Copyright: Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Dept. Penitencia Creek County Park is an 81-acre part of a parkway project owned and operated by several agencies

Description - Welcome to Penitencia Creek County Park. This linear park and regional trail incorporates parklands and open space from a number of agencies including Santa Clara County, the City of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley Water District. This 4-mile trail follows Penitencia Creek from the 700-acre Alum Rock Regional Park (City of San Jose) to its confluence with Coyote Creek. The trail is incomplete at this time; however, a majority of the trail is developed and is open to public use and enjoyment.

Attractions - Penitencia Creek County Park is an 81-acre part of a parkway project owned and operated by several agencies. The parkway begins with the City of San Jose's 700-acre Alum Rock Regional Park. The park includes a nature center and picnic grounds. The trail proceeds intermittently from Alum Rock Park. Some portions of the trail are as yet undeveloped. Between Alum Rock Park and Noble Avenue, trail users must use the road shoulder. This is also the case between Noble Avenue and White Road/Piedmont Road; however, sidewalks and bike paths fill in the gaps. The trail from White / Piedmont Roads to Jackson / Mabury area is continuous except for the on street crossings of Capitol Avenue and Jackson Avenue. The paved trail provides opportunities to hikers, bicyclists and skaters / bladders. The creek flows westerly through the residential neighborhoods of Berryessa and Alum Rock to its confluence with Coyote Creek near Berryessa Road. The trail between Jackson / Mabury and Coyote Creek is as yet largely undeveloped.

The majority of the park's facilities meet those standards established by the Americans with Disabilities Act. For other specific information or special accommodations, contact the park office at Ed R. Levin County Park (see Contact Information for phone number

Recreation - This park offers opportunities for hikers, bikers, equestrians, and nature lovers.

The park is open year-round from 8 AM until sunset. The ranger station for Penitencia Creek County Park is located at Ed R. Levin County Park in Milpitas. No fees are collected at this facility.

Climate - Climate in the San Francisco Bay area varies greatly with elevation and the amount of coastal influence. Areas with more coastal influence experience moderate temperatures year round with fog likely from June through mid-August. Plan your coastal visit in the late summer or fall to ensure the best conditions for viewing the scenery. Also, occasional clear days between winter and spring storms are incomparable. Areas further inland experience greater temperature extremes, with relatively cooler winters and hot summers. Inland areas often receive frost on winter nights. As throughout most of California most of the precipitation comes in the winter months, with April through October normally very dry.

Location - To reach the park chain from U.S. Highway 101 take the McKee Road exit in San Jose. Travel east on McKee 1.2 miles to Jackson Avenue. Turn left on to Jackson and proceed 0.7 miles to Mabury Road. The Penitencia Creek County Park gardens and access point to the trail are located on the northwest corner of Jackson and Mabury. The trail crosses Jackson Avenue 0.2 miles north of Mabury on the south side of Penitencia Creek. Penitencia Creek Road parallels the trail form Capitol Avenue to Alum Rock Park. To reach the City of San Jose's Penitencia Creek Park, take the McKee Road exit east. Follow McKee Road 1.8 miles to Capitol Avenue, turn left on to Capitol. Travel north on Capitol 1.2 miles to Penitencia Creek Road. Turn right and proceed east to the park's entrance of the left.

To reach the park chain from Interstate 680, take the Berryessa Road exit and proceed east 0.2 miles to Capitol Avenue. Turn right and follow Capitol Avenue south 0.4 miles to Penitencia Creek Road. You may either follow Penitencia Creek Road to the City of San Jose's Penitencia Creek Park or continue on Capitol Avenue south 0.4 miles to Mabury Road in order to reach the Penitencia Creek Gardens. Turn right on to Mabury and travel west 0.5 miles to Jackson Avenue. The Penitencia Creek County Park Gardens and access point to the trail are located on the northwest corner of Jackson and Mabury. The trail crosses Jackson Avenue 0.2 miles north of Mabury Road, on the south side of Penitencia Creek.

LAT: 37.3884358523
LONG: -121.847262383