The Stevens Creek Trail is open in two disconnected segments in Mountain View and Cupertino, two of Silicon Valley's growing communities. As its name suggests, both segments closely follow Stevens Creek, which originates in the Santa Cruz Mountains and empties into the San Francisco Bay.
The northern segment in Mountain View begins just beyond a junction with the San Francisco Bay Trail, a developing effort to create a 500-mile multiuse trail encircling its namesake bay. Coursing southward from 750-acre Shoreline Park, the trail runs through tidal marshlands and natural riparian habitats, providing for recreation and educational opportunities. Grade-separated crossings of busy roads allow for uninterrupted travel to the trail's endpoint in a residential sector of Mountain View at Heatherstone Way and Dale Avenue.
In Cupertino, a much shorter stretch of the Stevens Creek Trail links two popular community parks. In the north, Blackberry Farm offers ample picnic space, swimming pools, a playground, and many other amenities, while the popular McClellan Ranch Preserve farther south features a nature museum and community garden on a preserved horse ranch. Multiple restrooms and water fountains are located along the trail as indicated on the map.
There are several access points throughout the length of the Stevens Creek Trail, but the primary entrance is at its junction with the San Francisco Bay Trail in Mountain View's Shoreline Park (3070 N. Shoreline Boulevard), where parking is also available.
In Cupertino, park at the Linda Vista Park (Linda Vista Dr), McClellan Ranch Preserve (22221 McClellan Road), Blackberry Farm (21979 San Fernando Avenue), or Blackberry Farm Golf Course (22100 Stevens Creek Blvd).
In July, 2021, trail was extended south 1/3 mile to Linda Vista Park in Cupertino.
This is an easy trail and is very pleasant.
Lots of trees, nice trail for biking and running
This is a good trail, however unfortunately on the south end there is a short segment that is disconnected from the rest of the trail which starts again 5 miles to the north.
It is around 1.25 miles stretch. Good for kids and for small stroll.. if looking for long distance, forget about this.
Nice nice
Having just gotten back into biking in the last two months, this is my go to trail when I don't have time to drive more than 15 minutes (I won't ride on the streets because it's so dangerous these days). This trail is convenient to where I live in the valley. I just park at Cuestra Park and ride a couple blocks down Sleeper to the trail entrance there. There are three bridges that require some climbing that most cyclists wouldn't find difficult but I still struggle some while getting my strength back. The trail is beautiful. I recommend going earlier to avoid the pedestrians and families with kids on bikes that are hard to pass.
I'm to the point now where I get to the end of the trail and get on the SF Bay Trail and ride up to the Palo Alto airport so I end up with about 25 miles round trip. You do run into some headwinds on the way but it's pretty easy on the return trip. I've done this trail about 5-6 times so far and love it!
Do an easy round trip starting at the end of Sleeper Drive for a nice hour's trip...about ten miles. Much is through a wooded area in an urban freeway-dense area which is pretty impressive. A little foot traffic around lunch time in the northern portion on weekdays.
This one is a really nice trail, If you come at it from the south, it will be a little noisy as you start riding parallel to HWY 85. Then it opens up and leads you directly into Shoreline Park.
Worth the trip.
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