Contents:

Introduction

Access

Description & Views

Links


Bay Trail Links:

Bay Trail Home

Bay Trail Map: South Bay

Guided Photo Tours

   Sunnyvale Baylands

   Stevens Creek Trail

   Shoreline Park
 
   Palo Alto Baylands

   Ravenswood

   Dumbarton Bridge

   Menlo Park

   Don Edwards SFBNWR



Stevens Creek Trail



Introduction

Note: this page is an update to the original page on the Stevens Creek Trail that I made for the Bay Trail project. This is a prototype that may eventually replace that page.

Stevens Creek, named after early Cupertino settler Capt. Elisha Stephens,  is a 20-mile long waterway that starts on the slopes of Black Mountain in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It begins in a lush forest in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve . It flows through the earthquake rift of Stevens Canyon and fills Stevens Creek Reservoir . Below that, it runs through the heart of the Silicon Valley through heavily developed urban areas and flows into San Francisco Bay. Though not a part of the Bay Trail itself, the Stevens Creek Trail is a heavily-used feeder trail and an important gateway to the Bay Trail. The Stevens Creek Trail, which follows along the banks of Stevens Creek, is not a long trail, but it is one of the best-developed and most ambitious trails in the Bay Area. The existing trail cost around $10 million to build, with funding from a wide range of public and private sources. Building the trail required the construction of several bridges and underpasses, the planting of thousands of trees and shrubs, and the installation of numerous amenities, like benches, signs, and drinking fountains. South of Hwy 101, the trail was built through already-established suburban neighborhoods and along busy major roads, including State Highway 85, the Stevens Creek Freeway. However, because of the extensive landscaping and amenities, the trail is like a natural linear park. It can serve as a model for how to turn previously-unused land into an attractive and vital recreational resource.

The Stevens Creek Trail in Mountain View was built in sections called "Reaches." Reach 1 was completed in 1991 and runs from Shoreline at Mountain View Park to L'Avenida Avenue. Reach 2 was completed in 1996 and runs from L'Avenida Avenue to Whisman School. Reach 3, dedicated in 1999, runs from Whisman School to Landels Park. The latest section, which was dedicated on October 12, 2002, is Reach 4, Segment 1 , which runs from Landels Park, over busy Hwy 237, to Yuba Drive. In 2008, it was extended from Yuba Drive to El Camino Real.

Plans are being made to extend the trail farther through Mountain View. There is an undeveloped section of land zoned as parkland along the creek south of El Camino Real to Hwy 85. There is a meadow here that was the homestead of the Sleeper family. This area is known as "Sleeper Park" or "Sleeper Open Space."  The trail through here is under construction. The creek crosses to the east side of Hwy 85 and forms the Mountain View-Sunnyvale border. The creek is hidden behind sound walls. South of that, it crosses under Hwy 85 again and runs along the Los Altos-Sunnyvale border to Homestead Road. It then runs through Cupertino, passing several parks and golf courses. At the time of this writing, Sunnyvale did not have plans for extending the Stevens Creek Trail through its city limits because of private property issues. Los Altos and Cupertino were studying it.

Stevens Creek enters county land at Stevens Creek Reservoir County Park . Trails run along the creek in the  park. Stevens Creek Reservoir occupies 93 acres of the 1095 acre park. Fishing and boating are popular here. Above the reservoir, the creek runs up Stevens Canyon through private land along Stevens Canyon Road. After the road ends, the creek enters Upper Stevens Creek County Park and Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. These adjoining parks comprise 4664 acres of rugged forested open space along the flanks of the Santa Cruz Mountains. In Monte Bello, trails lead along the upper reaches of spring-fed Stevens Creek, which runs year round. Stevens Creek follows along the rift of the San Andreas Fault in this area.

The long-range goal is to extend the Stevens Creek Trail all the way up the creek to its headwaters in the Santa Cruz Mountains. There, it will intersect the Bay Area Ridge Trail . Like the Bay Trail, the Bay Area Ridge Trail is a 400-mile proposed trail network that runs around the Bay Area, except it runs along the Bay Area's ridge tops. The Stevens Creek Trail can thus form a connector between these 2 huge trail networks, which together will form over 800 miles of recreational trails.

At the moment, the Stevens Creek Trail starts at El Camino Real in Mountain View, then follows Stevens Creek all the way to the Bay Trail, which runs to Shoreline at Mountain View Park. Between Landels Park and Hwy 101, the Stevens Creek Trail runs through densely-populated suburban neighborhoods and by several neighborhood parks and schools. From 101 to Crittenden Lane, it runs past a series of high-tech business parks, mobile home parks, and NASA's Ames Research Center. Beyond that it reaches the trails at Shoreline at Mountain View. There, 2 bridges lead over to the east bank of the creek, where a gravel levee road runs by NASA, the Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, and former salt ponds to the creek's mouth on San Francisco Bay.

The trail provides a safe and scenic escape for thousands of city dwellers to reach the parks and nature preserves by the Bay. The trail crosses over and provides access to the VTA Light Rail line and the Caltrain line along Central Expressway. The Light Rail line serves hundreds of thousands of people in the Santa Clara Valley. Using the Light Rail and the Stevens Creek Trail, people from as far away as the Almaden Valley in San Jose can access the Bay Trail in Mountain View. Using Caltrain, people from as far away as Gilroy can reach the Bay through the Stevens Creek Trail, as well as people from up the Peninsula and San Francisco. The Stevens Creek Trail is thus a strategic place to begin this tour of the Bay Trail in Mountain View.

For further information on the Stevens Creek Trail, call (650) 903-6392. The Friends of Stevens Creek Trail is a community group working to promote the trail. They are at: McClellan Ranch Park, 22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino, CA 95014, (408) 255-5780, (415) 903-6067.

Access Information

From the Peninsula and East Bay, to reach the south end of the Stevens Creek Trail, take Hwy 101 to Hwy 85 southbound to the El Camino Real exit. The El Camino Real trail head is right next to Hwy 85. There is no parking dedicated for the trail, but public parking is nearby in shopping centers and side streets. To reach the next trail heads, head west on El Camino Real. To right on Yuba Drive and follow it to its end to reach the Yuba Drive trail head. To reach the Landels Park trail head, continue west on El Camino Real. Turn right on Calderon, then right on West Dana Street.

From the points south, take Hwy 85 northbound and exit at Evelyn Avenue. Turn left onto Evelyn, then left on Calderon Avenue. Turn left on West Data Street. Turn into the parking lot at Edith Landels School. Note that public parking is not allowed during weekdays from 7 am to 4 pm. During those times, park on Dana. A sign by the sidewalk at the end of the parking lot marks the Landels Park Trail entrance. Landels Park can also be accessed from Mercy Street to the south, but the city of Mountain View requests that these accesses be used by neighborhood residents only.

The Stevens Creek Trail can also be accessed from several other points along the trail, including the Caltrain and VTA Light Rail stations on Evelyn Avenue/Central Expressway. Trail entrances are also at Creekside Park, Central Avenue, Middlefield Road, Whisman Park, Moffett Blvd., L'Avenida, and Crittenden Lane. The Stevens Creek Trail can also be accessed from Shoreline at Mountain View.

NASA Ames, Moffett Field, and Lockheed Martin form a wide gap in the Bay Trail between Mountain View and Sunnyvale Baylands. There is no off-road route between these two segments of the Bay Trail. Roadside routes run far inland and are generally busy and not pedestrian or bicycle-friendly. The safest way for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel between these two segments is to use the Stevens Creek Trail and the VTA Light Rail.

Description and Views


This is the current start of the trail at El Camino Real. The tunnel goes under the El Camino.


South of El Camino, you can see the future trail segment under construction through Sleeper Park from El Camino Real to Sleeper Avenue. It should be completed by mid-2009.


The tunnel under El Camino Real is lit by lights along the tops of the walls and by a skylight in the middle.


This is the trail just past the hotel on the right.


Ahead is the Yuba Drive trailhead, which has a bike rack, drinking fountain, and parking.


This is the reinforced concrete bridge over Hwy 237 and the Hwy 85 offramp.


The trail goes under the Hwy 85 off-ramp to Hwy 237. Hwy 85 to the right of the trail.


The trail goes under the Dana Avenue bridge.


This pedestrian bridge, just north of Dana Avenue, leads from Landels School and Park to the trail.


In this shady section of trail north of Dana Ave, the trail splits around an island.


This huge steel 1100-foot pedestrian bridge elevates the trail over Evelyn Ave., 4-lane Central Expressway,  2 Caltrain train tracks, and the VTA Light Rail tracks. Ahead, a Light Rail trolley can be seen crossing under the bridge. The Evelyn Light Rail station is a short distance to the right down Evelyn Avenue. The Dowtown Mountain View Transit Center is a short walk to the left up Evelyn. The Transit Center is a major hub for buses, the VTA Light Rail, and Caltrain. It is the northern end of the Light Rail line. It is also at the end of Castro Street, which is lined with restaurants, shops, the Mountain View Center for the Perfoming Arts, the City Hall, and central library.


A southbound train crossing under the pedestrian bridge.


A northbound train crossing under the pedestrian bridge.


This is the ramp leading down from the north footing of the Central Expressway bridge.


This is the trail north of the Central Expressway Bridge.


The trail crosses over Stevens Creek on this bridge near the Central Avenue trail head.


Up until now, the trail has been to the west of Hwy 85. Here it goes under the highway, which will run to the west of the trail.


Just north of the Hwy85 undercrossing is the bridge to Creekside Park.


The trail enters a shady section. A dirt side-trail branches off just ahead.


The dirt side trail parallels the paved the trail and runs through a grassy clearing surrounded by tall trees.


Looking south down the trail near the Middlefield Road undercrossing.


Looking back at the Middlefield Road undercrossing next to Hwy 85. Only a chain link fence separates the trail from the highway under the bridge, which makes it a very noisy segment for a short distance before the soundwalls begin again.


The shady trail north of Middlefield Road leads to the Whisman Park bridge.


Whisman Park is a large park with a playground, tennis courts, picnic tables, restroom, and playing fields. Next to it is Whisman School.


Across the Easy Street from Whisman Park is the beginning of the Hetch Hetchy Trail. The round structure is an access port to the Hetch Hetchy pipeline, which runs underground through this area. The short trail follows the pipeline easement.


This is the landscaped part of the Hetch Hetchy Trail.


Across Tyrella Street is the next section of the Hetch Hetchy Trail, which is not landscaped.


The trail runs by a field next to an apartment complex, then past an abandoned nursery.


This is the other end of the Hetch Hetchy Trail at N. Whisman Road.


Back to the Stevens Creek Trail, the Moffett Blvd. pedestrian over-crossing is currently under construction. It is scheduled for completion in 2009. In the meantime, you cross Moffett Blvd. at a street-level traffic signal.


The Highway 101 undercrossing.


The ramp up from the Hwy 101 undercrossing.


Dirt ramps lead down from the paved trail to run next to Stevens Creek.


The La Avenida Trail head has an amphitheater-like rest area. On the other side of the creek is the giant wind tunnel at Ames Research Center.


The paved trail runs on top of the creek levee, while the dirt trail runs at creek level.


View of the intake and power substation for the giant wind tunnel.


Approaching the NASA Bridge and the Crittenden Lane trail head


Looking south along the trail near the NASA bridge. You can see the paved levee trail and the unpaved trail at creek level. To the right below the trail is a tree farm.


The entrance to the trail from Crittenden Lane. The NASA bridge is ahead.


View north of Stevens Creek from the NASA bridge. The paved trail is to the left. The unpaved levee roads are to the right. At the east end of the bridge, turn left. Signs say you cannot go to the right on the levee past Ames Research Center.


The levee service road on the east side of Stevens Creek is not paved. It is not part of the Stevens Creek Trail, but it is accessible to the public. A lower road goes down to the creek level. The levee gate here shows hunting season dates. Hunters use the levee, but public access is allowed during hunting season. Ahead on the right is a NASA storage yard. NASA property ends just past the storage yard.


Heading north on the gravel levee, next to Stevens Creek. The Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area is to the right.


View across the pond at the Nature Study Area, with Moffett Field's Hangar One in the background.


After the Nature Study Area, the salt ponds begin, formerly owned by Cargill, but now under the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The sign board has hunting information.


View along the catwalks under the power towers that cross the salt ponds.


Hunting blind in the salt pond.


Approaching the mouth of Stevens Creek.


Small dock in the salt pond. The levee beyond is currently off-limits.


The mouth of Stevens Creek on San Francisco Bay.


The Dumbarton Bridge and the abandoned Dumbarton train crossing can be seen in the Bay in the distance.

Head back down the trail to the NASA bridge and continue on the west side of the creek.


This is the trail just north of the Crittenden Lane entrance.


Looking back south on the trail towards NASA Ames.


A steel crosses the creek and leads to the unpaved levee road. This is view of Stevens Creek from the bridge, looking downstream.


View of the steel bridge.


There is a wooden pedestrian-only bridge that crosses over the marsh to the west of the trail.


Along the trail, next to the marsh.


This viewing platform extends into the marsh.


Ahead the trail crosses over an inlet that lets water from Stevens Creek on the right enter the marsh on the left.


This is the end of the trail. While it is possible to cross over to the west side of the marsh along the salt pond shoreline, it is unpaved and may be muddy.


Backtrack along the trail, past the steel bridge, then head west at the next junction.


This interpretive sign is along the south edge of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. The wooden bridge across the marsh can be seen ahead.


The trail leads the west side of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh.




The trail runs along the marsh. To the left is a drainage channel and the hills of Shoreline Park.


The small peninsula ahead in the marsh leads to the base of a power tower.


The trail appears to end at the salt pond ahead, but actually, the trail turns left and enters Shoreline Park.


The trail dips down, then rises up a short distance to head into Shoreline Park.


The salt ponds here are under the jurisdiction of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Catwalks lead to the power towers and are off-limits. Here ducks swim in the pond below a catwalk, with MIssion Peak in the background.

Links
Pictures taken 1/31/2009 and 2/1/2009. All pictures taken with an Olympus E-510 DSLR, except the Moffett over-crossing, taken by a Canon A720IS.
Web page developed: 2/1/2009 by Ronald Horii
Information and opinions expressed here are the responsibility of the author.