Los Gatos Creek Trail

Location

There are numerous trailheads, from San Jose to Los Gatos. My favorite is Church Street, in the parking lot directly across from the Old Forbes Mill (now a museum) at 75 Church Street, Los Gatos. Park along the trail on a variety of city streets, as well. You can pay to park at Vasona Park if you plan on using the park's facilities (bring a picnic!). I DO NOT recommend accessing the trail off of Main Street in Los Gatos - this trailhead is too steep!

Attractions:

This trail is very well maintained and has some lovely murals painted by kids along the bridge leading from Church Street.
Trail leads West to Lexington Reservoir.
Los Gatos has great shopping and restaurants; exit at any number of places along the trail to take a break at a boutique, coffee house, or café.
Vasona County Park offers a great place to stop to feed the ducks, have a picnic/bbq, play varied outdoor games, or float in a paddleboat.
Oak Meadow Park is very kid-centric with a railroad, carousel, play area, playing fields, and decomissioned jet to play around. Also has picnic/bbq areas.
Wildlife include banana slugs, various birds, aquatic bugs, fence lizards, squirrels.

Limitations:

No dogs allowed
Bicycles are limited - see trail map or watch for no-bike or walk-bike regions of trail, mostly in hills South of downtown Los Gatos.
No smoking
Stay on the trails to avoid ticks and poison oak in rural areas!
West-most parts of the trail run parallel to Hwy 17, so freeway noise can be annoying.
The path is wide enough for two lanes, but is so popular with all sorts of traffic including bikes, rollerblades, runners, and walkers, that it isn’t well suited for walking two strollers next to each other, so you may have to stroll single-file with friends or keep an eagle-eye out for people wanting to pass you or coming the other way.

Season:

Year round, approximately 8am to sunset

Fees:

None, unless you park at Vasona Park, which the trail runs through ($5).

Maps & More Information:

Town of Los Gatos Website (Los Gatos Creek Trail): http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/los_gatos/residents/events/creek_trail/creek.html
Santa Clara County Parks Website (Los Gatos Creek Trail): http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks/menuitem.244564f66e6d425580b558bb35cda429/?path=%2Fv7%2FParks%20and%20Recreation%2C%20Department%20of%20%28DEP%29%2FFind%20a%20Park%2FLos%20Gatos%20Creek
Santa Clara County Parks Map of Los Gatos Creek Trail: http://www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs%2FParks%20and%20Recreation%2C%20Department%20of%20%28DEP%29%2Fattachments%2F332563los%20gatos.pdf
Town of Los Gatos Website (Oak Meadow Park): http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.asp?NID=910
Santa Clara County Parks Website (Vasona Lake): http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks/menuitem.244564f66e6d425580b558bb35cda429/?path=%2Fv7%2FParks%20and%20Recreation%2C%20Department%20of%20%28DEP%29%2FFind%20a%20Park%2FVasona%20Lake

Handicapped Access:

The trail is wide and flat enough for all to use. Grades tend to be not too steep. The only area of question is when the trail becomes gravel or dirt, West of the Church Street Exit.

Recommended routes:

North or South along Paved Path:
Start at Church Street Parking Lot or any trailhead East of there. The trail is either wooden planks (skybridge) or pavement, so it is easy strolling! Turn back the way you came when you grow weary. Keep in mind that there are several exits from the trail in Los Gatos, and a nearby boutique, coffee shop, café, or Farmer’s Market (on Sundays) can help get you recharged! If you visit town, you can finish the walk hiking down city streets to your car. If you follow the trail to where it ends, you’ll reach Meridian Park in Willow Glen. Maximum distance (from Church Street Parking): about 12 miles (round trip).

South To Lexington Reservoir:
Start at the Church Street Parking Lot, and head South (left) along the gravel trail. When the trail splits, follow the wider fire road that bikes are allowed on, on the right. The path is flat for all but the last few tenths of a mile - one short steep hill, followed by a steep paved one up to the reservoir. Return the way you came. Round trip is 4 miles, from Church Street trailhead. For a longer hike, start at a trailhead farther North.

Vasona Park:
Vasona Park is huge! Los Gatos Creek Trail runs through the park along the park's lake. There are dozens of trail diversions to the various picnic areas and playing fields. A great place to go if you're not in for a real hike or want to try a new carrier with your baby, and are not sure how long your baby will let you go. Distance ranges from a few blocks to 2 miles, depending on path chosen.