Fall Creek Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Lots of regulars run these trails and a portion of them are used for the San Lorenzo High School cross country.

To get to Fall Creek Trail from the parking area, take Bennett Creek Trail. Upon reaching Fall Creek Trail, go right to access Ridge Trail and High School Trail, along a short segment of Fall Creek Trail. Going left onto Fall Creek Trail from Bennett Creek Trail, takes one along the main section of Fall Creek Trail, up along the banks of Fall Creek.

From Fall Creek Trail's junction with Bennett Creek Trail, to its end at Big Ben Trail, you'll see small waterfalls that are scattered along Fall Creek. Additionally, you encounter ruins of an old barrel making mill that has signage explaining how it was used.

The trail itself is relatively smooth but some areas have exposed roots and rocks so wear good running shoes. One area, known as "The Beach", has a couple logs that you have to run on to get over the creek. You cross back and forth over the creek five times on small foot bridges.

Fall Creek and Fall Creek Trail run in a deep, steep sided valley. Redwood trees abound and the vegetation is dense, with a lot of ferns along the creek. This area gets a lot of rain, and with all the water comes erosion of the steep hillsides. There are many downed trees where their roots just did not hold up with the erosion and soft wet soils.

Poison oak is on the sides of the trail so do not touch anything, even non-poison oak plants as animals can rub against both and spread the poison oak's oils on other plants.

Birds, squirrels, Banana slugs, centi/millipedes, fish in creek, and some pet goldfish in an old watering tank used during the lime kiln days.