Los Gatos Creek Trail

I did the Los Gatos Creek Trail starting from Lexington County Park through St. Joseph’s Hill OSP to Novitiate Park then back on Los Gatos Creek Trail a while ago, that was 1 day.
Last Sun 1÷24÷16 we started from Los Gatos Creek County Park where they charge $ 6 to park, I had a FREE Parking Pass so I was happy. They have flushed toilets, sinks, and even hand soap and powerful hand dryers. You can also probably park out on Dell Ave and surrounding area or residential area. We walked by the ponds and saw the Oka Ponds.
It’s a paved trail that really popular with bikers, runners, dog walkers, and regular walkers. We walked to Vasona Dam and Vasona Lake where we had lunch. Flushed toilets, sinks, hand soap, powerful hand dryers there too. From LG Creek County Park to Vasona Lake is 3 miles one way, then we headed back so we did 6 miles. There’s a small native garden off the trail that we checked out — kinda meh.
I would go back if I lived closer or if others wanted to go.

Great place to walk or ride. Early morning is better for biking since there are fewer walkers and runners.
There is water at the parks in Campbell and Vasona. The parks are great for kids.
Being California, there can be homeless camping. However it is very pretty and fun to watch the wildlife.
There are a number of places to pick up the trail, but my favorite is Willow Street at the school since there is loads of parking.
The trail turns to dirt after the bridge at old town. The trail is still good for all bikes all the way to Lexington Dam.

Did you know you can park practically in downtown Los Gatos, which is an adorable town full of white people in Uggs, and get a little 3.5 mile hike in? Because you can!
Some friends recently gave me my first tour of the South Bay and the Los Gatos Creek Trail was the hike we decided to do instead of Castle Rock, which is a beast of a hike in comparison.
Hint: veer left when the trail splits. You will get a better workout and better view. The trail loops up the hill, down to a reservoir (where you can witness the drought first-​hand) and back. Easy peasy. This hike is probably a ⁴⁄₁₀ difficulty.

Pros: Running friendly, somewhat scenic, nice location (close to South SJ)
Cons: The water is gross and I saw 4 skunks within 0.1 miles during the evening

I have only ever walked on various parts of this trail maybe 3 or 4 times, and each time was on a different stretch. It spans a pretty long area, and I love that there are a lot of different places where you can enter it. It also goes into Vasona Park, which is pretty gorgeous. If you’re feeling up to it, you can always park outside of the park and then hike into it if you don’t want to pay the parking fee at the Park. I see quite a few families along the trail, but the bikers and runners have always been pretty nice, like they knew what they were getting into when they picked this trail. There are a variety of things to see along the trail, such as a creek, a park, and bridges. It’s also well paved, so strollers and children’s bikes are good to go.

I love this trail. It’s always full of all types of people. Those biking, walking, jogging and yes… even the homeless.
On my most recent visit here there was even a CHP on a motorcycle riding the trail. When asked if I needed to start running since I was only having a casual walk, he said nope, just patrolling. It’s a safe trail during the daylight but as the sun sets, gnats and ferrel cats seem to start to wander.
There is a parking lot at the beginning of the trail in Los Gatos, one off Lark Ave. and one where the trail ends a few miles from Campbell. I’m sure there’s probably plenty of other parking places nearby but I don’t know of them off the top of my head.
I’ll keep coming here when I desire to catch some fresh air.

Where I’m coming from … I’m, mostly, a walker, and have been using the Los Gatos Creek Trail (LGCT) for over a year and a half to prepare for races and for general fitness. I’ve found its length and its varied terrain very useful and pleasant.
The LGCT stretches from Meridian Avenue in Willow Glen, to the top of Lexington Reservoir. It can be used by walkers, runners, skaters skate boarders, and bicyclists. In that distance, it passes by the Pruneyard in Campbell, through Campbell, Los Gatos Creek, and Vasona Lake Parks, past Los Gatos High School, and past Forbes Mill Museum near downtown Los Gatos. Most of the trail is sort of flat — some gentle ups and downs between Willow Glen and Los Gatos, and generally uphill as one goes upstream. The section from Willow Glen to Los Gatos is paved, and the trail is generally wide enough for 4 – 6 people to walk or run abreast (not that I recommend doing so). Access points are all along the trail, including at Meridian, Leigh, Hamilton, Cambell, Lark, and Blossom Hill Avenues, Main Street in Los Gatos, and the three parks through which the trail goes.
Just past the Forbes Mill Museum the trail forks, with two ways to Lexington Dam. To the right is LGCT, with one fairly steep — but not long — hill, and a climb up the face of Lexington Dam. The LGCT is usable by bicyclists all the way to the dam and Alma Bridge Road. To the left is the Flume Trail, which bicyclists are not allowed to use. The Flume Trail connects to the Jones Trail, which goes to Alma Bridge Road atop Lexington Dam. The Flume-​Jones Trail route is much more challenging, with steeper and much longer hills than the LGCT route. There is a particularly steep hill in the ¼ mile or so just before reaching Alma Bridge Road (downhill going toward the road, uphill going from the road).
As I said above, I’ve used the LGCT for quite a while, at various times, going to the Meridian end and to Lexington reservoir by both routes mentioned above. I’ve used the LGCT on weekends and week days (the latter mostly in the evenings). Generally, it’s very pleasant all along its length, though some parts parallel Highway 17 (music and ear buds make traffic noise less noticeable). The Flume and Jones Trails are fairly beautiful, with a really nice vista point about a quarter of a mile from the dam.
As a whole, the LGCT is fairly busy. The section between Campbell Park and Los Gatos Creek Park and the section through Vasona Lake Park are busier than other parts of the trail. The Flume and Jones Trails are more lightly used. Probably the heaviest usage time and section would be on a holiday like Memorial day, mid-​morning to early afternoon, near the picnic areas in Vasona Lake Park. While bicyclists need to be slow and extra careful at those times in that area, the trail is very usable even where and when most heavily used.
Most runners and walkers are reasonably courteous, though a few run/​walk 2 or more abreast without paying attention to other users. Bicyclists seldom warn runners and walkers of their presence (I’d estimate less than 5% of the time). So runners and walkers need to be alert for bicyclists, especially when passing a slower runner or walker, or when turning off the trail. Personally, I find bicyclists’ lack of warnings frustrating — and have had a couple of close calls from cyclists passing me VERY closely — but trail runners and walkers should always be aware anyway of people and things around them, not just on this trail.
All in all, Los Gatos Creek trail is very pleasant, as a user, and scenically. I’m not tired/​bored of it. It’s very useful for a variety of purposes. Some Los Gatos High Schoolers use it to walk to school, and some shoppers use the trail to access downtown Campbell and Los Gatos. I’ve seen groups use the trail to travel to parks for picnicking, people walking their dogs (there’s a dog park in Los Gatos Creek Park, people fishing in the creek and lake, teaching their kids to ride bicycles, and more. There are several races of various distances that use the Los Gatos Creek Trail (the trail is NOT closed to the public during these races).

I came here last Saturday for a long run, and I am going to keep coming here. Everything about this place feels so nice and nature-​y! I started at Los Gatos Creek County Park and ran down to the baseball field on Miles Ave, then came back. There are many people of all ages. On a Sunday morning at 8am, there were a good number of people, but there were definitely more around 10am. It doesn’t get too crowded, to the point where you have to slow down, but you might have to weave past people, but that’s okay. There are a good number of bikers, also, but people running the opposite direction of you give you a heads up «BIKER UP» or «BIKER DOWN», etc. Seeing other people run made me motivated and continue my run. Yay!!!

This trail goes from Campbell all the way to the Los Gatos. It’s a pretty busy trail during the wkends with a lot of walkers/​runners/​bikers etc. It’s a nice steady flat path perfect for an easy weekend jog. It’s not too ‘nature-​like’ since you can hear/​see cars passing by along the trails but it’s still pretty nice. I’ve taken my dog here as well.

Starting in downtown Los Gatos or downtown Campbell, the Los Gatos Creek Trail is a WONDERFUL way to get out in nature. Take a stroll, run, bike ride, or rollerblade through a tree-​lined pathway within the miles that stretch between the two cities. This is a great path that’s safe, somewhat covered, has relatively good views, and just awesome to have available.
After 5 pm on weekdays and weekends it gets crowded with exercise-​goers. During the morning or week days (early) it’s perfect. Tons of space, miles to explore, and two sides of the trail to take. You pass through the Campbell Park (play area for kids, basketball courts, and large grass area to lounge or do some push-​ups), Vasona Lake Recreation Area, Lexington Reservoir, among so much more. You can easily take any exit along the trail to go into various parts of Campbell, San Jose, and Los Gatos.
You can even get an extra workout with some of the cross-​training equipment placed around the Campbell part of the trail. Every half mile or so you can stop and do lunges, push-​ups, dips, crunches, and pull-​ups. Somewhat outdated and rickety equipment, but super nice to have available.
Not sure what I would do without this trail. It’s just awesome. :)
What is YOUR favorite aspect of the LGC Trail?

The trial is pretty nice and really long. Great place to go for a run.
If you start at Campbell park, there are distance markers to tell you how far you have walked/​ran/​biked.
What’s amazing is that this place will take you all the way to to Vasona Lake. Pretty awesome.
There is also a bridge and a dam.
I recommend this place for a walk and some exercise.

You can start this trail way back in Willow Glen. It’s paved and there are lots of walkers, joggers, hikers, strollers and bicycles.
Regardless of the multitudes it’s a good place for some exercise. My favorite part of the trail is from just north of Vasona, it’s shaded, then going through the Vasona Lake, through and past Los Gatos and hooking up to the trails that go to Joseph’s Hill. There are great views from the top.
It’s summer so take lots of water and don’t throw your butts, they can spark a fire.
It’s pretty flat so don’t think you’ll be getting a strenuous workout, unless you’re a runner. But it’s a great place.
There’s birds in the water and an occasional deer. I saw a bobcat one evening, you shouldn’t approach animals such as this though they’re pretty fast and this one was too busy stalking something to be bothered with me.

I found out from going on this trail, I am a fan of hiking on a mountain more. This trail was nice, simple and flat. I guess I do like more of a challenge than just walking on solid ground.
This place is nice though. My friends and I saw that the drought is more than real. The nice lake that I know used to have lots of water is now really low. There’s still birds swimming in it, but you could see how much water used to be in it. On top of that we saw a «No swimming» sign in front of what used to have water in it. It is now just a dry field. :[[[ We also saw a big koi fish, a few crawfish, some frogs, and a long snake.
This place has shade, but I’d say more parts were in the sun, so bring a hat and sunscreen. There’s A LOT of people riding there bike along the trail you walk on, it’s actually kinda dangerous. I think there should be separate lanes for bicycles and walkers, that’s one thing I did not like about this trail.
I’m not sure if I would go back, it’s not for me, but maybe for you :]

Very easy trail – very flat. You can go for a short walk or you can walk for miles!
Good biking trial too!
I go for leisure walks here with my dog. There is a little area for dogs to play in – divided by «big dog» and «small dog.»

It’s next to my office on Lark Ave (Los Gatos).
A very nice trail, going quite far up to Lexington reservoir (you’ll need about an hour walk to get there from Lark).
Perfect for running. I wouldn’t take my bike there, the trail is not wide enough and I’d bother joggers/​walkers.
Very nice environment, paths run along a river. Nice wildlife (lots of turtles, goose!) and beautiful flowers.
Cyclist can be annoying when they don’t want to slow down around walkers.

Not as crappy as I thought it would be.
Multiple reviews warned about the excessive goose poop decorating this trail, but on my first visit today, I didn’t notice much. Perhaps the ongoing drought has something to do with it, since two sections next to the trail that are supposed to be filled with water were completely empty, and the number of geese seen were low.
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. There’s a good amount of shade, the occasional drinking fountain and restroom, spacious views, and «relaxing» background noise from Highway 17!
At the trail midpoint in Campbell, a dedicated parking lot is located off Dell Ave where parking is $ 6/​day. Free street parking can be found a short walk away. The trail is wider here but gets slightly narrower to the south.
The trail is runner-​dominated but you’ll also see some people with strollers or dogs, and a good number of cyclists. Cyclists beware: since the trail isn’t too wide, you’ll have to navigate around people, and the trail can get congested in the morning — don’t swerve and lose control like I saw one cyclist do!

Easy mellow trail with a nice landscape and some interesting trees (chestnuts?) and metal sculptures mimicking water plants. I did not feel like spending $ 6 to park in there, so I parked in the industrial park nearby. Lots of people waking their dogs and couples in romantic mode contemplating the incipient rain. Nice sense of calm and relax. I went there thought the Campbell side, not sure how is the park from other entrances. I could not find anywhere to get water, so bring your own bottle.

Lovely trail along the Los Gatos Creek. Being from the Midwest, I was missing fall colors, but the trail provided enough splotches of color (from yellows to deep reds!) to satisfy me.
The trail in Campbell offers some equipment off the sides so runners doing a loop can mix up their workout with some stretches too!

This place starts from West San Jose and ends in Los Gatos: Vasona Park. I believe its approximately a 12-​mile stretch and is definitely good for joggers and bikers!
There are pavements and dirt trails for all and on good days you rarely run into a lot of people blocking your way. There are plenty of straightaways and some hilly parts that work out your thighs! Gotta love all that good stuff to get your sexy body maintained haha! :)

Still a favorite. The birds have multiplied to the point that it’s almost incredible to see the sheer numbers of them, both on land and in the water. The lawn is like ²⁄₃ poop. No matter where you step, there it is. And there. And there…
Did you know that Canadian Geese can crap up to 1 ½ lbs. every day? They take a dump every 20 or so minutes. And there are a LOT of them here. And seagulls and pigeons too.
That said, the walkway/​bike path is the place to be. The view is lovely. If you’re lucky enough to get a bench you’ll enjoy a moment of serenity –the view, the sounds, the openness of the place.
If you go on a weekend it’s nuts. Bikes and joggers/​walkers galore.