Los Gatos Creek Trail - Walt's Cycle


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Brief Description

The Los Gatos Creek Trail is one of the most extensive cycling paths in the South Bay. Consisting of approximately 11 miles of paved, two-way travel, the Los Gatos Creek Trail travels through some of the best scenery in the region, such as Campbell Park and Vasona Lake. For mountain cyclists, the southern portion of the trail turns to gravel and begins to climb from downtown Los Gatos to the summit of the Lexington Dam in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The trail has enjoyment for all riding levels, from families looking to enjoy a pleasant outing to mountain bikers seeking to improve endurance.

Quick Facts

Trail Photos

Length: The total length of the paved trail is 8.5 miles one-way from Meridian Ave in Campbell to Forbes Mill in Los Gatos. The unpaved section from Forbes Mill to Lexington Reservoir is about 2 miles one-way. The most scenic portion of the trail between Campbell Park and Vasona Lake is about 4.5 miles in length one-way.
Hours: 7:00 A.M. to sunset.
Trail Conditions: The paved section is mostly level with occasional hills. The dirt section from Forbes Mill to Lexington Reservoir gradually climbs to Lexington Dam with significant climbing the last 1/2 mile. All trails are two-way.
Cost: Vehicle entrance fee collected at Vasona Lake and Los Gatos Creek County Park. Free elsewhere.

Location and Map
The Los Gatos Creek trail covers a large area between the city of Campbell and Lexington Reservoir in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Most of the trail follows along highway 17 and Los Gatos Creek. The trail passes through many local parks, including Vasona Lake and Campbell Park. Vasona Lake is a great place to start on the trail. Parking is usually available and the lake provides great recreation, such as a small children's train, picnicking, lake activities, rest rooms, and more. A vehicle entrance fee is collected year-round. Another good place to start is Campbell Park. The extensive playground provides a good environment for children to play. Parking at Campbell park is free. There are other good places to start on the trail. Click on the map to the right to see the trail layout and find places to park along the trail. Map requires Adobe Reader to view. Map courtesy of Santa Clara County Parks.		Map of the Los Gatos Creek Trail
Things To Consider
The maximum speed limit on the trail is 15 MPH, and lower in certain areas. The Los Gatos Creek trail is a popular destination for fellow joggers, cyclists, and rollerbladers. Share the trail and right-of-way. The entire trail is very scenic, especially between Vasona Lake and Campbell Park.
Web Sites To Check Out
	Santa Clara County Parks http://www.parkhere.org	The official site for the Santa Clara County Park system. Includes information on many local parks to ride, such as Rancho San Antonio, Coyote Creek Parkway, and others. Provides detailed park maps, photos, events, park hours, and more.