Putah Creek Parkway runs along the City’s southern border, and is a portion of what is left of the old North Fork of Putah Creek.  Beginning in the 1870s, Putah Creek was diverted into the South Fork channel to protect the City of Davis from flooding.  The historic natural channel is now the UC Davis Arboretum Waterway, the Putah Creek Parkway, and the old North Fork of Putah Creek that runs between the Willowcreek and Willowbank neighborhoods.  It no longer serves as a waterway.  But the 19-acre parkway still provides critical wildlife habitat.  It also offer recreational opportunities (hiking, biking, wildlife viewing).  It includes two types of habitat (i.e., grassland and oak savannah habitat).  There is a paved bike/pedestrian trail that meanders through the entire length of the parkway, which terminates at Drummond Lane.  The parkway is #12 and #17 on the map below.

The parkway is open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. 

• Take a walk/hike/run
• Take a bike ride
• View birds and wildlife
• Walk your dog on leash on paved trail

• Bikes allowed on paved trail
• Dogs allowed, but they must be leashed and stay on paved trail
• No hunting
• No camping
• No fires
• No smoking
• No drones
• No horses

The Putah Creek Parkway can be accessed at several different locations.  You can enter via the Walnut Park greenbelt, Mariposa Circle, Sapphire Court, Evergreen Court, Drew Circle, Da Vinci Court, Regatta Court, Jasmine Court, Rialto Lane, or Drummond Avenue.  You can also enter via the Arboretum Gateway at the end of D Street and walk east away from the UC Davis Arboretum.

     Some photos courtesy of Marc Hoshovsky.