Best Bike Rides in Los Gatos

Here are some of Los Gatos' top cycling routes, representing different levels of difficulty and approved by local cyclists. What are some of your favorite routes in and around the town?

Enter the trail on Miles Avenue and head east to Meridian Avenue in San Jose's Willow Glen. This 8.2-mile ride will take you to the end of trail at Meridian Avenue and Liebelt Court.

LOS GATOS TO LEXINGTON RESERVOIR: Enter the Los Gatos Creek Trail at Miles Avenue and follow it west until you arrive at Alma Bridge Road for a total of 4.1 miles.

LOS GATOS TO HICKS ROAD: Start at the corner of Santa Cruz Avenue and Highway 9. Head south on Highway 9 until you get to Los Gatos Boulevard. Turn left on Los Gatos Boulevard, then right on Shannon Road and follow it until it runs into Hicks Road for a total of 7.5 miles.

LOS GATOS TO STEVENS CREEK RESERVOIR: Start at the corner of Santa Cruz Avenue and Highway 9. Follow Highway 9 into Saratoga. Continue west on Highway 9. Big Basin Way turns into Congress Springs Road until you hit Pierce Road. Turn right on Pierce, continue on Pierce and turn left on Mt. Eden Road. Follow Mt. Eden Road until it turns into Stevens Canyon Road. Follow Stevens Canyon Road into the reservoir for a total of 11.7 miles.

SANTA CRUZ TO LOS GATOS: The city route takes you from Santa Cruz, to Capitola, to Soquel and to Los Gatos. The road route is difficult, includes lots of climbing with a slight obstacle course at Lexington Reservoir Dam. This 35-plus-mile ride begins at Water Street, heading south; right on Ocean Street, left where it dead ends at the San Lorenzo River dike. At the top, the road becomes Murray Street. Cross over the Small Craft Harbor bridge, which becomes Eaton Street after it crosses the bridge. Turn left on 7th Avenue, right on Brommer Street, left on 42nd, right on Capitola Road, and left on 49th, which merges with Wharf Road. Then make a right at Soquel Drive, left on Soquel/San Jose Road (right side of roadway is known as Porter Road), left on Summit Road and right on Old Santa Cruz Highway. Then make a right on Aldercroft Heights, around the reservoir, to cross over a huge earthen dam. Lift your bike over the short metal bar, down the backside of the dam to the jogging trail, which will lead you to the gate that lets you out onto Main Street.