The News reported this week in Los Gatan, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) Board has officially voted to move forward with the Beatty Trail Connection.
This is a massive victory for the Los Gatos community. It marks the first time in nearly 30 years—since the Serpentine Trail—that a new multi-use trail has been approved in this area.
Why This Matters For decades, riders have been forced to use dangerous roadways to access the Sierra Azul network. This project changes that. By connecting the Lexington Reservoir area to Priest Rock, we are finally creating a safe, off-road climb that gets mountain bikers (and hikers) off the pavement and into the woods.
As SVMTB board member Dirk Franklin noted in the article, this project will help “make Los Gatos a true trails destination,” benefitting both recreation and local businesses.
The Power of Compromise (The Newt Solution) This win wasn’t easy. The project faced significant hurdles due to the mortality rate of newts crossing Alma Bridge Road. Instead of an “us vs. them” battle, SVMTB supported a science-based compromise: seasonal closures. By agreeing to keep the trail closed during wet migration periods, we proved that recreation and conservation are not mutually exclusive. As Midpen Project Manager Mark Brandi stated, “This compromise proves that the tension between resource protection and public access doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game.”
The Timeline & What’s Next While we celebrate the approval, the work isn’t done.
- Beatty Trail: Currently slated for a 2028 opening. SVMTB is actively advocating to speed this up, pushing for a phased opening that would allow access to the trail and Miller Point parking sooner.
- Bear Creek Redwoods: The article highlights our next major target—a multi-use trail in Bear Creek Redwoods, with construction targeted for Spring 2027.
We Need You in the Fight Victories like this happen because mountain bikers show up. We do the boring work—reviewing EIRs, meeting with land managers, and speaking to the press—so you can ride.
If you want to see the Beatty Trail open before 2028, and if you want access to Bear Creek, we need your numbers behind us.
Don’t just ride. Belong. > JOIN SVMTB TODAY
