Modesto, CA Birding Trails and Maps

110 Reviews

Looking for the best Birding trails around Modesto?

Find the top rated birding trails in Modesto, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
31 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Bear Creek Trail (Stockton)

8 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Calaveras River Bike Path

6.71 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Coyote Creek Trail

26.9 mi
State: CA
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Iron Horse Regional Trail

32 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Tuolumne River Trail

2.3 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Virginia Corridor Trailway

2.7 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Arroyo Mocho Trail

17.2 mi
State: CA
Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel

Evergreen Creek Trail

1.2 mi
State: CA
Gravel

Marsh Creek Regional Trail

10 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Penitencia Creek Trail

2.8 mi
State: CA
Asphalt, Gravel

Bear Creek Bikeway

3.6 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Delta de Anza Regional Trail

21 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

French Camp Slough Trail

2.7 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Hetch Hetchy Trail (Modesto)

3 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Manteca Tidewater Bikeway

3.4 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Mokelumne Trail

10.2 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Los Banos Rail-Trail

2.1 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Alum Rock Park Trail

2.4 mi
State: CA
Asphalt, Dirt
Accordion

Black Rascal Creek Bikeway

4.5 mi
State: CA
Asphalt, Concrete

Centennial Trail (CA)

3.9 mi
State: CA
Asphalt, Gravel

Dentoni Park Trail

1.3 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Isabel Avenue Trail

3.2 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Lower Silver Creek Trail

1.05 mi
State: CA
Concrete

Montgomery Hill Trail

0.4 mi
State: CA
Dirt, Grass

Pacific Gas and Electric Greenbelt

2.6 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Silver Creek Valley Trail

4 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Upper Silver Creek Trail

0.9 mi
State: CA
Asphalt

Yerba Buena Creek Trail

0.7 mi
State: CA
Asphalt, Gravel
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Bear Creek Trail is an 8 mile-long paved trail in Stockton, California. The trail has connections to neighborhoods as well as parks and schools. The trail begins on Lower Sarcamento Road...
CA 8 mi Asphalt
Coursing alongside one of Stockton's levees, the Calaveras River Bike Trail services many neighborhoods and provides access to many amenities in the San Joaquin Valley city. The east–west corridor...
CA 6.71 mi Asphalt
Overview Stretching from Morgan Hill up to the southern extent of the San Francisco Bay, the Coyote Creek Trail is one of the longest trails in San Jose. The 26.9 miles of trail exist in three main...
CA 26.9 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Peggy Mensinger Trail is a flat, paved, family—friendly greenway that runs west to east. With neighborhoods to the north and south, it provides a popular gateway for residents. The trail parallels...
CA 4.7 mi Asphalt
Overview Running north–south though San Francisco’s East Bay region, the popular Iron Horse Regional Trail—whose very name conjures its important railroad history—follows the old Southern Pacific...
CA 32 mi Asphalt
The Tuolumne River Trail is a winding path that follows the course of its namesake river in Modesto. The scenic trail captures the true beauty of the region's landscape as it loops through dense...
CA 2.3 mi Asphalt
Modesto’s 2.7-mile Virginia Corridor Trailway is a suburban rail-trail well-used by walkers, runners, bicyclists, and families. Extending between Campus Way to the southwest and Woodrow Avenue to the...
CA 2.7 mi Asphalt
Tucked away in sparsely populated Tuolumne County, this portion of the Stanislaus National Forest’s Westside Rails to Trails route is a hidden treasure, combining spectacular scenery and a...
CA 5.5 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt
Overview Located on the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay Area, the 17.2-mile Arroyo Mocho Trail is a tale of two trails. About the Route From its western end at the Centennial Trail in...
CA 17.2 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel
The Evergreen Creek Trail follows its namesake creek between San Felipe Road and Yerba Buena Road. To the north of the gravel trail is suburbia (with a row of trees separating the trail from the...
CA 1.2 mi Gravel
Marsh Creek Regional Trail follows the sinuous course of Marsh Creek through the outskirts of suburbia and among the rich farmland of Contra Costa County. The 10-mile paved extends north from the...
CA 10 mi Asphalt
The Penitencia Creek Trail follows its namesake creek through a suburban greenbelt in northeast San José. On the northeastern end, the trail passes by a series of percolation ponds, and you can take a...
CA 2.8 mi Asphalt, Gravel
The Bear Creek Bikeway parallels scenic Bear Creek just north of downtown Merced. The path grants access to the zoo at Applegate Park and amenities located within the park. On the trail's western end,...
CA 3.6 mi Asphalt
The Delta de Anza Regional Trail is 15 miles long, running between Willow Pass Road at Route 4 near Concord and Main Street (Rt. 4) at E. Cypress Road in Oakley. The eastern end in Oakley intersects...
CA 21 mi Asphalt
The French Camp Slough Trail, also known as the San Joaquin River Trail, parallels both waterways on levees in the southern reaches of Stockton. Near its midpoint, the trail connects to the Pacific...
CA 2.7 mi Asphalt
The Hetch Hetchy Trail extends diagonally through the northwestern portion of Modesto on the wide right-of-way of its namesake water pipeline, which runs underground in Modesto. Operated by the San...
CA 3 mi Asphalt
The Manteca Tidewater Bikeway is a multiuse trail running north to south through the city of Manteca, California. The flat, asphalt corridor is up to 100 feet wide in places and is popular with...
CA 3.4 mi Asphalt
The Mokelumne Trail begins at a shopping center near the intersection of Buchanan Rd. and Somersville Rd in Antioch, California. A section of the Delta de Anza Regional Trail starts on the other side...
CA 10.2 mi Asphalt
The Los Banos Rail Trail offers a 1-mile alternative to non-motorized travel through downtown Los Banos between 2nd Street and Ward Rd. The trail occupies a disused rail right-of-way and includes...
CA 2.1 mi Asphalt
Nestled between Alum Rock Canyon and the Mt. Diablo foothills, Alum Rock Park west of San Jose is California's oldest city park. From the early to mid-1900s it was a popular resort and spa, complete...
CA 2.4 mi Asphalt, Dirt
Accordion
The Black Rascal Creek Bikeway follows the course of the small waterway through residential neighborhoods on the north side of Merced. The trail provides access to the Merced Mall and Black Rascal...
CA 4.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Centennial Trail is located in the Tri-Valley city of Pleasanton, about 25 miles east of Oakland. This urban trail offers a 7.8 roundtrip on a combination of paved and unpaved track. The trail...
CA 3.9 mi Asphalt, Gravel
This is a short neighborhood trail in Stonewood, northwest Stockton, California. The trail starts on Thornton Road next to the Jehovah Witness church and travels for one block until Davis Road. Once...
CA 1.3 mi Asphalt
The East Bay Municipal Utility District Right-of-Way, as its name suggests, is a trail open on a utility corridor in Stockton, although that city is generally considered to be outside the informal...
CA 5.5 mi Asphalt
The Isabel Avenue Trail runs north-south on the western boundary of Livermore in the eastern San Francisco Bay area's Tri-Valley region. As its name suggests, the path primarily serves neighborhoods...
CA 3.2 mi Asphalt
The Lower Silver Creek Trail runs in a nearly straight line between Ocala Avenue and Dobern Avenue (Abed Court). Between Foxdale Drive and Logsden Way there's a short (about 0.25 mile) on-street...
CA 1.05 mi Concrete
The Montgomery Hill Trail is a short dirt trail traversing Montgomery Hill Park, an undeveloped green space in San Jose. The trail offers nice views of the surrounding area and links Yerba Buena Creek...
CA 0.4 mi Dirt, Grass
The Pacific Gas and Electric Greenbelt bisects Stockton's Weston Ranch neighborhood diagonally from French Camp Road to the San Joaquin River via an overhead electric utility corridor. The main trail...
CA 2.6 mi Asphalt
Silver Creek Valley Trail follows its namesake creek and paralleling Silver Creek Valley Road. The passes through a country club neighborhood and through open space over a steep hill. The trail offers...
CA 4 mi Asphalt
The Upper Silver Creek Trail courses through Silver Creek Linear Park, offering a nice play area and picnicking at the southern end and tennis courts and a basketball court at the northern end....
CA 0.9 mi Asphalt
The Yerba Buena Creek Trail follows its namesake creek through Evergreen Park behind the community center, paralleling Yerba Buena Road and Park Estates Way.
CA 0.7 mi Asphalt, Gravel

Recent Trail Reviews

Iron Horse Regional Trail

Mixed Bag

October, 2024 by dmurphy52

I rode this trail from the Livermore end to just past Danville. Overall, it seems more suited to local users that have identified sections that fit their needs (e..g. running, walking, or shorter bike rides. There were two fairly lengthy detours secondary to construction. Parts of the trail have cracks wide enough that they are a serious risk to causing anyone with skinny tires to crash, though other parts are as perfect as a path can be. Foot traffic in the Danville section, at least on a weekend, is heavy. There are many traffic crossings, and having to wait for a light to change in order to get across is not uncommon. For anyone attempting to ride the entire length of the trail, a spirit of adventure and a bit of determination would be required. Of note is that one can get on the trail right in front of the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. As BART is a bike friendly way of getting around, this opens up trail access to people throughout the Bay Area. Other than dangerous cracks in the path, safety is not an issue.

Coyote Creek Trail

Hot Day on Coyote Creek Trail, Morgan Hill, CA

September, 2024 by cmartindunlop

I did this ride on Sunday afternoon, September 8, 2924, in 102 degrees. No joke. Must explain why it wasn’t very busy. I started at Anderson Lake County Park in Morgan Hill and went to Tully Road, just past the golf course south of downtown San Jose, and then turned around and returned to the park—40 miles, 1,190 feet elevation gain. Well maintained, all paved, relatively flat, and interesting trail with SO many squirrels and chipmunks dashing across the trail. Probably just playing with the bikers. Saw a flock of young turkeys on the trail. A hawk zipped close by me and tried to grab a rodent (missed). Lots of waterfowl in the ponds along the way. Vegetation became greener the further north I went from Morgan Hill, and more water in Coyote Creek. Saw coyote scat on the trail but no animals (too hot for them). There are several homeless campsites near the golf course, and even a rooster and cats and dogs. Overall, a great trail to see the arid landscape of the Santa Clara Valley (I live in the Pacific Northwest). Will plan to do it again in the springtime when it’s greener and not so hot, when I visit relatives again.

Dry Creek Trail (Peggy Mensinger Trail)

Great ride for young children on their own. Keep an eye out for homeless, garbage, and the smell. Beyond that, it's a great ride. Though needs a little greenery.

August, 2023 by crowsonmikej

Great ride for young children on their own. Keep an eye out for homeless, garbage, and the smell. Beyond that, it's a great ride. Though needs a little greenery.

Accordion

Coyote Creek Trail

trail nice, but people make it feel unsafe

July, 2023 by vdreyer612

Trail is nice and well maintained but in the broad daylight, kind of shady with a considerable presence of homeless people by the Tully trailhead. Even carrying pepper spray, as a smaller young woman I felt kind of unsafe and was approached. The northern part of the trail (passes by a bunch of Amazon warehouses) does not have this issue but the stretch is much shorter. Would not come back here alone, or maybe at all. It’s a shame,because the trail itself is great, mostly flat, and scenic. Too Bad s

Virginia Corridor Trailway

ride

May, 2023 by michaelbear12

Great family trail! Stopped and had lunch at O’Brien store very close to the trail.

Marsh Creek Regional Trail

trail addition

December, 2022 by 4psb2wyvrd

They have just opened a new addition at the West End of the marsh Creek Trail. You cross over Concord Avenue and continue on for an approximate mile and a half to near the intersection of Vineyard Parkway. And marsh Creek Road

Hetch Hetchy Trail (Modesto)

Nice and easy

November, 2022 by 4q2tx9twnh

Easy trail to ride or walk.

Coyote Creek Trail

Nicer / less traffic the further south you get

September, 2022 by milocat125

I've mostly ridden the section between Hellyer Park and the Coyote Creek visitor center / Malaguerra Ave (great free parking). A superb ride with far less traffic than the Los Gatos trail. A couple of weeks ago I parked at the Tully Rd lot and took it south. I was a little creeped out about leaving my truck there and the number of homeless encampments from Tully south about a mile. I won't do that again. Another good parking place is the free dirt lot "Coyote Creek Trail Parking at Metcalf" on google maps.

Coyote Creek Trail

Great Ride! Love the distance of this Trail

May, 2022 by lewis.jason10

Riders and walkers be on ALERT!!!! Encountered two rattlesnakes on the trail but love all 44 miles of the trail. Great trail to disconnect from the urban concrete streets of San Jose. Oh yeah, nature at its BEST!!

Marsh Creek Regional Trail

Nice pleasant ride

April, 2022 by seansheridans

If you start from Oakleys Big Break until the End in Brentwood it’s about a 20 mile RT. Safe, nice sites.

Dry Creek Trail (Peggy Mensinger Trail)

Nice trail thru town...perfect for all ages...

September, 2021 by gabenerica1019

Nice trail thru town...perfect for all ages...

Coyote Creek Trail

beautiful San Jose trail!

August, 2021 by yxmcm6v459

I have ridden this trail three times. Each time has been a great experience! This afternoon, I stopped in at coyote creek golf course for lunch and it was great! I enjoy watching the r/c airplanes and love going to Anderson reservoir at the end. It’s a great ride and can’t wait for winter!

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Accordion

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