some relief from the clobbering from one storm after another in the bay area. But, the steep spot is over before you know it. 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. As the trail reaches downtown Los Gatos, the first access point is at the Main Street bridge. look at this. 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. It was a nice cool day with lots of people out! Both chinook and steelhead have been spotted as far up the creek as Hamilton Avenue (see inset photo). The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a little hidden gem. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. There are mile markers on the Los Gatos Creek trail, with the mile zero marker being located about 100 feet (30m) north of the trailhead from Alma Bridge Road. It's also the unofficial town promenade for Los Gatos. There are mile markers. The portion of the trail south of Los Gatos has a gravel surface, though. As you can see from the elevation plot, it mostly fluctuates around a constant level with numerous minor climbs. The trail passes through multi-jurisdictions and is operated by the Town of Los Gatos, County of Santa Clara Park Department,City of Campbell, and City of San Jose. Parking, restrooms, playgrounds, picnic areas and trail access. "Some parts of the trail are certainly going to be underwater so people should not be using those trails and staying away from those areas that are close to the creek, said Grimes. The reason for doing the loop in this direction is a weak one: It will put you on the side of the road closer to the water and may, therefore, let you catch views of the lake a little more easily; and it also might mean that it will come more naturally to catch the brief singletrack portion along the highway (see below) since you'll already be on the side of the road where the singletrack begins and ends. That's not your only option. 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. Its good to see this. All rights reserved. [7][8] The valley's aquifers were also in danger of being ruined by saltwater infiltration. Sign up for NBC Bay Areas Housing Deconstructed newsletter. The pond is stocked with DFG fish. The Los Gatos Creek Park is located in Campbell, a city that is bisected by Los Gatos Creek. From north to south, the trail runs through Campbell Park (3 blocks from downtown Cambpell), Los Gatos Creek Park, Vascona Lake Park, and downtown Los Gatos, and then travels 3 miles gently into the hills, ending at Lexington Reservoir/Dam. However, it's a paid parking lot. Northward the trail heads towards Forbes Mill, the footbridge, Old Town, Vasona and on to San Jose. Los Gatos Creek Trail Features: Hilly Iconic Multi-Use Trails Categories: Rails-to-Trails This is a nearly 10 mile paved bicycle and running path that starts 3 miles south of San Jose and continues south into the hills of Los Gatos. The suggested parking location to which I've linked on this page is just street parking in town. It's easy to navigate, and you can venture here by foot or by bike. Although some have asserted that the Chinook salmon in the Guadalupe River watershed (which includes Los Gatos Creek) are strays from Central Valley hatcheries, a 1992-1994 genetic study of 29 fish showed that some have haplotypes not found in Central Valley wild or hatchery salmon, but found in the Russian River. Here, along with rainbow trout, beaver, bobcats (Lynx rufus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and puma (Puma concolor) are extant. ShareLink Copied Map. We haven't seen anything like this in more than 10 years maybe.. Take a look at the whole trail from the beginning to end. The trail is heavily used. This home sits on a 2.10 acre lot. [1] The portion on the east side is the Jones Trail near the reservoir, connecting to the Flume Trail, which leads to downtown Los Gatos. The one exception that stands out is the Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos. There aren't many distractions along this trail. It's great to just hang out with your pole in the water regardless of catching fish or not. Limekiln Trail is an out-and-back trail that is moderately difficult located near Los Gatos, California. abruptly coming to an end. The fishing regulatory body for . The Santa Clara Valley Water District reservoir system has now raised water tables sufficiently that lower Los Gatos Creek once again supports steelhead trout. [20] Los Gatos Creek originates at 2,350 feet (720m) on Loma Prieta Mountain in the Santa Cruz Mountains and flows west to the minor Williams Reservoir above Lake Elsman (also a reservoir formed by Austrian Dam), where it is joined from the north by Austrian Gulch. It adds a nice little bit of singletrack seasoning to the ride. The trail is There's also the Los Gatos Creek tail, right on the edge of downtown. Currently, only fishing and boating are allowed. The trail goes through Campbell Park. @danncianca. Los Gatos Creek Trail. Contents 1 The route The trails are operated by the County of Santa Clara Park Department, the City of Campbell, the Town of Los Gatos and the City of San Jose. 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. The trail then passes the 1854 Forbes Mill, which houses a history museum. Opening this bridge will allow connection to the northern section of the Los Gatos Creek Trail without requiring travel on busy Lincoln Avenue. However, what bikes there are often are townies or have training wheels installed. 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. The time the Lexington Reservoir was this full was back in 2011 before the drought. They discovered the creek and built a home in what is now Vasona Lake County Park. Lexington Reservoir spillway in the Santa Cruz Mountains spills over for the first time since 2019. . . There is no climbing on this ride. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 4 h 8 min to complete. 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. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. In Willow Glen Los Gatos Creek is joined by Dry Creek (left) then, after crossing Interstate 280, El Camino Real and The Alameda, it joins the Guadalupe River in the Guadalupe River Park. This is pretty incredible weather, said Ray Gapasin of Campbell. 57 . Locked padlock lantos tunnel. Small Town Service | Community Stewardship | Future Focus. Los Gatos Creek Trail also continues south from the starting point of this ride. No hidden gems are to be found along this ride, and there is no special bonus for mountain bikers. The Los Gatos segment of this trail has several access points: East Main Street at College Avenue A wide dirt trail that leads to Lexington Reservoir (1.8 miles) or the St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve to the south. The trail passes through a number of jurisdictions. dirt and debris slammed into that home, forcing evacuations. The trail is heavily used. It's more popular with joggers and strollers than it is with bikers, though it has no shortage of bikes either. 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. This bridge connects the trail into central downtown San Jose. So, anyone with ambitions of "getting in shape for the next crit" or doing interval training should consider other options. 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." Los Gatos Creek Trail Guide Map - Part 2 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. Monitoring location 11167980 is associated with a LAKE, RESERVOIR, IMPOUNDMENT in SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. A bridge across highway 17 connects to the trail at the south end of Los Gatos Creek County Park. Town Seeks Proposals for Two Parking Payment Related Projects LEXINGTON RES NR LOS GATOS CA Important Inventory Page Monitoring location 11167980 is associated with a LAKE, RESERVOIR, IMPOUNDMENT in SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. Mount El Sombroso via Priest Rock Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Los Gatos, California. 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. Creating its own thread because the lil crik is incredible this year. 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 It's just an easy ride option that's removed from heavy traffic and that offers some "lake views". Also includes a twisty descent on Old Santa Cruz Highway and a short gravel section along Santa Cruz Highway. 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. The Los Gatos Creek Trail offers recreational opportunities for walkers, jogger, bicyclists, skaters, non-motorized scooters, bladers and nature lovers. 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. Basically, you might have to circle around a little bit before you find a place to park. [18], Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) began to re-colonize the watershed after at least a 150-year absence with documentation of nesting sites in 2004.[19]. officials are trying to release all of this water out of their swollen reservoirs faster than the rain is filling them up. Local reservoirs were built to provide water for an aggressive groundwater recharge program. On Hare's 1872 map the creek was called Arroyo de Los Gatos and Zachariah Jones called it Jones Creek at the time he laid out the town he called Jones Mill (which later became the now submerged Lexington, California). Belgatos Park Loop is a loop trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Los Gatos, California. Santa Clara County, CA housing market in December 2022 saw over 181 listings sold above listed price, more than 69 sold at listed price . The choice is yours. The first half-mile offers a significant drop in elevation. Only two creeks, both in San Joaquin County, were above flood stage Tuesday. There is little that stands out during the majority of the ride from this point on. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. The only "real climb" along the ride is as you approach the farthest point of the reservoir. we'll get to . 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. Jones Road is an alternative for cyclists. This duplex is located in a private court (private cul-de-sac street) and is part of Foothills of Los Gatos community. There is a limited amount of parking available in Novitiate Park and at the end of Jones Road. It's an ideal venue for a suburban family picnic on a sunny weekend. Start at the entrance on Meridian Ave and bike all the way up to Lexington Reservoir. When you reach the top of Lexington Dam, you start a clockwise road loop of the reservoir. The water district doesnt it expect it to reach the flood warning stage, but are keeping an eye out. Portions of the Los Gatos Creek Trail in Campbell and Los Gatos are now closed because of spillover from the . 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. Actually, that one has most of its spaces reserved for trailers, though you'll still find a handful of parking spaces for cars. in pittsburgh, forced evacuations overnight. High winds also made driving difficult. 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! The ride initially takes the Los Gatos Creek Trail up toward Lexington Dam. You then descend back to the same base level over about the same amount of distance. There are multiple free public parking lots around downtown Los Gatos, though they fill up quickly on nice weekends. There's a good amount of shade, the occasional drinking fountain and restroom, spacious views, and "relaxing" background noise from Highway 17! 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