Putah Creek North Levee Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Wildlife

The trail is basically a wide and generally flat access road along the north side of Putah Creek atop a high levee. When on the trail, stay on the north side of the creek; the south side is all private property. Do not trespass.

The trail has four main access points: Pedrick Road/Road 98, Hopkins Road (Fire Ring Parking), Brooks Road, and Old Davis Highway.

You can do this trail in either direction, and any of the sections. Combined with the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Trail you can complete a six-mile loop. This description is from the Old Davis Highway access to the Pedrick Road Access, heading west. The area of the creek open to the public is ONLY on the north side of the creek between Pedrick Road and Old Davis Road. Upstream from Pedrick Road and downstream from Old Davis Road is not open to the public or is private property.

Starting at the Old Davis Road Parking access (located on the east side of the roadway), proceed west along the gravel access road till you come to the rail bridge. The road will veer south passing under the bridge before reconnecting with the access road. (DO NOT CROSS TRACKS). The road will be become paved before crossing under the Interstate 80 overpass and will remain paved until it again meets the top of the levee.

After a mile and half, the road becomes paved again as when it meets Brooks Road access point. You'll follow the paved levee road for half a mile until you reach the "Fire pit" access point. This is a nice area to have a picnic.

From here, the trail becomes slightly narrower. The trail will continue to follow this path, before finally turning south and heading downhill towards the creek under the Pedrick Road/Hwy 98 overpass and to the access parking lot.

Along the way, you'll see Box Elder, Oaks, Willow, wild California Grape, California Wild Rose and Fremont Cottonwood. Also you'll see many different raptors, waterfowl, rabbits, raccoons, and lizards. Since most of the trail is atop the high levee it is almost in line with the canopy of the trees that are down near the creek allowing easy views of birds perched high in the canopy.