara Valley Water District reservoir system has now raised water tables sufficiently that lower Los Gatos Creek once again supports steelhead trout. We haven't seen anything like this in more than 10 years maybe.. This duplex is located in a private court (private cul-de-sac street) and is part of Foothills of Los Gatos community. The time the Lexington Reservoir was this full was back in 2011 before the drought. Los Gatos Creek Trail follows its namesake creek from Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos all the way to the vicinity of Fruitdale. Austrian Gulch, Hooker Gulch Creek, Hendrys Creek, Soda Springs Creek, Limekiln Canyon Creek, This page was last edited on 11 November 2022, at 19:54. Colleges & Universities Distance; Colleges & Universities Distance; . Among other things, it contains a historic miniature railroad and a vintage merry-go-round, and the reservoir lake allows boating and fishing. Fish were plentiful for the first settlers of Los Gatos Creek. Back at the reservoir, the Gapasin family called the intense rain an encouraging sign. MVP: microshift Advent XThe system just works wonderfullythe shifts are fast and confident, the removal of the front derailleur had made gears simpler, and the bike feels lighter. We need the rain.. With the water district releasing a cautious 100-or-so gallons a second to protect the smaller creeks and waterways here from getting flooded. This bridge connects the trail into central downtown San Jose. abruptly coming to an end. This section provides a key link for the trail as a whole, connecting Willow Glen and Downtown and removing the previous surface-street crossing of I-280. Opening this bridge will allow connection to the northern section of the Los Gatos Creek Trail without requiring travel on busy Lincoln Avenue. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. However, stream resident rainbow trout may produce offspring which become anadromous. Chinook salmon leaping passage barrier on Los Gatos Creek in December 2018, Location of the mouth of Los Gatos Creek in California, List of watercourses in the San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Los Gatos Creek, "Measuring Land Subsidence From Space, USGS Fact Sheet-051-00", "Signs of Life: The creek that welcomed a town finally gets some tender loving care", "Historical distribution and current status of steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in streams of the San Francisco Estuary, California", "Resident rainbow trout produce anadromous offspring in a large interior watershed", Endangered and Threatened Species; Threatened Status for Two Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) in California, Final 2007 Recovery Outline for the ESU of CC Chinook Salmon, "Castor canadensis subauratus USNM 580354", Guadalupe River Watershed Mercury TMDL Project, 2014 Video on homeless problem and creek clean-ups progress, Los Gatos Creek & Guadalupe River Watershed maps page at Guide to San Francisco Bay Area Creeks, Video of Chinook Salmon running up Los Gatos Creek in Willow Glen in 1996, Santa Clara Valley Water District Homepage, Santa Clara Valley Water District's Guadalupe Watershed, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, Transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Los_Gatos_Creek_(Santa_Clara_County)&oldid=1121343646, Tributaries of Guadalupe River (California), Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Both chinook and steelhead have been spotted as far up the creek as Hamilton Avenue (see inset photo). You'll find a few of them sandwiched between N. Santa Cruz Avenue and University Avenue near Main Street, for instance. But the Uvas Reservoir, like Lexington, is an impressive sight. When you think about it, it's actually fairly remarkable that you can ride your bike into the heart of Silicon Valley on an uninterrupted trail for eight miles without having to encounter motor-vehicle traffic (with the exception of two minor street crossings, both of which will be left behind by the time you're past Vasona Park). As a Caltrans magazine from the era describes it: "Included in this project is a relocation of Los Gatos Creek for a distance of 6,000 feet, requiring a concrete line channel." An 11-mile biking and walking parkway leading from Lexington Reservoir to downtown San Jose, the Los Gatos Creek Trail serves as an important green transportation corridor for the Valley. Only two creeks, both in San Joaquin County, were above flood stage Tuesday. Northward the trail heads towards Forbes Mill, the footbridge, Old Town, Vasona and on to San Jose. It's just an easy ride option that's removed from heavy traffic and that offers some "lake views". The Los Gatos Creek sub watershed drains 55.1 square miles (143km2). The Los Gatos Creek Trail runs along the river from Lexington Reservoir to the Guadalupe River near downtown San Jose and is popular among local hikers and bicyclists. 654 Vasona Ave house in Los Gatos,CA, is available for rent. The ground is saturated causing trees fall and Lexington Reservoir is spilling over resulting in high creek levels and flooded trails in certain areas. There is no climbing on this ride. Request Details . Suggest edits to improve what we show. The trails is operated by the County of Santa Clara Park Department, City of Campbell, Town of Los Gatos and the City of San Jose. 14.6 Turn righton Alma Bridge Road. The route shown on this page is an out-and-back ride on this trail starting from downtown Los Gatos and turning back from its northern end point. Los Gatos Creek Trail 1970 Willow St (at Leigh Ave) San Jose, CA 95125 United States Get directions Likely open (See when people check in) You might also like Almaden Quicksilver County Park Trail Almaden Quicksilver County Park 8.8 "One of the best spots in the South Bay for a day hike! There are no life more. You might need some patience as you cover this portion of the ride on a crowded weekend. [17] Cooper lived in Mountain View, California from October to December 1855 and collected most of his specimens on Saratoga Creek (then "Quito Creek"). With metered parking, watch out for time limits. While it isn't anything that road bikes can't handle, those with really fancy wheels may shun that portion of the trail. Starting from the south and progressing north: There are two trails between Lexington Reservoir and downtown Los Gatos. This 9.7 mile trail stretches from Meridian Ave in San Jose to Vasona Lake County Park in Campbell to the Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos. When the reservoir's water level is low, the concrete bed of the old highway through those towns can be seen, along with foundations from some buildings. Belgatos Park Loop is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Los Gatos, California. The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a 9.7mile (15.6km) pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs through western Santa Clara County in California, from Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos, California through Campbell, California to Meridian Avenue in San Jose, California alongside Los Gatos Creek. Official websites use .gov United States. Below Lexington Dam Los Gatos Creek flows northeast and is joined immediately by Trout Creek (left) then, north of Blossom Hill Road, it flows into Vasona Reservoir in Los Gatos, which is formed by Vasona Dam. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Is swimming something that can be accomplished? There's a half-mile climb here that averages 8% grade. [1] The Jones and Flume trail connect with Novitiate Park and the St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve. The Los Gatos Creek Trail runs along Los Gatos Creek continuously from Lexington dam to Meridian Avenue, with an isolated segment from Lonus Streeet, under I-280 to Auzerias Avenue. See options 260 opiniones . There is a limited amount of parking available in Novitiate Park and at the end of Jones Road. But once you are on the "main street" (as designated by the sign at the beginning of the trail), the trail is mostly flat. The San Jose stretch is 1.9 miles, while the Campbell stretch is 9.3 miles. Currently, only fishing and boating are allowed. This goes beyond a prudish compliance with the official bicycle speed limit (which is 15 MPH). The first half-mile offers a significant drop in elevation. Miles Avenue The one exception that stands out is the Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos. One final option that I'm aware of is to follow Montevina Road west of Highway 17 from Lexington Dam up to El Sereno Open Space, though that option takes you over a lot more climbing on pavement before you reach any dirt trail. You might opt to shoot for parking closer to the entrance first, and leave the downtown Los Gatos parking as a backup option, for instance. The ride starts in Los Gatos by parking in the downtown area. While simultaneously dealing with the demands of growing cities, the water district finally managed to stop further sinking by the 1980s. Crews were busy in Los Gatos cleaning up a large tree on Winchester and Newell that fell onto the roadway. I am so glad I switched to this 1x10 system instead of holding on to my old 3x8 system. We are excited that California is finally recovering from the drought, said Jelena Gapasin of Campbell. Los Gatos Creek Trail 4.5 260 #4 of 144 things to do in San Jose Hiking Trails Visit website Write a review About Paved trail great for running: cuts through parks, ponds, and downtown Los Gatos. Also in the 1950s, the construction of the James J. Lenihan Dam formed Lexington Reservoir, which flooded much of a small valley above Los Gatos, including the former townsites of Lexington and Alma. The trail next heads through San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood, ending at Meridian Avenue. [11], Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) that migrate up the Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek from San Francisco Bay. Los Gatos Creek Trail Facts States: California Counties: Santa Clara Length: 10.7 miles Trail end points: Lonus St. to W. San Carlos St. (San Jose) and Meridian Ave. to Lexington Reservoir Trail surfaces: Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel Trail category: Rail-Trail ID: 6241074 Activities: Bike Inline Skating Wheelchair Accessible Walking Go Unlimited But, the steep spot is over before you know it. It then flows northwesterly to Lake Elsman, a reservoir owned by the San Jose Water Company,[4] then on to Holy City and Chemeketa Park, then northward into the Lexington Reservoir. The connection is via University Avenue and Miles Avenue, which is south of Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. Education. North, the trail takes you to Oak Meadow Park and Vasona County Park (1.2 miles). (Jan. 16, 2023) At the Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos, crowds gathered Monday to see what was happening, while maybe worrying a little bit about what's next. dirt and debris slammed into that home, forcing evacuations. This doesn't add much to the ride but (to me) is better than riding on pavement. Lexington Reservoir Near Los Gatos is located in Santa Clara County in California. The Los Gatos Creek Trail runs along the river from Lexington Reservoir to the Guadalupe River near downtown San Jose and is popular among local hikers and bicyclists. Local reservoirs were built to provide water for an aggressive groundwater recharge program. Highest level in 20 years. From Lexington Dam to San Jose Visit Website Instagram; Facebook; The trail goes through Campbell Park. You'll also find a few non-motorized scooters along the way. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 4 h 8 min to complete. The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a 9.7-mile (15.6 km) pedestrian and bicycle trail that runs through western Santa Clara County in California, from Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos, California through Campbell, California to Meridian Avenue in San Jose, California alongside Los Gatos Creek. However, what bikes there are often are townies or have training wheels installed. The fishing regulatory body for . These not only provide some water scenery for trail users, but also allow the use of radio-controlled model boats, in addition to regular boating and fishing. the drivers maneuver around the boulders. And, with the exception of a couple of short connecting trails in St. Joseph's Hill, none of these will satiate any craving for singletrack. Starting in 1998, I made web pages on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Lexington Reservoir spillway in the Santa Cruz Mountains spills over for the first time since 2019. . On street parking only. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp.