Entrance 3: Oak Meadow and Vasona Parks

For pedestrians continuing northward along the Los Gatos Creek trail, the next major stopping point is the Vasona Lake County Park. This public space tends to be frequented by families with young children looking for a relaxing, low key, and inexpensive afternoon. The park is divided into two connecting portions: the Oak Meadow Park, and Vasona Park. The adjacent parks surround the Vasona Reservoir, formed by damming the Los Gatos Creek. Hikers who choose to exit the trail at this point may enjoy several of the parks’ attractions.

Non-power recreational boating on the reservoir is a major draw for visitors, who have the option of renting pedal boats from the reservoir’s marina. The Vasona Science and Nature center is another attraction onsite, which offers natural history and wildlife education opportunities to children through school tours and day camp programs. Finally, the parks offer entertainment for young children in the form of the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, which features a small century-old restored locomotive that operates during summer weekdays and winter and spring weekends. The beautiful Lake Vasona County Park offers a variety of inexpensive activities for hikers of any age group to enjoy. The accessibility and multitude of attractions in these parks makes this a popular starting and ending point for the hiking trail.