Here’s a fun bike trail & other things to do while in West Valley Watershed: 

SAN TOMAS AQUINO/SARATOGA CREEK – Fun Bike Trail

In the midst of an urban environment is a great trail where you can enjoy nature – the San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail.  Please see SVBC’s resource page which will assist you to navigate questions regarding bike riding basics, family biking tips, general mechanics of your bike and more! Already collecting signs? Check out our Leaderboard to see if you’ve made it on there!

The official trail head is located at 2380 Monroe Street in Santa Clara and ends at Sunnyvale Baylands park.  On the way, keep an eye out for some famous South Bay attractions and landmarks! The trail follows the west bank of the creek and passes under several major roadways via under crossings. At every under crossing, you’ll find interpretive signs and beautiful bas-relief sculptures (aka. decorative concrete retaining walls) on the walls. At the end of the trail, take a slight right to reach the Sunnyvale Baylands Park Trail/Bay Trail.  Baylands Park is a 70-acre park located within a preserve, where an additional 105 acres of wetlands are protected from development.

If you’d like even more of a challenge, continue on to the San Francisco Bay Trail.  Currently with over 350 miles of trails in place, the goal is to have all 500 miles encompassing the entire San Francisco Bay! Of course, our adventures would not be complete without spotting some wildlife and plants: 

NATIVE ANIMALS and PLANTS:

Animals

• California Ridgway’s rail (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus); Federally Endangered, State Endangered; Saltwater and brackish marshes

• California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus); State Threatened; Tidal and freshwater marshes

• Black skimmer (Rynchops niger); Species of Special Concern; Southern portion of the San Francisco Bay

• Salt-marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris); Federally Endangered, State Endangered; Saltwater and tidal marshes, most associated with pickleweed.

Plants

• Pickleweed (Salicornia pacifica); Not listed, though the habitat it is found in is protected.; Tidal marshes

PARKS/ATTRACTIONS:

Please note: You won’t find Valley Water signs at these locations, however these are a list of great attractions you might want to visit during your bike ride in this watershed. Enjoy!

• Sunnyvale Baylands Park – A much loved park nestled within the City of Sunnyvale. Several bike/pedestrian trails run through and surround the park. Enjoy a day in nature!

• Baylands Birding Tours – Volunteers from the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society offer free, one-hour birding tours along the Bay Trail. No reservations are required. (Temporarily on hold due to Covid)

ART:

Please note: You won’t find Valley Water signs at these locations, however this is a great attraction you might want to visit during your bike ride in this watershed. Enjoy!

Libby’s Water Tower: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/libby-s-water-tower.

*To be eligible for the monthly gift card drawings, participants must collect at least 25 signs since July 15.

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