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Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 125 Google reviews · Running trail in Davis, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Crushed gravel
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Putah Creek Riparian Reserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
“8 stars out of 5 Location 5 stars, Water 4 stars, Plants 5 stars, Environment 5 stars I love the Putah Creek area and feel lucky to have such beautiful scenery and moving water.”
“Cool calm water and plenty of muskrats and turtles on a peaceful day”
Came for a hike and found an awesome swimming hole! The kids love it, water is perfect, current isn't too fast. Discovered it less than a week ago and have come back 3 times already!
This place is so lovely. I came for a day hike with my mother and brother. We didn't go the whole 6.9 miles. We opted for a quick 2 mile in and back. And it was just beautiful. A must try if your in the area!
Excellent place for a walk, run, picnic, or just stopping and enjoying the wildlife around you. Paths are well maintained and do a great job of meandering through the reserve. Parking is free, and sufficiently clean port-o-potties are available at the main parking lots.
This is a great place to go birding, you can make a loop trip along the creek then back along with gravel road. We did it mid day, around noon, in October, and saw 22 species. Low for this habitat, but that was due to time of day. Lots of dog walkers.
Trail conditions & character
“8 stars out of 5 Location 5 stars, Water 4 stars, Plants 5 stars, Environment 5 stars I love the Putah Creek area and feel lucky to have such beautiful scenery and moving water.”
“Parking is free, and sufficiently clean port-o-potties are available at the main parking lots.”
“Cool calm water and plenty of muskrats and turtles on a peaceful day”
“This is a great place to go birding, you can make a loop trip along the creek then back along with gravel road.”
Plan your run at Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteputahcreek.ucdavis.edu
- Phone(478) 986-7266
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Davis
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Putah Creek Riparian Reserve
4.6 ★★★★★ 37 reviews
Central Park
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Putah Creek Parkway
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