Los Gatos Creek County Park

Los Gatos Creek County Park is a 110-acre stretch of green along the creek in Campbell, sitting right at the midpoint of the Los Gatos Creek Trail. People come here to walk, jog, bike, skate, fish, fly cast, picnic, watch birds, and let their dogs run, and the paved, mostly level paths make it one of the easier places in the South Bay to get outside regardless of your age or fitness level. The trail itself is managed by several agencies, including Santa Clara County Parks, the City of Campbell, the Town of Los Gatos, and the City of San Jose, so the rules can change a bit depending on which section you’re on. If you drive into the main lot there’s a vehicle fee, but there are also a few free street parking options and an annual pass that’s a real bargain for anyone 60 or older.

For people who live nearby, the park becomes part of the weekly routine. It’s where you take the dog in the morning, start a bike ride to Downtown Campbell for coffee, or set up a picnic with the grandkids on a Sunday afternoon, and that kind of everyday access is a big part of why the neighborhoods around it hold their appeal.

The Significance of a Regional Trail

Creating Connections

A regional trail like the one running through Los Gatos Creek County Park does a lot more than give people a place to walk. It links parks and open space into a continuous network, it works as an alternative transportation corridor for bike commuters, and it gives multiple communities access to natural areas and historic sites. The main stretch of the Los Gatos Creek Trail runs 9.7 miles from Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos, through Campbell, to Meridian Avenue in San Jose. Heading north from the park you’ll reach downtown Campbell and The Pruneyard, and heading south you’ll reach Vasona Lake County Park and downtown Los Gatos. A bike and pedestrian bridge over Highway 17 also connects the park to Mozart Avenue on the other side of the freeway.

Unraveling the Secrets of Los Gatos Creek

A Valuable Water Resource

Los Gatos Creek runs about 24 miles from the Santa Cruz Mountains to its confluence with the Guadalupe River in downtown San Jose. Along the way it serves two roles: it’s a riparian corridor for plants and wildlife, and it’s a working piece of the valley’s water supply and flood protection system.

Runoff from the upper watershed is captured by Lexington Reservoir, formed by the James J. Lenihan Dam in 1952. That water is later released down the creek and diverted into the percolation ponds you see in the park. Water in the ponds seeps, or “percolates,” down through the soil until it reaches the underground aquifer, and that slow trip through the earth helps filter it along the way. The system was built to recharge the groundwater basin after decades of overpumping caused parts of the valley floor to sink.

Los Gatos Creek also helps with flood protection for the west valley. It’s part of the larger Guadalupe River watershed, and along with many smaller creeks it drains into the river, which carries storm runoff out to San Francisco Bay. Water supply and flood management for the county are handled by Valley Water (the Santa Clara Valley Water District). The creek is healthier than many people realize, too. Chinook salmon migrate up the Guadalupe River and Los Gatos Creek, and steelhead have been spotted as far upstream as Hamilton Avenue.

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Getting to Los Gatos Creek County Park

The main entrance is at 1250 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008, where a paved lot with ADA-compliant spaces is reached via Lost Lake Lane. Two other entrances along Dell Avenue have free street parking, and the one near Division Street is wheelchair accessible. You can also reach the trail from several other points:

• From San Jose: Access the trail at Blackford Elementary School, near the intersection of Leigh Avenue and Willow Street. Limited on-street parking is available on Bascom Avenue, north of Hamilton Avenue.
• From Campbell: Access and parking are available at Campbell Park on Campbell Avenue, at Los Gatos Creek County Park on Dell and Hacienda Avenues, and from Old Camden Avenue. VTA’s Downtown Campbell light rail station is a short walk from the trail.
• From Los Gatos: There are access and parking options at Vasona Lake County Park and Oak Meadow Park off Blossom Hill Road, in downtown Los Gatos at Miles Avenue, Main Street, and Forbes Mill, and at the Lexington Reservoir dam.

Operating Hours and Fees

The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset, and vehicle entrance fees are collected year-round. Los Gatos Creek County Park offers hourly parking, so check the pay machine at the lot for the current rate (the machines take credit cards only). If you plan to visit often, the county’s 12-month annual pass is $95, and seniors 60 and older can get one for $48, which covers parking at most Santa Clara County parks. Vehicles displaying a valid disabled placard or license plate park free. Group picnic reservations carry their own fees.

You can find full fee details on the county’s Park Fees page, or call the park office at (408) 355-2375.

Accessibility

Santa Clara County Parks follows Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and doesn’t discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its programs, services, or activities. The main paved trail is mostly flat and works well for wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. If you need an accommodation, the county’s ADA public access page explains how to make a request.

Trail Maps and Guides

• Los Gatos Creek County Park Guide Map
• Los Gatos Creek Trail Guide Map
• Los Gatos Creek Trail Brochure
• Vasona Lake and Los Gatos Creek County Parks Brochure
• Official Los Gatos Creek County Park page

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Facilities at Los Gatos Creek County Park

The park has plenty of amenities for a full afternoon. There’s a pavilion and picnic tables for meals and gatherings, plus reservable group picnic sites. The paved trails are open to walkers, joggers, bicyclists, skaters, and non-motorized scooters.

The lake at the heart of the park is a reshaped version of a natural lake that once marked the eastern boundary of the historic Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos, the Mexican land grant that covered much of today’s Campbell and Los Gatos area. Today the park has six percolation ponds, and the northernmost one is open to fishing for black bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and carp (anglers 16 and older need a California fishing license). The casting ponds are open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset for fly and plug casting practice, and no hooks or dogs are allowed in the casting area.

Bird lovers should plan a winter visit. The ponds draw American wigeon, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, goldeneyes, mergansers, herons, egrets, and big gatherings of gulls, and the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance has a self-guided birding route for the park and the nearby Oka Ponds.

Pet-Friendly Recreation at Los Gatos Creek County Park

This is one of the most dog-friendly parks in the area. Leashed dogs are welcome on the Los Gatos Creek Trail and in the picnic areas, so your dog can join you for a stroll or a lunch outside. The Los Gatos Creek County Dog Park, at the north end of the park, is fully fenced with separate sections for small and large dogs, artificial turf, shade structures, bench seating, and water. If you’re looking for more spots to take your dog, check out my list of the best dog-friendly parks in Campbell.

Living Near Los Gatos Creek County Park

Proximity to the creek trail is a real selling point for homes in Campbell and the north end of Los Gatos. Buyers love being able to walk or bike to downtown Campbell, The Pruneyard, and Vasona without getting in the car, and for longtime owners it’s the kind of amenity that weighs heavily when deciding whether to stay put or downsize somewhere close by. If you’re thinking about downsizing but want to stay close to places like this, my guide to the best Silicon Valley neighborhoods for senior downsizers is a good place to start, and you can track current values on my Campbell home prices and Los Gatos home prices pages.

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Final Thoughts

Los Gatos Creek County Park is a lot more than a parking lot and a path. It’s a hub for recreation, a refuge for wildlife, a working part of the valley’s water system, and a link to the area’s ranching history. Whether you want a quiet picnic spot, a scenic route for your morning walk, a place to practice your fly cast, or a safe spot for your dog to play, this park covers it. The next time you’re in Campbell, stop by and enjoy it, and if you’re looking for more ideas nearby, here are 5 fun things to do in Campbell.

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