Hike: Bay Area Ridge Trail - Penitencia Creek Trail
Penitencia Creek Trail is an easily accessible trail along the Bay Area Ridge Trail (BART) in San Jose, CA. It’s near the popular Alum Rock Park and close to Freeway 880. It offers both urban and natural environments that are welcoming to strollers, bikes, families and dogs.
My dad and I took two separate cars as we had different plans after the hike. We both came to the area of Berryessa Rd. and Commodore Dr. where there was plenty of parking to leave one car. Then we drove in the second car together to a section of Dorel Dr. with a wide shoulder where other cars were parked.
Near Dorel Dr. and Penitencia Creek Rd. we found a sign that let us know we were in the right place. After a short stint along a creek we found ourselves near the Percolation Ponds. We spotted some wildlife, including a turtle that my dad pointed to excitedly.
After the ponds we followed a shaded trail and found ourselves in an urban large park. We saw several small groups of people walking around and playing with their children. The atmosphere was friendly and pleasant. The Wildlife Center was closed but we did stop for pictures with flowers and trees. This area looked perfect for a weekend picnic or a neighborhood hangout. Past a quiet neighborhood with fields of long grass we found Penitencia Creek Gardens and in that April of 2018, there were hundreds of caterpillars hanging on long threads from the trees. It was fun to see the little creatures and we felt adventurous ducking them on our walk. Other trekkers skirted these trees, squirming away from the hanging bugs. There were pull-up bars and other play structures in this area where we made a brief stop for some upper body workouts.
The end of the trail lacks nature and was very flat. Be prepared for many paved parts and I’d recommend a hat and sunscreen as the sun reflecting off the concrete was starting to wear us down. The convenient thing about this location is that there are plenty of small businesses and restaurants nearby to support a quick drink. On the Bay Area Ridge Trail website the 3.7 mile hike is rated as EASY.
