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    Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

    4.2 (11 reviews)

    Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Photos

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    Reviews With Photos - Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

    David B.

    I'm almost hesitant to write a review for this area because it isn't popular as of this writing. Putah Creek has quite a bit more walkable shore than I believed last week. When UC Davis folk think of Putah Creek it usually means that lazy trickle of water making its way through campus. At some point, it was the site of Battle of the Bands on Picnic Day where bands from nearby colleges would drink and play in to the night. But that was only where Putah Creek ran through campus. Hiking out towards Pedrick Road, Putah Creek gets a little less city-like and more birds show up. It's a nice little walk in Davis with little elevation change. That's the nature of Davis though. There were a few bike racks planted in the ground and a number of picnic tables to enjoy some time in relative comfort. Rain would take this destination off of my list because of the muddy conditions that make for slick paths. And my dog(s) would get really dirty. It's a great little path to escape the (extremely relative) hustle of Davis.

    Nina C.

    How have I lived in Davis for 7 years and only just visited this lovely reserve? Being in nature was the perfect start to my new year (2021). Easy walking trails in a serene setting. Despite the dry year we've had, the creek was filled with water. What impressed me the most was the sound of the birds! A lush escape right in Davis. I'll be back.

    Kaleena B.

    Want to go on an adventure but not stray too far from the comforts of your home in Davis? Look no further than this hidden gem! I visited today for a hike of the Putah Creek Reserve Trail (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/putah-creek-reserve-trail) and was pleasantly surprised at how I felt transported to another place entirely despite essentially being in my back yard. The trail is well kept with wayfinding markers (they are a little confusing because the trail at points will continue forwards but the signage will indicate to go up and loop back). It is rated as easy with minimal elevation gain. Due to the light rain, I had the trail to myself and was able to bask in the views uninterrupted. Trails are open daily until sunset. Dogs allowed but must be on a leash. Ample parking available.

    Lower level trail

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I went there once for a hike. Was not to impressed all the trash around and writing on walls.

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    Photo of Nina C.
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    5 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Basic, quiet, some beaten paths. Not many other people when I was there. My dog jumped explode on land and in the creek.

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    Photo of Mary J.
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    7 years ago

    This place is a cute place to take a walk with a friend of you're dog ! I must say watch out for foxtail!!!!

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    Ask the Community - Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

    Review Highlights - Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

    From there, you can walk down the creek but watch out for poison oak!

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    Grizzly Waters Kayaking

    Grizzly Waters Kayaking

    5.0
    (24 reviews)
    26.0 mi

    What a great time!! I took a paddle board lesson from James this morning and very glad I did. I've…read morebeen wanting to learn for years. He shared a lot of safety info and techniques that made me feel comfortable on the board. If you've wanted to learn but not sure, go for it! He eased us into how to do it right so it wasn't so intimidating. So much fun.

    Came across this kayaking company via instagram and had to check it out. They were offering a full…read moremoon guided tour and I wanted in. Prior to excursion, my friends and I had to reserve a spot on their website. The initial tour ended up being fully booked, however, James the guide offered open up another day due to the moon tour being so popular. The meeting area was at the boat launch ramp area. We signed waivers and were given a run down on kayaking 101 (it was our first kayaking excursion) with 4 other people. The weather was warm, the waters were calm and the mosquitoes were biting. So don't forget to apply sunscreen and have plenty of bug repellent! Wear water shoes, bring snacks and water. Also, maybe bring a small fanny pack or water resistant bag to carry small items in. As we paddled, James checked up on everybody and made sure we were all doing okay. Along the way he informed us about the wetlands and what type of wildlife were around. James even provided us with his own bug repellent to use to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Once it was dark enough, we settled in an area of the wetlands to wait for the moon to rise. My friends and I were elated and in awe that we got to see the Harvest moon rise on the hills whilst kayaking. Kodak moment for sure. The journey around Suisun Bay lasted for about 2 hours. It was a cool experience, especially with the moon acting as our guiding light. My arms definitely got in a work out from paddling so much. Overall, great experience, reasonably priced and James was professional and informative. Highly recommend!

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    Grizzly Waters Kayaking
    Grizzly Waters Kayaking
    Grizzly Waters Kayaking

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    All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting

    All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting

    4.8
    (271 reviews)
    47.6 mi

    Our guide was Joe, and he was great to work with, very knowledgeable and also very fun. I requested…read morea half day run for Mother's Day weekend, and my family of 4 (kids are 13 and 10) all had a blast.

    We've rafted twice more with All-Outdoors since my last review - Goodwin Canyon in October 2022,…read moreand then Middle Fork American River again this past month (both 1-day trips). The last time we rafted Middle Fork American was on a cold, gloomy, drizzling day in October 2019 - so we had to give it another go in warmer weather. This time around was just as memorable. Two of us in the boat ended up falling out in the water at Tunnel Chute, which happened so fast that I barely knew what had happened - thankfully, there was a nice calmer stretch of water right after through the river tunnel, so we were easily able to get back into the raft. (Thank you to our guide, Troy, for hauling me back in, and for being an awesome guide in general!) Plus this was one of the photographer spots, so the action was all captured for us to laugh about later. Later, after our tasty sandwich picnic lunch, we had a few unexpected events happen, starting from the portage down Ruck-a-Chucky Falls. Shout-out to all three guides in our group - Troy, Shea, and AJ - for handling things so calmly and getting us all back where we were supposed to be! We had plenty of calm stretches floating down the river as well. The canyon is beautiful and quite peaceful. We saw a ton of dragonflies flying above our heads, masked ducks chilling on rocks and diving underwater, and wild grapes and blackberries growing alongside the river. We'll be back again for another trip with All-Outdoors! Maybe we'll try a 2-day or 3-day trip next time.

    Photos
    Rafting on the North Fork of the American River
    Rafting on the North Fork of the American River
    Huge shout out to our guides Kent and Rowan!   My group had a blast.   Food was amazing.
    Huge shout out to our guides Kent and Rowan! My group had a blast. Food was amazing.
    All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting

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    Putah Creek Riparian Reserve - hiking - Updated July 2026

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