Los Gatos Creek Trail Reviews

I LOVE running here--it's beautiful, plus there is water, restrooms, and mile markers along the way.

I use this trail to run or take walks with friends. I feel safe even if by myself, you'll always see others on it. Good for biking, walking or running.

Great for running, skating, biking or just walking a dog. Runs along a nice creek for most of the way and begins/culminates at a beautiful lake/park. Enjoy.

The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a deservedly popular trail year round. From Los Gatos you can head either south toward Vasona Lake Park and Campbell -- or go south toward Lexington Dam. I usually go south -- it is less crowded and you are on dirt most of the way as opposed to the pavement and/or asphalt of the northbound route. Going toward Lexington, you can take a short leisurely walk or run for a mile or so along either side of the creek and turn around. Or, you can keep going up hill and really get your heart rate up. A run or mt bike ride up to Hilltop (5+ miles round trip) is always invigorating and rewarding -- the view from the top is beautiful. There are several options for distance and difficulty --- and not much chance of getting lost as long as you stay on the trail. Be sure to bring water as none is available on this section of the trail and it can get pretty hot on same of the trails so wear skin protection! (Also, when starting out keep in mind that the only restroom if you head toward Lexington (south) is at the top of the reservoir.

This is a very long trail. I only hiked the section from the Lexington Reservoir County Park to the Vasona Lake County Park. The approach to the trail from the Lexington Reservoir County Park is on the steep side. But once you are on the "main street" (as designated by the sign at the beginning of the trail), the trail is mostly flat. Most of the trail has no shade and it is noisy since it runs almost parallel to Highway 17 until it reaches Los Gatos. Once you enter the Vasona Lake County Park, the trail runs alongside the Vasona Reservoir which is very scenic. It is worth a visit whether you are hiking on Los Gatos Creek Trail or not. As a bonus, the trail here is mostly shaded.

Wonderful accessible trail for all ages and abilities. Great seasonal viewing of wood ducks paddling in a gushing creek among rust and amber colored trees. Good off leash dog park setup. Runners, bike riders and dog walkers love this place that runs nearly 10 miles to Lexington reservoir.

Great park for a walk. Beautiful flowers and lake. A little too dry at this season. There are also many cyclists and runners though and the lanes are quite narrow.

I started out on this trail at the park in the city of Campbell and walked toward the south. It followed the creek and skirted the Vansona Lake. The path was paved and plenty wide for traffic in both directions. In most places it was even divided. It had slight elevation rises in places. Be advised if you start at the Campbell Park and go south like I did that the trail on the west side is paved and the East side is dirt. Stick to the paved side. The scenery is nice all along the trail. The total length is 11.2 miles one way and I did 6.6 miles round trip.

Nice hike and a good starting point to make for a great day. Good crowd and a good amount of shade when needed.

You don't have to go far to feel like you are in the country with a walk or bike ride along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The trail runs from the damn at Lexington to the park near downtown Campbell. There are many exits and places to enter the trail as you walk, bike, or run. The section from the damn to downtown Los Gatos is dirt and has quite a bit of an incline making it a great work out for walkers, runners, and mountain bikers. The trail is paved behind from Forbes Mill to Campbell and goes through Vasona County Park near the lake following along the Los Gatos Creek. Dog are allowed on the trail and you may encounter them both on and off leash. The trail can be remote and therefore I would advise to walk with a friend or stay on the trail as to goes through Vasona Park. This is one of the more crowded sections. There are bathrooms in Vasona Park and in the Campbell City park. The trial goes along the creek and in places there are shade trees. The paved areas without shade can get very hot in the summer. I would also suggest that you look at a map to decide which part of the trail that you want to use. As the trail runs close to Hwy 17 it can get noisy and polluted from car fumes, other areas of the trail are peaceful and calm. There is plenty of free parking at various locations outside of asona Park, near the Campbell Park , at Lexington or near Old Town on University Ave where you can access the trail.

This trail is great for bikers, walkers and joggers alike. It traverses from San Jose all the way though the woods on a paved trail to Los Gatos. The scenery is great, and whether you like a challenging ride, or just to meander with friends, there is enough for everyone.

There are quite a few bike/walking/running trails in and around San Jose and I've explored them all. But the Los Gatos Creek Trail is by far the best. It's paved most of the way and extends roughly from downtown San Jose - high into the hills of Los Gatos. It offers beautiful scenery that changes throughout the year, winding, gently hilly paths, parks, lakes and of course the creek complete with waterfalls and bridges. There are many places to stop and relax or have a picnic. There are plenty of restrooms along the way (in Campblell and Los Gatos). You will see a lot of fauna on your journey. Ducks, geese, ground squirrels, gatos (cats), cormorans, dogs, fish, coots and a variety of other birds. Do yourself a favor and buy or rent a bike and give it a try. There are bike rentals in Campbell just off the trail.

Weekly, if not biweekly, hike here are a must to enjoy and get great exercise and meet up with friends and neighbors.

Such a nice place to walk-run-stroll. The route takes you under the trees, next to a dam and you can take detours from the main path and put your toes in the creek. Will be back soon

getting there is through commercial buildings. went there on a Monday after lunch. not much people. it was rainy then so the air was nice and crisp.

the terrain is mostly flat so good for not so good knees.

its not covered much so bring a hat.

it can be a long trail if you go till the end

We like to walk and get some exercise. This is a wonderful trail for that. Not very crowded even on the weekends. Access is tricky, we parked and walked several blocks to get there.

Wide paths and lots of shade for walking or bicycling. take a leisurely bike ride and stop along the way to look at the creek, filtration pond and Vasona park and reservoir.

Visited the creek while staying with friends is San Jose. Picked a great day to walk and only walked part of this 10 mile trail due to time constraints. The walk on the west side was flat and followed the path of an old railway track. The trail was well worth a visit and given more time we could have seen more. Pleasant time spent hare and worth reading about it's development. Recommend a visit and tip...small cost for car parking.

My husband and I love taking our dog children here for walks and runs. We also go by ourselves sometimes to get a bit more active. It is a beautiful space that is open to people who want to exercise, and for people who just want to enjoy being outside in the Bay Area. It's pet friendly, good for kids and families, and you never feel overcrowded or like you're completely alone. Go here if you want to relax or exercise, by yourself or with other people. You won't regret the decision to do so. Depending on when you go (on Saturday, for example), you might have to pay a parking fee, but we usually go at times when you do not.

This is a GREAT place to just take a stroll and enjoy the day. Even in the winter it can be beautiful, but I recommend spring or summer. Lots of people on the trail during the day, since it cuts through the heart of Los Gatos. Keep an eye out for runners and bikers - otherwise enjoy yourself and take your time!

This trail is great for getting exercise. Be warned. 1/3 of the trail is on an access road which is dusty. The access road is between the creek and RT17. You will hear car noise from RT 17. Then the trail goes up the front of Lexington Dam. You walk along the lake for a bit on a road. Then UP a huge steep hill into the woods. There can be snakes in the woods. And Mountain Lions. The woods part is pretty and you end up down on a residential street which you walk on the side walk and eventually you end up back in Los Gatos very close to where you started. It is a huge 2 mile circle. Lots of fun. You can ride your mountain bike or walk it.

I live within walking distance to an on-ramp, so a walk or bike ride along this trail is easily accessible, and well worth the energy.

Nice trails fairly well maintained. Nice dog parks. Fees safe! Great place to go walking, jogging, playing with the family.
I have been on different parts of the trail for years. Always felt safe and know it is a good place for outdoor activities for the family.

Rarely you see a trail that you can go for very long distances. You can pick up the trail in San Jose (which soon will connect with the Guadalupe Trail) and literally go to Los Gatos and see sites while you do. The percolation ponds are there which help to keep the salt water out of the south bay. Campbell downtown is along the top of the trail and don't miss that either. Plus on weekends is the most amazing Farmers Market in the bay area.

This is a great trail to walk or bike on any time of the year. Of course when Vasona Lake is full, it is much prettier -- ducks and geese. Plenty of shade along the trail as you are close to and inside of Vasona Park. The Campbell section of the trail is quite a bit sunnier. I have never been on this particular trail past Vasona, but I believe it goes all the way to Lexington Dam. May not be paved between Vasona and Lexington.

A nice place to hike or bring elderly people for a walk. A lot of nature and easy sometimes paved trails. Easy for strollers and new mothers to get out and get some fresh air. Takes you along the creek and then Vasona Lake. Black Berries galore in season you pick fresh off the vines still.

I love this trail. It runs from Willow Glen to Lake Vasona in Los Gatos and a little beyond. I believe the whole trail is 13 miles long. I'd say the best parts are from Campbell Park to Lake Vasona, and spring is the best time to go. There is also a dog park along the trail in Campbell. If you're looking for paved exercise trails, there is also one that runs along downtown (though a few homeless may be present), one from Alamden Lake, and another near Hellyer Park called Coyote Creek.

This trail has been preserved by San Jose, Campbell and Los Gatos instead of allowing building up to the creek. It was a great idea, as the trail is heavily used and for good reason. It is a pretty, somewhat shaded, paved trail great for biking, running, or just going for a stroll. We rode from Campbell to Los Gatos for lunch and back, which is around 4 miles each way. You pass through lovely parks, a carousel and train for children, and a fishing pond. It really is a pretty ride. The only downfall is the freeway noise that somewhat takes away from the beauty, but hey- the suburbs of the South Bay are still hustling, even when you're out enjoying nature;)

I walk here often with my friends. It is an easy walk where ever you enter the trail. Usually always see "wild life" of some sort. One thing I don't enjoy are the cyclists who sometimes "speed" along the trail and pass without ringing their bike bells or verbally letting you know they are about to pass.

to not ride your bike too fast or if you're walking, don't wander across the trail to oncoming traffic. This is a busy path with lots of people using it and not everyone uses their heads! Bicyclists can often be zipping way too fast and come around a corner to people not paying attention. People walking their dog need to make sure they don't give the dog too much leash and either scare oncoming traffic (& please pick up after your dog as I've seen so many people feel because we're outdoors its ok to leave it....NOT OK!). Great trail that goes a long distance and gets you off the road but still be careful!

Real reserved nature an area of the Mountain Lions Observed here last month
Very nice and quiet trail
Opened till sun down

They should call Los Gatos creek serenity creek. I have been here many times as I live within 2 minutes walking distance. I fish here often for small fish and it's very serene for me. A lot of walkers, joggers and bikers on the path but all that can vanish simply by walking off the path and taking a seat near the creek. The tree by the dam waterfalls is one of my favorite spots to just sit and relax and allow the stresses of life to fade away.

Beautiful trail, but can get really busy on the weekends. Nice ride between Los Gatos and Campbell. We like to plan around having lunch at one of the many restaurants in either City.

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.

This trail is a great nature trail for a good walk, and long enough if you want to go for a solid hike as well.

Walking is over rated in my book, but if you dangle the carrot of lunch/libations in front of that activity you probably will get my attention. Starting at the Campbell entrance off Campbell Ave you can make it to Los Gatos (or vive versa) and enjoy a wonderful repast to repay your effort. Both towns are full of fun restaurants or houses of libation. The sights are pleasant and there are parks in which to dwaddle in. Enough cover for just a simple hat will suffice to avoid sun burn on your scalp.

I live at less than half a mile from this trail, and I go there all the time, either to walk my dog or for running. I never get tired of it. To the north, it reaches Meridian Av. To the south, downtown Los Gatos, but then it continues as a dirt trail to Lexington Reservoir. You can reach the Saint Joseph trail also. A highlight is traversing Vasona Park, a beauty, with the Vasona Reservoir. Strongly recommended.

Great walk!
Flat trail by a creek. Any distance is available from 1 mile to 4 miles.
Easy walk with creek side views.

Best place to walk in the area! Also a great family spot. The beauty and upkeep of the trails make Vasona, especially a wonderful part of the trail.

I hiked this trail for years and every time I am back for a visit, it is a MUST DO. It is a great 4-5 mile hike. Then down the hill to have a great breakfast or lunch in the town of Los Gatos.

This trail which passes through Vesona park is very beautiful and tranquil. It is great for any biking or running outside in nice and quiet scenery.

Parts of the trail were extremely pretty and nice (I.e. The park where the mini train for kids was, a cute pond with paddle boats for rent, nice picnic tables for a picnic lunch). However, other areas were very dry due to the drought/ summer weather. Not the best summer adventure if in search of a scenic bike ride.

South of Campbell Park this starts to get nice. North of there, it is another one of California's sanctioned homeless encampments and the creek is littered with trash. Horrible. Thank the Democrats for ruining another piece of California.

We go there every week end . New paved trails for biking and Running and biking are Best for families

Very nice trail through the beautiful tree lined creek trails it’s mostly paved but some dirt paths also.

Nice paved off-road trail from Los Gatos to Meridien in San Jose. Light intensity, no steep hills, safe, but keep aware off fast bicyclists and families walking on the trail. So fun to be biking instead of driving this route thru the city! A good trail for children on bikes, too

Love this trail by the Los Gatos creek and downtown hub of activity.

Access to parking on the street is easy.

Lots of shade for ‘no fun lovers’

Connects to another of my favorite trails in the area - Josephs Trail.

Get out of the city and take a local hike in the foothills of Los Gatos, or along the Campbell Creek Trail. Good for dogs on leashes, bikers, hikers, and children.

This is my way to Los Gatos from almost anywhere by bike. It is very popular for walking, running, skating, biking. Sometimes it is too popular and hence crowded. It leads to the dam and parks south of Los Gatos.

If your a walker, biker, runner or just want to chill somewhere peaceful. This place has it all. It will not disappoint.

I use this trail often. It can be flat or hilly. Also it is well used so feels safe. It's long so you can do as much or as little as you want.

We enjoyed our walk at Los Gatos Creek Trail. In part of it there is a nice lake. There are picnic tables there.

There is also an area called the Casting Ponds, where people can practice their fly fishing techniques.

People enjoy biking as well. They also like bringing their dogs.

Here is the path that I believe rates an excellent:

- Park in downtown Los Gatos, near the Apple Store / La Boulange area.
- Walk towards the overpass for Hwy 17.
- Pass the overpass, and if you turn immediately right, you will be on Los Gatos Creek Trail. Rather than turning right, keep going straight.
- Instead turn right on College - which is the street right near the apartment complex with the picture of a cat.
- At the end, turn right again.
- Follow up the road, winding along the homes.
- Turn right on Jones street and walk straight (on the street) to
the end of the street, where the trail head starts. (If you are unsure, ask - I've never walked this area without seeing plenty of other walkers and bikers.)
- Enter and go on the trail - and keep on the main trail without branching off.
- Perhaps after 15 minutes or so, there is a branch off to the left, which if you decide to take it, will give you a great view of the valley. You can take that, and it will circle around to bring you back to this main trail. It is a moderate hike and is approx 30+ minutes long, depending on how fast you hike.
- On the main trail, keep going straight and you'll get very pretty views of the reservoir.
- Hike down the main trail to where the reservoir is just across the road.
- Rather than cross the road, keep to the right and go straight alongside the road for maybe 20 or so yards (meters) and take the trail on the right - which is paved. That's the Los Gatos Creek Trail trail end.
- Walk along the Los Gatos Creek trail - which is a pretty easy walk - all the way back to the main town - right near the Hwy 17 overpass.

We've done this hike more times than I can count - with friends/family of various ages and abilities. The main trail is moderate towards the beginning, but quickly becomes much easier. It is one of my favorite hikes, because of the beautiful scenery!

This is one of my favorite trails. You can pick it up in many different places, with easy access at several spots in Los Gatos, Campbell, etc. The Los Gatos section - from Vasona Park toward downtown - in particular has lots of shade. The trail also has sections that are fairly level but also some with hills, so if you check it out ahead of time you can adjust your walk/run to your liking and/or ability. Can be crowded on weekends, especially in Los Gatos - bikers, runners, walkers of all ages love this trail. For a less crowded time, try early mornings and weekdays.

This trail follows the Los Gatos Creek for a gently uphill stroll/run/skate/dog walk--whatever your choice of walk

The trail is well-maintained but may be a bit packed for bike riding. The northern part of the trail has more room, but as you get closer to Vasona Park, it is a bit sketchy to ride a bike unless you go early enough in the morning. It is a great place for kids to practice bike riding. There is a dirt trail next to teh paved path for a good portion of the trail.

Me and my wife go here once a month with our dog. everyone on the train are normally very friendly, many other dogs on the trail. And after you can have a nice lunch at one of the many restaurants in downtown.

From biking to running to walking to playgrounds to a fly casting pond, there is a plethora of activities that can be accomplished between the Lexington Reservoir and Willow Glen.

One of our favorite places to ride bicycles.

Nice trail,if you don't get run over by a bike.Nice Creek side view.Goes by Campbell perk ponds to Vasona park. Lol

This section of the Los Gatos trail that I am reviewing concerns only the one or two kilometres in central San Jose, near Campbell City. A beautiful respite from the concrete of the city, it hugs a ravine where the river flows. A kilometre up, and you'll walk over a bridge.
Squirrels and birds abound. Just watch out for the streaking bikes and the trail is for both walkers and bikers alike.

bike riding here is perfect - no cars or distractions like that... the drive takes you from Meridian Ave all the way to Vasona Park on Blossom Hill.

We love the dog park at Los Gatos Creek Trail. They have an area for large dogs and one for small dogs. The park is really clean and nicely maintained. Water fountains are available both for people and your furry friend. One caution- if you park your car onsite lock it and put everything away out of site. There are occasional break ins hence the 4 stars.

I go there twice a week to get relaxed and exercise. An hour walk at this trail will definitely add some time to your life span... Manicured trail becomes picture perfect with accompanying view of the mountains, creek, trees, lawn and the people enjoying it. Free parking in the entrances after 5pm makes it attractive also. It is a long trail..! Vasona park section is the best and most beautiful. However, you can go all the way to Lexington reserve water on one end and down town San Jose on the other... Also good for bike riding as well.

Start this trail in the town of Los Gatos just by the bridge over Hwy 17. A nice flat walk along the creek up to the Reservoir is 1.8mi. Lots of trees natural hillside to view on the walk. You can return the way you came or do the more strenuous 5 mile hike up around the reservoir, up the steep hill and then down the valley. Great scenery all the way. Just a lovely place for a hike. Lots of hikers and bikers for sure.

While visiting San Jose we were staying at a marriott in Campell and the trail runs right beside it. Perfect for jogging and long walks or casual bike riding. We used it to run up to Willowglen from Campbell to visit relatives and would have liked to rent bikes and cruise down to Los Gatos for lunch. There are some pull up bars and other exercise equipment along the trail and closer to Campell at least one waterfountain. Nice option for exercise away from traffic. Some stretches have ample shade for midday runs while other parts have no shade.

Walked about a mile of the trail through Los Gatos. It was very pleasant and we saw a few bird nests which were the highlight of the walk.

It is a very nice trail if you like sport and nature. there is a nice silence and the trail goes up and down making it perfect for running or walking. I went there several times and will go beack for sure.

My wife and I walk the LG trail at least once a week and it never gets old!
We recommend it highly. It is great exercise. not difficult at all. has some ups and downs but, nothing too difficult! It is alot less busy on weekdays but, weekends are not too bad at all and most people traveling the trail are respectful.

We stopped for a little while to have a picnic. It was okay, but nothing special. The access to the water was down quite a bit. Essentially it's a dammed creek with minimal shoreline plants or access. We had FREE access with our handicap placard. Otherwise the fee would never have been worth it. Besides that, it's hard to find and get to. Make sure you check a detailed map before you try.

If you are into walking, that may be better, but as a picnic, there are far better places to go.

Paved trail from near downtown San Jose, up through Vasona Reservoir and up to down town Los Gatos, well maintained dirt trail up to Lexington Reservior.
Great for walking, running, strollers and bicycles

Super walk run or bike trails easy access in any season.
He didn’t end up in the town of Los Gatos and have a lovely coffee or lunch or dinner.
The leak is lovely and you can also rent a booth piece of water equipment to cruise around the lake.

Absolutely disgusting with the amounts of abandoned garbage (thanks homeless slobs) and homeless camps right on the trails, it’s all washing to the oceans. San Jose meridian to the campbell park.
The county, city’s are doing a lame of a job as humanly possible in any kind of maintaining this as a safe area for families, yes, the same families that pay for this bs

Beautiful, huge park and trail. Trail is flat so it's good for all ages. Plenty of shady spots along the walk.

I regularly hike the end of trail in Los Gatos at St. Joseph's Hill. I like to take the trail to top of the hill starting at the cul-de-sac on Dell Street. Go in the morning and the trail is well shaded and there are many other hikers and bikers on the trail.

I usually enter the trail from Bascom avenue. The trail continues for an additional 9.3miles along the creek through the City of Campbell and Town of Los Gatos, ending at Lexington Reservoir County Park. The trail is a paved pathway great for walking, running, cycling, and skating

Most of the trail has some shade, it's all paved and it can be a great workout as it's not all flat! It runs a long way and has a lot of interesting areas. Examples: Vasona Park, Campbell Commons and neighborhoods. You can bring your dog as well.

The trail is paved and easy to push a stroller or ride your bike. The trail would be rated easy but it is quite long. I usually walk or ride bike an hour out and then turn around for the hour return trip. Take water and snacks.

I run my own doggie day care, so, last month on a day when it got close to 100 degrees in San Jose. I needed to take the dogs out for a walk, so I decided to go to Vasona Park. I had remembered that one of the trails that run to and from the park was pretty shady. I hadn't realized just how shady and beautiful this trail was. It winds down along the creek on Roberts Ave. It was beautiful!! So many trees and wildlife, it never even got hot for us and we all enjoyed the walk. If I need to walk dogs now when it is hot - this is where I am going!!!!

This is such a great trail and it is so convenient to my home. My husband and I like to ride our bikes from Willow Glen to Campbell for the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings.

lots of space and trees. some good spots for photo shots. trail is good for all ages we had 12 of from 9 to 78.

In this trail, you can go to Vasona Park, Campbell Commons, and neighborhoods. You can bring your dog as well. Can be crowded on weekends, especially in Los Gatos - bikers, runners, walkers of all ages love this trail. For a less crowded time, try early mornings and weekdays.

For Pokemon go there are many pokestops and a few gyms. Decent amount of Pokemon.

When we travel we do our best to keep up with our daily exercise routine of a morning walk. We found a cute map of Los Gatos at our AirBnB that showed this trail and we were intrigued. We wanted to walk it but didn't know exactly which access spot we wanted to start at. We chose to drive to the corner of Maple Pl and E Main St. to hop on the trail there.

There was a small lot to park in and we were lucky that we found a spot to park. It was a Saturday morning around 8:30 and it was starting to get busy with walkers, runners and people walking their dogs.

The trail was visible and easy to find. We proceeded to follow the trail down a small incline toward Los Gatos Creek. We saw a trail to the left of us and decided to take that one. It turned out to be the Flume Trail. This trail was a hiking trail that meandered through beautiful trees and lots of foliage, including lots of ferns. So pretty! There were spots that were hilly and steep and other parts that were fairly level. It definitely was more of a hiking trail than a leisurely walking trail. It was perfect for us but I imagine it would be difficult for baby strollers or small kids. The trail intersected into the Jones Trail that brought us eventually to Lexington Reservoir Park. We took the paved street, which is Alma Bridge Road, down to the creek to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. We decided to take this back to our car. This trail is flat and very wide. It runs parallel to the highway and the creek. It was a nice trail but we were so glad that we took the Flume and Jones Trail earlier. We prefer to get our heart rate up and enjoy beautiful scenery while exercising and the Flume & Jones trails were perfect for that!

I highly recommend you check out all the trails in this area. It is such a gorgeous area to walk or hike and the people are very friendly!

I live just a few blocks away from the trail and it is one of my favorite things to do in town! it is usually busy on the weekends, but that makes it fun. If you want a more peaceful time, during the week may be a better option

We use this trail often and enjoy watching the seasonal changes in the creek. The trail is walker, bicycle and stroller friendly. It is a safe place for families to walk and bike together.

Popular with bicyclists. Runs for quite a few miles. Mostly paved, okay for walking and a reasonable way to cheat into Lake Vasona County Park which has steep parking fees.

Great walk! Flat trail by a creek. Any distance is available upto 5 miles.A lot of joggers, bikers, people out for a stroll use the trails from sunrise to sunset.

This is a great place to do some outside exercising. It is great for hiking, biking, running, walking, or walking your dogs!

I had a jogging and walking session on Los Gatos Creek trail, in 3 hours visited Vasona Lake and came back. Water streams flow in parallel to the trail which gives you a refreshing feeling.
Be sure you have enough time on the clock before starting the journey so that you can return before the sun set. The trail will be closed after one hour from the sun set.

Nice trail which goes a long distance between towns in the South Bay. Pretty scenery along the way. Good for runners also since they can go quite a distance.

Good for walks and biking.

Lots of children and families.Busy in late afternoons and early evenings. Go early morning.

I have done many a walk on this trail and my husband used to bike on it. There are many great spots on it but the farther you get into town the less,pretty it is.

Los Gatos Creek Trail is a fantastic spot for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a scenic pathway perfect for walking, running, or cycling. The peaceful surroundings, combined with well-maintained trails, make it an ideal escape for nature lovers and fitness enthusiasts alike

Very safe hiking trail close enough to the city.
Beautiful scenery . Family friendly and easy walk trail and hiking .

Pleasant walk with much foot traffic, feels safe with sporadic shade. Loop around the reserve is about 1.5 miles. Bring water if you plan to stick around for a bit, parking nearby.

This is a great way to cycle between Willow Glen and Los Gatos. But be prepared for lots of traffic on the weekend.

I take my 2 dogs here for a walk and enjoy it every time. The dogs always have new things to smell and I love walking by the creek and seeing it in different seasons and weathers. The trail is paved, so easy strolling for babies in carriages. The downside is that the trail can get crowded at peak times (especially weekends) with walkers, runners, strollers, dog walkers, bikers, scooters. So I try to go during weekday work hours and then it's much less populated

The creek trail, especially the part through Vasona Park, provides a lovely respite from the urban surroundings. Wild birds, and plenty of people enjoying the lake, trails, and picnic areas are a welcome sight. You can take the trail all the way from downtown Los Gatos into Campbell if you wish. It's great for walking, skating, jogging, and recreational biking with the whole family. This is not the place for serious bikers.

perfect place to ride your bike or just jog/walk. it goes all the way from downtown Campbell to los Gatos's vasona park.
shady so you don't get burnt by the sun, nice scenery as well.
I have biked there many, many times and infact at one time I took a backpack with sandwich, etc. and had a little picnic as well.

The LGC Trail is one of my favorite courses to train for all distance foot races. It's serene, rarely crowded and is close to shops and restaurants after a hardy workout. I feel safe running there alone or with friends. It's a perfect venue for not only runners, but walkers, cyclists, and artists who love to paint the gorgeous scenery.

Beautiful trail! Great place to hike, walk, run. A great trail to explore and get some fresh air in Silicon Valley.

Nice place to take a long walk around the lake. Children have nice place to play and also do some boating in the lake. Relax place for family & kids.

I’ve spent the whole afternoon in this place. The lake is really beautiful as well as the surrounding. The landscaping and the trails are triggers for a walk around.

Extends from Los Gatos through Campbell to West San Jose. Very nice, safe, nice varied scenery, wildlife. Can get crowded in some areas during weekend mornings. Lively and just well-maintained trail. Very pleasurable to walk or run in.

No one monitors this park walkway, so dont go on the trail after dark unless you can fend for your self.

The LG Creek Trail is good for walking especially if you are a woman and enjoy the security of being able to walk in a very safe environment. The LGCT gets very busy on the weekends, but is still a great place to walk off those extra pounds or just take a quiet walk through the trail.

This is a great trail that I have been using for over 35 years. Whether you start in Los Gatos or in Campbell it is always great to take the trail into Vasona and enjoy the park in the summer time, grabbing a hot dog or popcorn at the grill. Most of it is covered in shade. Only downside is that it can be quite busy with joggers and cyclists.

This pleasant trail is great for walking or bicycles. It extends from Los Gatos to Campbell mostly in the shade of trees. It is paved but does not have bathrooms along the trail. There are bathrooms in the Campbell Park and in Los Gatos (Starbucks)

The Los Gatos Creek Trail System is a 9.7 mile refuge hidden within greater San Jose. The paved path is perfect for biking, jogging or walking. Benches are available here and there to enjoy the calm.

It is so wonderful to have such a beautiful part tucked in the middle of civilization. Walking paths, dog parks, ponds, lakes and fabulous bike paths. This is such a great way to escape the city without having to leave it. Many waterfowl and wild beautiful creatures abound.

Pleasant afternoon strolling along paved path from Los Gatos all the way to Campbell. Great training path for running. Lots of places to get water, bathrooms, or just to set and relax for a few. Mile markers are visible for distance train for your next race or just curious of how far did we walk?

I usually like to take a walk early, before there's a lot of bikes on the trail. It does get busy during peak hours and some of the trail is very narrow, like under the 17 overpass.

Whether you want a short run or a long, marathon training run, you've got it with this trail. And it even has mileage markers!

This is my go to trail I go to whenever I have time, and need mental and physical space. I use the part from Main Street, Los Gatos up to Lexington, but there are a lot of other trails associated with this system. (Have also ridden the bike trail through Vasona, etc.) It can get busy on weekends, so aim for off hours, but it is a beautiful and quiet trail that really helps you feel like you are away from the hustle and bustle right around you. Dogs need leashes - there is the river coming down from Lexington so dogs do play in there. Bring water!!!

This is a great place for a stroll or leisurely bike ride. There are great places to take your dog like the dog pen near Camden Avenue. There are many places for a picnic, bbq or sitting by the creek or one of the percolation ponds. If you pick up the trail from Willow Glen you can ride all the way to the town of Los Gatos is about 10 miles long and completely off the road.

Urban nature bliss and birdwatcher bonanza. Just steps away from home, find a span of trail to ride, run, or walk. Bring binoculars to feast your eyes on birds: red-tailed hawks, great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, black crowned night heron, green heron, mallards, canvas backs, buffleheads, goldeneye, mergansers, red-winged black birds, wrens, western blue birds, phoebes, plovers, and too many geese. Occasionally a coyote, and oh yes, see lots of humans decompressing from their urban habitats. Hit the trail and restore your soul.

We used to live very near this trail. Every time we go back for a visit, we try to get a walk in on this trail.

A great place to walk or bike in the rainy season as it is paved for the most part. Varied scenery along its approximately 11 mile trails, including streams, ponds, Vasona Park and lake, small museum, etc.

Very nice community developed trail,with running water,today almost floating parking lot
Plenty of bicycles
Real fun

This trail is filled with homeless encampments. Valley water works owns the land but them nor representatives will do anything about it. Trail trashcans are overflowing with bags of garbage strown everywhere. The trash can be smelled from over 100 feet away. Garbage is heavily polluting the waters. People have reported being attacked on the trail. It is unsanitary and unsafe. It is disgusting what has happened to an otherwise beautiful location.

I’ve been biking and running along the trail for more than three decades. Mornings and late afternoon runs in October and November along the lake and creek are amazing. The paved trail goes from downtown Los Gatos to Campbell. You can pickup the South end of the trail behind Old Towne or Vasona/Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos.

By far the most convenient, yet beautiful trail in the Silicon Valley area.
Have done roller blading and walking the dog for years.
Have always felt safe and far removed from the rat race

We love strolling this trail. Very peaceful. Just watch for the bikes! They seem to sneak up and whiz by

nice trail for biking or going for a walk. Can get busy though on weekends. Fun to combine with a visit to the farmer's market on Sunday's.

This trail is literally across the street from my house. Its clean and had a nice path roomy enough for both bikers and walkers. I wish it was a little more shaded, buts its still a really nice trail.

The Los Gatos Creek Trail offers a very nice escape from every day schedules by giving one a beautiful area to stroll along. The trail follows the Los Gatos Creek, which does currently have water flowing along a very nice nature trail.

best way to start a day off. nature is very healing. this hike is good because you can have a swirl at aqui's when you are done.

Maybe because we came in the dry season, the drought had emptied most of the ponds. The cracked pond bottoms gave out the stingy smell of the dead fish half-a-mile into the park. However, once we saw the creek, we said to ourselves that this park does live up to its name.

The cactus, the trails leading to the creek, the bridge after bridge, and the seemingly never-ending trails had all pleased joggers, bike-riders, and adults with strollers in the park. On the other hand, sharing the same trail by all these people has obviously distracted the indulgence of the trail users; we had to turn back frequently not to hurt someone and not to be hurt either.

However, that doesn't prevent us from finding the beauties of the park here or there. I loved seeing the disciplined ducks line up sailing in the creek, an eagle flying towards us, and pretty purple-colored flowers thirsty for the raining season.

Very scenic. Nice place to ride a bike, walk or run. Very busy and crowded on weekends. Everyone is polite and tries to accommodate the needs of others.

The trail is a 5 star. I dock points for crowded conditions. Everyone is vying for space, strollers, joggers, bicyclists of all levels, toddlers, hikers of all ages. It does not mix well. Parents allow kids to walk into bikes. Groups hog the entire width and refuse to move to one side. Strollers stop and block passage. Joggers and bikers going so fast that all at risk for collision. People on phones lost skill to walk and talk. Not relaxing. Must be alert. Everyone acts entitled to own the trail. Wonderful trail...we need more (obviously) as this is so popular and over-used. City planners are you listening???

This trail is a really nice idea for the middle of urban mania. If it wasn't for many locals who have no courtesies or class while bicycling way too recklessly on it, it would be a perfect place for walking, running, etc.

I've done this trail many times with my three boys. We like parking at Blackford Elementary School in Willow Glen, or else in downtown Campbell on the street near Campbell Park. If we're walking, we usually only make it to the Los Gatos border and then turn back north and go into downtown Campbell for a treat (plenty of good cafes and desserts right there downtown).

If you're biking, even with kids 6-8, you can make it all the way to Vasona Park and downtown Los Gatos, where the treats are even better and more plentiful!

Plenty of hard-core hardbodies blow past Los Gatos and go up to Lexington reservoir, but I think dark chocolate is supposed to be just as good for your heart, and Fleur de Cocoa is easier to get to...

I have enjoyed this trail system for 24 years and counting. Used to start near downtown Campbell and ride my mountain bike all the way up to Lexington Dam and back, about 22 miles. More recently our focus has been on walking around Vasona Park. The lower parts of the trail are fairly sun exposed and they run close to Highway 17 so there is road noise and air pollution. There are various side entrances where you can park and walk or ride different sections on shorter runs versus starting in Campbell like I used to. Lots of birds and other wildlife to see along the way. Roller blades folks with wide strides and some aggressive bike riders can make walking it uncomfortable for some where it is narrow. There are some parcourse stations nearer to Campbell and some bridges along the way towards Los Gatos that allow you to loop shorter routes. There is a dam at Vasona as well but you cannot cross it fully. Some areas could use more love than others hence no 5 rating. Of course always be careful to pair up if you have concerns about safety as there are sections that are a bit isolated and I never saw law enforcement on the trail, except in Vasona park itself. Lots to see and do in Vasona park, and will review that separately.

Very nice trail. Surprisingly close to downtown but not crowded. You can hike there the whole day, it is quite long. Goes up the mountains and have very nice scenic views. I greatly enjoyed it.

Trail is well marked, paved and clean. You will find walkers, folks with dogs, strollers, bikes and joggers.

The trail is paved, beautiful, lots of options for walking, running, biking. It's family friendly. The scenery is lovely. Different plants and flowers along the trail - always something new blooming. Wildlife too, with markers posted on what you might see. In fact, we were seeing humming birds all over the place. There are a number of things to do along the trail as well. There are spots for catch and release fishing - fly fishing casting ponds, doggie parks, picnic areas, etc. Whether you live here or are visiting, it's truly impressive.

There isn’t a listing for the Flume Trail, so adding this under LGC Trail.

Went on a Sunday and went from the LG trail to the Flume trail. This is shaded and most of it does not have bikers. You enter the St. Joseph Hill Open Space Preserve during the hike. There’s a climb and at the top, nice views of the reservoir.

In early May, there were list of wildflowers if you look for them.

We brought lunch and ate at the Lexington County Park ... there’s a table there.

Then went back the same way to minimize exposure to the sun and bikers.

I trained for 6 different marathons using Los Gatos Creek Trail as my primary workout location. It's typically well populated and has water fountains and bathrooms along the way. You can run 20 miles by starting in San Jose and running to the top of Lexington Dam and back. The trail is marked so you can run measured distances. The marks were added by local running groups, so you do have to learn where the marks are.

My running club trains here during the summer months. 10 mile trail passed Vasona Lake to Lexington Res. Mostly paved except the last 2.5 miles. Many inlets into the trail all along the 10 miles.

Very scenic. Nice walkway for people to jog or walk. Geese in the lake (reservoir). Beautiful trees. Easy to get to. Very very clean.

You can walk from the town of Los Gatos all the way to Vasona Lake Park. The trail is paved and off-road and follows a small creek that has pleasant vegetation. A great urban get-away.

I love walking here in the Los Gatos and Campbell sections. We live near an entrance in between the two and either set our destination as Vasona park or the dog park. Both walks are enjoyable because the nature along the way is so fun to look at. Closer to Vasona there are some more forest-y areas, but even if it's more cleared, with the river right next to you, you always see geese and ducks. There's also the occasional cat sighting, which is mixes up the great dog scene from the dog park or people just taking their pooches out on a walk.

Easily accessible and near civilization. Safe well-marked trails. (You won't be lost in the wilds.) Dog-on-leash friendly. Typically, friendly joggers. Some nice views here and there.

Great bike riding trail for transportation or liesure. Some water and wildlife too.

Beautiful scenery! Lots of ducks and Geese. Parking at the park is $6 and there are various boat rentals available ( kayak, paddle boats). Great place for a stroll or bike ride.

Nice place to start jogging up to vasona lake and further. There is a small parking as well so it's convenient to just drive, drop the car and start running (or walking) right away. the trail is sometimes very busy with runners/walkers/bikers, you would have to figure out the best times to see less traffic.

This paved cycle path follows Los Gatos Creek for miles, but we sampled the section south of Campbell Avenue after wandering through the Sunday market in historic Old Campbell. Pick up the trail at Campbell Park, where there is a children's playground and water fountains to fill up your water bottles before heading out.

The creek and path are pretty close to major highways so there is a bit of noise from that, but the trail itself was not too busy for a Sunday afternoon. Vascona county park to the south offers picnic sites, boat rentals on the small lake and and an amusement park for younger kids.

No where to swim though, which is a pity on a hot day!

We were visiting our daughter for the first time, I've never been to California, and my daughter suggested we give the trial a try. We stayed in Campbell and it seemed many of the hotels had easy access to the trail, Doubletree certainly did. We really liked Campbell, and the downtown area, but it was enjoyable to go on the trail and yes, we did appreciate the shade in that 95 degree weather. We didn't head too much towards Los Gatos, but from the photos, I expect we didn't even see the best of this trail! Also , the area we were in was often Kind of "hidden" and Im not sure I would feel comfortable alone, but thats me.

I ran to the trail from my hotel. It was a perfect morning. The trail is very nice. Paved and for the most part flat. There is a trail on both sides of the creek with the occasional bridge. The trail is pretty popular. I also felt safe.

Excellent well maintained bike and walking trails surrounded by scenic trees and the underground water percolation ponds. Nearby dog park, many picnic areas, multiple children's play areas, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad for kids, W.E. Mason Carousel, and restrooms, parking lots. A lot of joggers, bikers, people out for a stroll use the trails from sunrise to sunset. Easily accessible from Campbell and Los Gatos.

Unless you have to go somewhere along the trail, its pretty boring and there is lots of garbage and dog poo. Sometimes gangs hang out at the entrances, and during the summer, kids jump the fence and go fishing every afternoon, even tho it is illegal. The wildlife, like the ducks, are constantly disturbed by teenagers, and don't stick around. The homeless live inder the bridges at the freeways, and down by the creek, and the grafiti and shopping carts are always visible. The fences are broken down for months now, and nobody to repair them. Its a place where you can do whatever you want to.

Great trails and options here with elevation and distance choices, some shade, a lot of people and dog friendly (bags provided at LG Bridge juncture).

You have to share this trail with bikers so watch out. However, you can get your good work out since it is a long trail. It is close to places to eat when you get hungry after working out. LOL..

This is a very nice trail, paved and with just a slight rise in elevation towards Los Gatos. If you start at Campbell Park (near downtown Campbell), you can walk in mostly shade on one side of the creek all the way to the waterfall near the San Tomas Expwy / Hwy 17 junction. Past that is a dog park (now finally with astro turf) and a series of percolation ponds, then Vasona Lake Park, then eventually Los Gatos. It is several very nice miles of trail. Please keep to the right, and if you're biking and need to pass, alert hikers with a loud vocal, 'On your left' - thanks!

We parked in the parking area at 1250 Dell Ave Campbell and we walked from there to Vasona. It is a very simple walk on a paved, mostly flat walk with very pretty scenery - a lake/reservoir on one side and a creek on the other with a good amount of trees and such. Very easy to walk a stroller or to bike. The negative is that since it is such a nice walk, the path is crowded and at least half the walkers and almost all the bicylists do not wear masks. As it is crowded, there is very little room to walk around the non-mask wearers. So if you decide to give this path a try, I'd suggest you not walk on a Sat or Sun morning, as for sure, the path is crowded around those days/times.

Nice place for biking, a run or a walk .. watch out for the race drivers on their eBikes .. The water this year is u usually high ... Maybe the drought is finally over.

We walked the whole trail from Los Gatos to Alviso. (not in one day) Los Gatos portion is the best part.

I love walking and jogging on this trail. It is quiet and can go between a reservoir, a park and down town.

Relatively flat. Great scenery of water birds and green banks. Well marked. Lots of people on week days. Almost too dense (but not really) on weekends.

Los Gatos is one of the nicest towns in the entire Bay Area and the Los Gatos Creek Trail winds through the valley leading up into the heart of Los Gatos starting in the town of Campbell. Because the trail follows the Los Gatos Creek, there is plenty of interesting things to look at along the way such as connecting parks and lakes, mountains views of the adjacent Santa Cruz mountains, and plenty of avid outdoors enthusiasts to people watch! The grade of elevation change is slight enough so that even beginner cyclists can get to the top but there are plenty of locations with some uphills/downhills to keep you interested in the terrain and give your body a nice aerobic workout, combine with beautiful scenery and this is easily one of the best trails in all of the Bay Area!

The Los Gatos Creek is in need of some TLC. It has become a dumping ground for human produced waste. Plastics, bottles of various sorts, rags, old mattresses, etc. that are obvious when the water is low. Makes the beautiful trail a lot less attractive than is should be. Needs a good clean up, or maybe a "Friends of Los Gatos" association. We did see a few Gatos.

The trail is scenic despite its location in the heart of San Jose. You can see wildlife, water and the mountains from the trail. The only downside is the traffic noise from highway 17.

You can walk, run, bike, or whatever suits you. It's a great trail and you can go from downtown Campbell to downtown Los Gatos, and even further if you like to Lexington reservoir. We frequent this trail all year round. Lost one star just do to its popularity, it can just be too busy sometimes.

The trail is literally next to the creek. Parts of the trail are closed to bikes. Manageable in tennis shoes. Popular with trail running. Very green and relaxing. It joins with a variety of trails for longer hikes. The only drawback is there is no toilet within a 5-mile stretch. Plan accordingly.

This trail is really good for all levels and offers many options to make it long, short, easy-going or strenuous. We are avid hikers, but had just come from Big Sur and were hiking with a group of friends at various fitness levels. Estimated 6 miles roundtrip with a 1500 elevation gain. Some were able to trail run, walk or hike and about half the hike was shaded. Good for all!!

Since moving to San Jose I cycle this trail daily. It's a fantastic amenity, right in the heart of the city. It feels very safe, lots of walkers, runners and cyclists use it.

The trail follows Los Gatos Creek and along the way you pass little lakes, lots of shaded picnic tables, a dog park and the Lake Vasona Park, where you can hire pedal boat and kayaks to take out on the artificial lake (weekends only outside of summer).

This is a lovely way to spend a day or half day in San Jose. Bikes may be hired in Tread bike shop at the Campbell Park access, from where it is an easy 25 minute cycle to Vasona Park.

Nice place to escape to nature in the middle of the silicon valley. This trail can get busy but that's what makes it a great place to walk or run even if you're alone. There are always people around so you don't feel alone. Also, there are restrooms about every 1-1/2 miles which is great.

Good walking trail nice scenery easy trail as well nothing to difficult not to crowded good for afternoon/morning jogs always seems safe!

Its a really nice trail. Be careful.....just after the dam, heading from Los Gatos to Campbell there is an area where there are snakes. I saw a big one!

I've never ridden the Los Gatos Creek Trail before. Seeing water flowing along the creek and people fishing is a big contrast to the dry, hot summer weather. The water in the ponds is clear and you can see the bottom of the pond in the more shallow areas. The trail was wide enough in most places that there was room to pass the walkers without having to slow down.

I went in the late afternoon in the middle of the week. So calm and peaceful. Take a lunch and a drink and relax. There is a play ground if you have small children. If you are not going as a family, venture further into the park and find a quiet place. to go into the park, there is a fee on the weekends.

This trail system is truly a fabulous asset for the Bay Area. One can hike on flat, paved trails or climb the mountain overlooking Los Gatos and the south bay area. Views on a clear day from the top of the mountain are spectacular.

Hiking next to Lake Vasona is calming and peaceful. Nature, various birds, calm water, friendly people; what not to love. This beautiful atmosphere puts me in a meditative state of mind and centers me. Best time to hike during week days when it’s not crowded. Come with a dog or a friend and enjoy it.

I love jogging or biking this trail. It takes you all the way from Campbell to Los Gatos. There are parks and ponds next to it and the creek is also a great thing to see. Pets are allowed and the people you meet are very kind.

We start at the bridge just above Highway 880/17 on Main Street in Los Gatos. When we want a change we take the left at the fork just about 20 steps into the hike. When we need to take a moderate hike or there’s been a lot of rain, we’ll take the less hilly (also less slippery) route and go right at that same fork. We always go all the way to Lexington (see picture of lake behind us) and then over the hill and head back. This trail will be as challenging as you want to make it!

This beautiful trail can be your bike route, walking path or running tail depending on your level of fitness. The one thing everyone enjoys is natural setting and wildlife along the trail. A special place for everyone

The Los Gatos Creek Trail was a very nice experience. I have been there many time and it is usually clean and free of garbage and debris. It is walking friendly and does also accommodate bikes.

It's an interesting walk, however the cyclists are a law unto themselves. Beware of high speeding cyclists from behind !!

Very nice to walk or bike ride along the creek. Qiite a bit of shade. Mostly flat intil you reach Los Gatos where you can go up to Lexington Reservoir dam if so inspired. Trail gets a bit crowded on sunny weekends. Nevertheless, always a delight.

It is a beautiful trail to bike or hike. The trail run through Vasona County park which have lots of fund stuffs for kids. Mostly shaded trail.

The trail is getting more crowded with running groups on the weekend. Still a great run. For walking its better in the weekdays. For biking - FORGET the weekends, too much stress avoiding the other users. The scenery is peaceful and calm despite the traffic on 17. Probably the best running/walking within a short morning distance form Silicon Valley locations.

The Los Gatos Creek Trail is a little hidden gem. there are parts that we really close to Highway 17, but it goes for quite a while and you get to a lake and a park. It's an urban hike that fun for the whole family, and for beginning hikers.

The trail is a great place to get in a hike, walk, run or bike ride. It's great for all fitness levels. It is a two way paved trail with a yellow stripe down the middle. Most people are courteous, those on bicycles generally say " on your left " as they pass you.

It's pretty flat and some of it is adjacent to busy streets, and highway 17. However it meanders along the creek bed. You'll often see ducks or cranes here.

My favorite area is through Vasona Park where it goes by Vasona Lake. It can get crowded after work and on the weekends. I prefer going early in the morning before it gets too warm.

Great trail to use for exercise. You can go north to perk ponds to south to Lexington. Best on week days, less bike traffic but is a great walking and jogging trail. It can take you on flat train south or hills to the north. Plenty of spots to start and park and great places to pinic along the way when you are down. If going on weekend go early if you wish to park and enjoy lunch after.

If you enjoy nature, this is a great place to either walk, run or ride your bike! Either in the morning, afternoons or early evening, go for a stroll like my wife and I do.. You can enjoy this year round

we returned to Los Gatos Creek Park. There is a nice fishing lake, where one can also have a picnic. There is also fishing ponds.

One can also take a nice walk by the river. Its a good place to also ride bicycles.

My Personal Trainer used to take me to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. I enjoyed the trails very much as well as the resting places along the Creek. It was a very rewarding experience.

Extremely long trail. Not much to see however. Also runs close to streets, so I do get that "away from civilization" feeling. Good way to get some nice exercise in though.

It is excellent trail to walk & run. Beautiful scenaries across the track. you can reach the trail thru Vasona Park where you need to pay for Park entrance or you can access with free parking at Los Gatos High School.

Each week I take a walk on this trail. I try to do a different section, each time. It's an easy place for walking and it's fun to see the adjacent neighborhoods, as you pass them. Be aware of bicyclists. They usually let you know they are coming, but not always.

Lots of beautiful trails. My wife and her friends frequently take the main trail which goes up into the mountains, past the Lexington dam and beck to downtown Los Gatos. They always feel safe (though there are some mountain lions up there). You can mountain bike all the way up to the top for a great view and fun ride back down. The best entrance to the trail is at the end of Jones.

This trail system is one of the best in the Bay Area, offering a substantial distance for exercise enthusiasts to run or cycle, away from the busy streets of the Los Gatos and Campbell area. You can stroll along the trails adjacent to the water reclamation system that spans from Vasona reservoir, through Vasona Park, all the down to the percolation ponds in Campbell. The trails up to and around the reservoir offer challenging climbs for runners, and Vasona park offers a wide variety of recreational areas including playgrounds, large picnic areas, a narrow gauge railroad, and small craft rentals at the lake. It will take multiple visits to enjoy this wonderful recreation area.

Plan to walk or run this trail with an hour or more of time. It is pretty long, and has a couple side trails you can try which can extend your hike to a half day for instance.

It is a great trail to hike with the intent to eat afterwards as there are some great restaurants by the trail head. (A very nice feature!)

After the trail runs parallel to a lovely creek, it passes a reservoir (that has an outhouse if needed) along the journey. The trail then becomes uphill to elevate you as you enjoy beautifully mature trees, Oaks, shrubs, and Pines, and the welcome shade they provide periodically.

This trail is a great experience and always leaves you feeling great.

I like this trail . it goes from the vasona park to willow glen . great trail to ride a bike . I have heard a few walkers have been harassed while walking so don't go alone if you walk .

I live here and I used this trail for biking. It has so much you can do with your family and kids. It's beautiful and relaxing.

It is great that there is a paved trail close to the resident or downtown area. The trail is also great for family.

I frequently use this park, whether walking or riding my bike. Weekends are usually more crowded. However, to avoid the crowds some of the time use the trail between the creek and Highway 17 for a portion of your experience. There are many fitness stations along the way to enhance your exercise experience. I've taken the trail from Leigh Avenue (actually Meridian) all the way into Los Gatos. It's GREAT!@

A good long stretch for long walks and runs. Connects two lakes with a dam. Lots of birds and trees. It is really pleasant especially if you come early in the morning. There is parking for $. There are picnic tables, which can be reserved I think.

Whether it is summer or winter, the trail is excellent for walinking, for relaxation, for picnics. Worth the visit. Check it out. You will love it. The summer choo choo train for kids and adults alike is short but sweet.

As San Jose can get quite hot in the summer, this trail is perfect almost year round as it offers lots of shade. It's a very long trail but I recommend taking it from Vasona Park. You always see some friendly faces while walking this trail, but it hardly gets too crowded to enjoy a leisurely walk or a run. One of the many places in the area to enjoy San Jose's year round mild weather!

I took my kids here during our trip from NY. It is a nice, cute park. Good for an afternoon walk. There are also some BBQ areas and saw many people grilling and enjoying.

The trail is a long one, paved, with gravel by-ways off the main trail. It's very popular, with pedestrians, strollers, dogs, bikes, and everything in between. It goes along the creek, of course, through dense brush, past percolation ponds, open views of the hills, and 880/17 freeway, with places to stop and rest. There are lots of entry spots once you know where to go. We use it almost every day to walk our dogs and go via the County Park to the dog park in Campbell. Lots of fun & good exercise. Off-hours and weather mean that you can be almost alone, if you wish.

Beautiful walking trail alongside a small creek in the wooded area of Los Gatos. We enjoy walking on the small trail with our dogs on leash and find friendly folks doing the same. The trail seems very safe but is narrow and dirt with rock, sometimes a tree root or two to watch out for. All levels can enjoy this walk but wear walking shoes. There are options to go as long or short as you can handle. Lots of runners use this trail for the hill climb on the more rigorous part of the trail, but the short version has only one small climb near the end at the top field which leads on to the longer end at the right. When you are up at the bench on top by the field, one can easily walk back through the neighborhood along College avenue. That ends up at Main Street, the corner of a nice restaurant called the Purple Onion. A local hang out for coffee and delicious breakfast/lunch bites. My reward for a great workout!

Relaxing, beautiful, easy to get to, right in the city, convenient. Not too crowded, others on the trail are polite

Whenever I get some time during weekend, I love to go to this trail and walk all the way upto Vasona park.. Even during very hot days, this trail remains reasonably cool. One can easily make the round trip in about 1-1.5 hours and it gives a good deal of exercise as well as fun watching the water flow through the creek. Biking trail is also there. Great place for kids as well as adults.

I've biked on this trail countless times. It stretches from Willow Glen to the Lexington Reservoir and I definitely recommend giving it a try! It also weaves through Vasona Lake Park, which is quite scenic. A majority of the trail is paved and perfect for biking and running.

This trail is paved and well-maintained. It traverses through wooded areas and regional parks, along the babbling Los Gatos creek, past open spaces, and connects some lovely quaint towns. Along the way there are exercise stations, benches to sit for a spell, or stop in Vasona park and take a paddle boat ride or stop for a picnic. On weekends it is widely used by walkers, bikers, and runners but it never feels too crowded. Not sure how far it goes but it does connect Los Gatos and Campbell.

The Los Gatos Creek trail runs from Los Gatos through Campbell along the banks of the creek. It is paved and designed primarily for runners and bicycle riders. Interestingly Interstate 880 also runs along Los Gatos Creek. BUT the Los Gatos Creek trail is 20 - 60 feet below the Freeway. And, with the foliage, you are often not aware that a busy roadway is that close. It's a great way to get some exercise in the middle of a megalopolis.

We took the trail all the way to the Lexington Reservoir. The trail was a bit crowded at first with morning joggers but not too bad. It was a long hike but worth it!

People are usually polite and share the road. Very pleasant place to walk, jog or ride a bike. I wish i lived closer. I'd go more if i didn't have to drive to get there.

Staying at the Hilton in the Pruneyard Plaza, Campbell, the Los Gatos trail was a fantastic find. It is a short walk from the Plaza to access the trail. I don't know this area so am not sure what towns and how many miles it covers, but its a great place to get some exercise for visitors and natives both.

The first time, I walked the trail in one direction and found it be be peaceful and quiet. At times the river the trail follows was visible while other times it was obscured by trees. I passed a covered car wash and some bridges - signs that the city is still there, but didn't hear a lot of traffic. The trail lis completely paved but it is hilly and sometimes a little narrow for two abreast.

The next day, my son and I rented bikes from Pruneyard plaza ($24 for 3 hours) and we rode in the opposite direction. It was like a totally different trail. The river opened into a pond with people boating and having picnics and family gatherings. We passed a small train depot for children to ride. There were many more people accessing the trail in this direction.

This is a great asset to the towns the trail passes through.

Park anywhere along the trail. Occasionally in the past there have been good bike shops adjacent, but seems hard for them to stay in business. Good eats at a few of the entry points.

Very serene and scenic. Very accessible, near major highways and major streets. You exit to Los Gatos downtown for good food and drinks after your hike or run. Not very long trail but enough for a good exercise.

We have a hiking-walking group that when there is the possibility of inclement weather we walk the Los Gatos Creek Trail. If you start at Old Town and go through the tunnel to the lower level there are two choices. To the right you go up the trail to Lexington Reservoir and St Joseph's Hill. This is a medium strenuous hike. To the left the trail is level passing behind businesses, service yards, homes and apartments. In 1.2 miles you enter Vasona County Park. If you arrive at the park when the Merry-go-round and the miniature railroad are operating you can spend a few minutes recapturing your youth, As you walk through the park the county park office with a lot of parks and trails information is on the hill to the right of the trail. From Vasona the trail goes through the peculation ponds and past an off leash dog excersize area. If one were to hike the length of the trail to it's end where it disapears at Meridian Ave you would have gone 8 miles. Now turn around and walk back to Los Gatos one way. l

Very pleasant path for long or short walks. Well traveled. Safe.

Everyone loves this trail. It is pretty and paved, BUT it's right next to the freeway!! How can you enjoy the scenery when you have to hear that constant hum of the freeway as you try to stop and smell the flowers??? So you can see, I don't go there much. When my friends ask I always direct them to the Los Alamitos Creek trail which really is LOVELY. It's along the creek, tons of trees and wildlife, there are exercise stops, shade in lots of places, and it's QUIET. It's also paved and so much BETTER. So, that's my take on the los gatos creek trail: no matter how far you go, the freeway is right there!

I discover this trail 10 years ago, and we love it for our morning walk. Parking is easy, besides multiple free parking spots along the trail. Also in the park itself when you purchased the year pass or senior pass.

It is a longer trail that covers cities of San Jose, Campbell and Los Gatos. Nice scenery too.

I tend to go north of Campbell park in the morning to avoid the summer sun. In cloud day, not too much sun then you can go either northbound or southbound.

Its nice place to hike around . I went with my family (husband + 5 year old)
Enjoyed the hike, we parked our car somewhere in Los Gatos and walked up from there. Its nice place to hike and then go back to Los Gatos for a bite

I try to hit this trail 2-3 times a week. The beauty is that you can enter and exit and any of dozens of spots, making a hike on this trail a delightfully new experience each time. The change in scenery seasonally, and naturally with different locations along the way, make Los Gatos Creek trail one of the most diverse experiences in hiking and biking. Geese, ducks, and other water fowl scatter throughout the percolation ponds, and other wildlife - birds of all sorts, and an occasional raccoon - delight at every turn.

Not knowing what this was all about - you first travel along with the highway in view and the trail is dusty but there is a little creek, woods, a good hike and workout that gradually gets steeper and takes you to a hillside view of the city. Worth exploring if you like to hike.

If you want to go somewhere other than the gym for your walk or run, this is a beautiful alternative. The lake is beautiful, as is the trail. Be sure to take a flashlight of some sort if you are there after dark however. It gets pitch black.

There are many benches along the way too.

Side note….there is a dog park there for those of you who might be interested.

The LG creek trail is a great place for a walk or ride. The scenery is great, trail is wide enough for lots of folks to enjoy without too much crowding.

Right now the level of water along the Los Gatos Creek Trail is very high. It is a wonderful trail to take!

We used this trail system on our ride from Fremont to Los Gatos. It is such a beautiful and for the most part well maintained. It is well used by walkers, runners, and cyclists. Several large park systems intersect with the trail so use caution in these locals. Loved this trail.

From Lark Ave, Los Gatos to the park is a wonderful walk under the trees along a creek

I often Ride on Weekends and love the trip through vasona park. The campbell perk ponds have dried up but its still an amazing trail

This is a great hiking trail. After you finish you will feel as though you got a good workout! It is also a good place to take your dog. During the summer be sure to go early in the morning or late afternoon as it gets hot! On holidays the trail can get crowded.

Did a 5K here around the park, it is really pretty and lots of spots to picnic or just sit by the lake. The race was really fun and even with that going on the park was not crowded.

I tried to go to the trail, so I found it on my Google Map app (Samsung Galaxy Android phone, latest software) and followed its directions. Unfortunately, there was a bug in the map. The trail runs parallel to Highway 17, but t Google Map treated the highway like a normal street. So at a certain point as I was going down the highway, the GPS said "your destination is on the right. You have arrived." Obviously, unless I wanted to cause an accident, I couldn't just stop and pull over to the side of the highway and go walk on the trail. I got off the highway at the next exit, which unfortuantely was not a local street, but another highway (85). I had only about an hour to spare and by the time I got off the next exit at Highway 85, I had already wasted 15 minutes and still didn't know how to get to the actual parking lot for the Los Gatos Creek Trail. I basically just turned around and went back to my hotel.

So, if you want to go there, make sure you use Los Gatos Creek County Park as the destination, not Los Gatos Creek Trail.

Go the distance from Downtown Campbell to Los Gatos and Lexington Reservoir beyond. Take a few hours and turn around or pack a lunch and take a day to journey ,, flora and fauna is proximate and easy to be found!

Started In Campbell rode through tule marsh, and mostly park like scenery, even when not on the trail. Some times there are homeless issues, but the police patrol this now, so you are safe, as any where in Silicon Valley. Ended at Vasona Lake park, been there dozens of times still love it.

Love to take my family for a walk there. Little ones could use schooters. There are 2 play grounds in the park and kids train operating on weekends. Olson great for a family cycling trip, no hills there.

Through Campbell and Los Gatos, this trail offers lots of amenities. From Campbell Ave. traveling south you'll find a small urban park with picnic tables, basketball courts and a par course. You'll then arrive at Los Gatos Creek County Park, which offers more picnicking, an enclosed dog park, and percolation ponds that offer great wild bird viewing. As you travel further south into Los Gatos, the trail passes through Vasona County Park and its lake, and adjacent to Vasona is Oak Meadow Park, with its wooden horse carousel and small scale Billy Jones railroad - both great for kids. Water fountains and restrooms are readily accessible at all locations.
Continue further down the trail and you'll arrive in downtown Los Gatos, behind Old Town. South of town, the trail continues gradually uphill on an unpaved track for about two miles, bringing you up to Lexington Reservoir. Carry water, because drinkable water isn't available on this stretch.
The trail ends at Alma Bridge Rd. at the reservoir, and if you go left on Alma Bridge for about an eighth of a mile, you'll come to the St. Joseph's Hill trailhead on your left. The trail is a lot more challenging from here on, but very pretty. Follow it for a couple of miles and you'll end up near College Ave. just above downtown Los Gatos. Go left on College and you'll arrive back in downtown Los Gatos near Old Town, where you can continue north on the Los Gatos Creek Trail back towards Campbell.

In town looking for a missing pet in San Jose, I was enchanted with the Los Gatos Creek Trail in the downtown area. Lovely to find so much greenery, greenbelts and parks in the heart of a city!

That said, a caution - if you get off the actual trail, the beauty of the creek is marred by the number the hovels, encampments, trash dumps, and stench of human deification that we encountered while looking for the lost pet.

Back topside, it's a lovely place!

This is where my kids learned to ride. It is friendly, flat and shaded in many places. Excellent for running because of the scenery and length.

I love hiking or walking, this was a cool place to take a hike, its not a hard walk or hike very refreshing with the trees, and there are wooden crossover bridges in some areas, we took a lunch and found a nice spot to have a picnic

OVERALL: Relatively flat, well populated, paved trail spanning from Willow Glen to Downtown Los Gatos (not including unpaved from Downtown LG to Lexington Reservoir). Two end points on the paved path are nice spots to grab a coffee & snack.

Gradual ascent from San Jose's Willow Glen through Campbell and into Los Gatos' Vasona Park is a great run/bike for the family or athlete in training. There is a comfortable amount of people on weekend mornings and late afternoons so you will not feel alone but not crowded.

HELPFUL TIPS:

1) TREE ROOTS: Keep your eyes out near Los Gatos Downtown and Campbell exits (near eBay corp office) as there are pronounced tree roots crossing the path. At high speeds on a bike, these can cause accidents.
2) BE COURTEOUS: Far right is for slower traffic. Also call out to people ahead when passing them. Easy and everyone appreciates it!
3) MAP THE FOOD EXITS: Google map the exists in Los Gatos Downtown, Willow Glen and Campbell's Pruneyard for a quick rest or snack.

This is several miles from the Los Gatos County Park. It is not scenic. It is lined with apartments on one side and homeless camps by the creek on the other side. Where I live in TN, we call this a greenway.

If you are staying around the Los Gatos or Campbell area, the LGCT is a safe place to go for a run or a walk. I am on the trail frequently - sometimes by myself- and have always felt safe. The trail loosely follows Route 17, so there are parts that are noisy from traffic, but otherwise, this paved trail can give you the exercise you want with any distance turnaround you'd prefer. If you like to bike, it can get crowded during peak hours, so you may find frustration with all of the walkers/runners on the trail. On the Los Gatos end, there is Vasona Park which is a haven for kids and families. On the Campbell end, there is a small park and you are one block from downtown for food and shopping. In between locations there is a great dog park - if that is your thing. There is ample parking and there are bathrooms from most "hop-on" the trail openings.

I happened upon a part of this trail that I hadn't seen before. Since it's rained, the creek has a definite flow and in some places there are small waterfalls. Dogs love to play in the water and the benches under trees along the way provide a shaded respite from the walk to sit and enjoy nature.

My sister and I last minute found this trail and I am so happy we did. Felt very safe and loved all the wildlife from hummingbirds to ducks! If I lived around her I would be there every week.

This is a well marked and clear path to follow. Gentle terrain. And accessible to most people. Some great views and very close to town a great escape from the city.

If you enjoy a relaxing ride this is the place to go, you can also challenge yourself if you choose by a ride to the reservoir, and you can always stop for a good cup of coffee.

Let's face it – Santa Clara county is overpopulated and getting worse. It's impossible to head to Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay on a nice day, due to horrendous traffic. Thankfully, we have this nice trail for walking, biking, sitting and enjoying the various parks, watching the dogs at the dog park – and just enjoying a day.

Beautiful scenery all around when you walk this trail. From Downtown to Vasona Park to even past Los Gatos itself, this trail is a nice walk to experience the towns nearby and lakes too, if they aren't too dried out from the drought.

Very nice trail to walk alone, with others, or with your dog. Especially nice by the ponds and Vasona lake.

Can’t go wrong with this hike, easy to get to, medium exercise level walking, unless you run, and it becomes a very strong exercise level if you want. The Trail winds through the trees Up in the hills and then down to the lake, beautiful and scenic and local!

Always a great place to get some exercise or just walk off the day's stress! Hop on your bike and have brunch/lunch in Campbell or Los Gatos...then bike back! Good family fun!

Can't believe this trail is in the heart of Silicon Valley and didn't take me 3 hours to get to. Los Gatos Creek Trail is the place to be on the weekends for a challenging hike or just a walk. You can walk all the way from Los Gatos to Lexington Reservoir. And no I haven't made it yet. My plan is to park one car there and one in Los Gatos. Once I make it to the reservoir I can drive back to LG. Not quite ready for the round trip!

Good for walks and family picnics.

Be aware that large Goose population takes over some areas in June/July and they are naturally protective of their young.

I work in a nearby business, and sometimes I just need to escape my desk. This trail is the perfect opportunity to walk, breathe, and decompress from the daily stress of the office while enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery Los Gatos has to offer. Waterfalls, bridges, dog parks, benches, and a lake are all included at no additional cost.

Trail is well paved around the lake at Vasona Park. You can see many types of water fowl. Great place for family picnics!

I’ve been walking this trail almost my entire life. Really peaceful way to be with oneself in the midst of city life.

The person who gave this trail a bad review obviously hasn't walked far enough on it. I agree that the very beginning of the trail that follows the inside of the creek (from the bridge) can be a little funky but you have to actually hike the trail to get to have an opinion! THis person did not clearly. My favorite entrance to the park is up College avenue to Jones trail and go up the right side (no bikes). It is so pretty at all times of the year. You pass over little bridges and walk on a trail right next to the mountain that is just lovely and cool and green. As you continue to gain height, the view and the work out become better and better. THis series of trails is so awesome because you have so many options. Beware of mountain bikers... and yes there are some very thoughtless dog owners who should have their pet's poop smeared on their car.... don't think I haven't been tempted.... but for the most part everyone behaves. Go with friends for fun fellowship but also alone is very safe. Running great... bring water. Ask for directions if you're not sure... people love to help out!

We enjoy this trail every time we visit the area. It's great for walking and biking. Hotels in Campbell give you easy access to the trail. Stop at the pond and watch the birds. See kids fishing. Feel like you're enjoying nature and getting away in the middle of the city. We love it.