Exploring Putah Creek Trail (Davis)

Recently I was in Davis, California, and decided to explore the Putah Creek Trail. It was a picture-perfect day with highs in the 60s, and the sun was shining. I heard it was a nice and low-key trail, so I stopped.

About Putah Creek Wildlife Area:

Putah Creek Wildlife Area is about 670 and acres features plenty of wildlife, including:

cottonwood riparian
blue oak woodland
chamise chaparral

A few activities you can do on the Putah Creek Trail include:

fishing
hiking
wildlife viewing
birdwatching
hunting

The Putah Creek Wildlife Area is downstream of the Monticello dam. There are private property parts, so it’s important to make sure you follow all of the local area rules and don’t trespass.

Sadly the Putah Creek Wildlife Area saw fire damage in 2015 and 2020 with the LNU Complex fire and the Wragg fire. You can find more information here.

The Putah Creek Trail:

The trail is about 7 miles and follows the south side of Putah Creek. Apparently, during the winter, parts of the trail can flood, so it’s important to note sometimes areas might close.

You might see any number of animals from raptors, waterfowl, rabbits, and lizards along the Putah Creek Trail.

My Experience at the Putah Creek Trail:

When I arrived, there were a few cars in the parking lot but not many. I actually didn’t see anyone on the trail while out. The entire trail is flat, and it would be nice to do some faster runs on softer surfaces. It was fairly low-key, and I appreciated how quiet it was.

You can easily bring young kids, family, or walk your dog (but keep in mind dogs must be kept on a leash). If you are looking to run on the Putah Creek Trail, you can run in road shoes with no major issues. I cannot emphasize enough how easy and beginner-friendly this trail is.

There are some beautiful dead-ending views of the creek itself. I sat and relaxed for a bit by the water. I saw few birds while out but not much of anything else (which was fine by me).

I would love to come back explore more of the area. If you are looking for a flat, easy trail, I highly suggest the Putah Creek Trail. As I mentioned, I think it would be a great sport to get some faster workouts and runs in. I wish there were more trails so I could do long runs there too.