Los Gatos Creek Trail, St. Elizabeth Dr Entrance
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Los Gatos Creek Trail at St. Elizabeth Dr Entrance offers a mostly paved, flat, and easy walk with a secluded natural feel, providing opportunities for wildlife viewing and creek access. However, visitors should be aware of significant concerns including homeless encampments, trash, unpleasant odors, and reported poor air quality in various sections.
Key Highlights
- ✓Feels secluded for much of the trail, offering an escape from urban areas.
- ✓Well-paved and fairly flat trail, suitable for easy strolls and strollers.
- ✓Offers a variety of sun and shade, especially when walking right from the entrance.
- ✓Excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, including birds, turtles, butterflies, and ducks around the creek.
- ✓Provides access to the creek, with some hidden spots to climb down (though potentially considered trespassing).
Standout Features
- ⭐The natural, secluded ambiance providing an escape from urban surroundings.
- ⭐The ease of walking on a well-paved, flat surface.
- ⭐The opportunity to observe diverse local wildlife.
- ⭐The presence of both sunny and shaded areas, offering comfort depending on the weather.
- ⭐Direct access to the creek, allowing for interaction with the water.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →For bird watching and a mix of sun and shade, turn right once you enter the trail gate and head towards Leigh Avenue.
- →Be prepared for and mindful of the presence of homeless encampments and associated litter/odors in some sections.
- →The trail is suitable for strollers due to its flat and paved surface.
- →It's a popular spot for dog owners to take their pets down to the creek.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Numerous homeless encampments are present along the trail.
- ⚠The area is reportedly trashed in many spots, with lots of garbage and flies, particularly near the entrance.
- ⚠Some spots along the trail are described as smelling strongly of urine.
- ⚠Bad air quality has been reported along the trail.
- ⚠Unofficial access points to the creek might be considered trespassing.
Price & Value
Free to access; no explicit costs or fees mentioned in reviews.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •The trail is described as 'well paved and fairly flat' which suggests it is suitable for strollers and likely wheelchairs, though no specific ADA compliance or special accommodations are explicitly mentioned.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not mentioned in reviews. As a public trail, it's generally expected that outside food and beverages are permitted, but no specific rules are provided.
🚗Parking Info
- •Plenty of free street parking is available near this entrance to the trail.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Portions of the trail reportedly feel 'secluded for much of the trail', suggesting that it may not be overwhelmingly crowded in all areas.
- •The negative aspects (trash, encampments) might naturally deter some visitors, potentially reducing overall crowd density.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features (e.g., emergency stations, security patrols) are mentioned in the reviews.
- •The presence of homeless encampments and individuals under an overpass might be a perceived safety concern for some visitors, though no negative interactions were reported by the reviewers who mentioned them.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If sensitive to the presence of homeless encampments.
- • If you have low tolerance for significant amounts of trash, litter, or strong unpleasant odors.
- • If seeking an environment with consistently good air quality.
- • If expecting a highly pristine, manicured, or strictly managed park experience.
Pricing/Package/Events
🚗Parking Information
- • {"details":"On street parking only.","location":"East Main Street at College Avenue Access Point"}
- • {"details":"On site parking is available.","location":"Miles Avenue Access Point"}
- • {"details":"Parking available.","location":"Oak Meadow Park and Vasona County Park Access Point"}
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
TK Street
6 years agoThe Los Gatos Creek Trail is brilliant. It's a great escape without actually escaping anywhere. It feels secluded for much of the trail. I take my dog down to the creek everyday. It really is the highlight of this area. There stores and strip malls everywhere in every city, but finding a nice trail like this is a gem.
sofia c.
a year agoit’s a nice trail but a lot of homeless encampments. no problem with the homeless folks i met but the area is really trashed and some spots smell like straight up urine. you can find hidden spots to climb down and get to the water although i think it’s considered trespassing. but given the state of the park i don’t think it’s a big deal to go off roading for an hour or so. probably wouldn’t come back but i had fun in the clean spots.
Christa Perez Bailey
11 months agoThese are some of the birds you can find on this part of the trial. I recommend turning right once you enter the trial gate and heading towards Leigh Avenue.
Heather Porrata
5 years agoPlenty of street parking near this entrance to the trail. Walking to the right provided variety of sun and shade. The trail was well paved and fairly flat for an easy stroll. There was an area where we walked under an overpass. There were boards up there and some homeless that were listening to a radio. Some of the wildlife we enjoyed seeing were turtles, birds, butterflies, and ducks around the creek.
Matt Chen
a year agoLots of garbage flies around and the entrance. Air quality is bad along the trail. 😔
Contact Information
Los Gatos Creek Trail, San Jose, CA 95126, USA
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