Ulistac Natural Area

Ulistac Natural Area is a wonderful spot for a relaxing walk in Santa Clara. We enjoyed wandering through the park, which felt like a peaceful retreat from the city. The trails are flat and easy, making it ideal for a leisurely stroll, whether alone or with company.You’ll see people with binoculars bird watching, and it’s no surprise, there’s a lively variety of birds, like sparrows and woodpeckers, flitting around, thanks to the park’s location along the Guadalupe River. The wildflowers, like California lilacs and orange poppies, add stunning bursts of color, especially in spring, making it a fantastic spot for photography. I loved taking pictures of the blooms and scenic views.The atmosphere is calm, with diverse habitats like oak woodlands and grasslands that keep the scenery interesting. It’s a well-maintained, community-driven space with native plants and a butterfly garden. Ulistac is perfect for anyone wanting to enjoy a walk, spot birds, or snap great photos.

This is a wonderful hike in the evenings. Parking is limited. The nature walk offers different scenery as well as educational signs for the plants you are looking at. I really enjoyed seeing the wildlife, flowers, plants, and trees. As soon as the sun set, the mosquitoes attacked, so be sure to be prepared for the bites if you go in the evenings. Overall, 5 star nature walk.

This is a merely a patch of "natural area" in the middle of a developed suburban area in north Santa Clara. It's off Lick Mill Road so there is plenty of street parking. They specify on a board at the entrance that this is not a park so there are no restrooms or regular maintenance. It is au natural. The paths are relatively short. You can transverse it in 20 minutes if you don't stop to admire the lizards and birds. If you are into bird watching or photographing nature, there are people who do that here. But otherwise, I think you might be sorely disappointed with the place. It is connected to the Guadalupe River walk so you can always walk that narrow loop that many tech companies employees near Levi Stadiun take on their lunch exercise break if you didn't get your steps in.

It was a fun and great afternoon walk. The weather of the day when I visited was warm around 21°C or 70F. A light breeze felt so nice , especially under the shade. The place itself is beautiful. The spring colors are clearly visible with multiple flowers and colorful trees. The natural open space is great for walking, jogging, strolling, bicycling and running. Bird watching, butterfly watching and bee watching are another things to dedicate time to while you are there. The place is abundant in the species of flora and fauna. It stimulates you with eye catching colors, serene views and calming sounds . Birds chirping, bees humming and winds rustling leaves make for a really nice getaway from the human society. The wild colorful flowers and shrubs add to the experience. Great place to just get a lunch sit under a shady tree and enjoy , or just bring over a nice book , sit and enjoy. Parking is street parking, but easy enough to find. It feels more a maze and a criss-cross of different kind of habitats in California. Definitely a nice place to visit if you are in the neighborhood or just looking for a casual walk in the nature.

good place for a nice walk. Has a biking lane and jogger track. You'll also see alot of squirrels here..there was many coyote alert signs. Dogs need to be on leash or are most not allowed. parking spots are around the place near another park

Clean..safe..various paths..lovely...peaceful No restroom. Keep it clean pls. Street parking..tons of space. Dogs...will only disturb natural habitat. Access to Guadalupe trail. Mosquitoes...you going to visit them at their home so they will come to see you..

Small trail. Very easy walk. Lots of birds.

We went in the middle of the day which probably wasn’t ideal. There’s a lot of nice things about this park if you can appreciate a natural setting. Lots of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and wildflowers. Most exciting thing I saw was a California thrasher which sat on a branch for a long time and sang a beautiful song and let me take pictures. Warning even though it was a hot day, we got swarmed by mosquitoes and bitten a lot.

Lovely trail but no shaded areas. Parking at the street or at the parking lot of Lick Mill Park. Easy trail to explore and enjoy the wild flowers. Not too busy during weekday evening.

This is not a park, but it's right next to Lick Mill Park if you're looking for certain amenities or features not offered here. We visited both, this past weekend, and had a wonderful time. Ulistac Natural Area is a great lil spot for running along the trails, bird watching, and observing nature. It's not exactly the season for seeing birds around, or trees and flowers in bloom, as winter is far from over, but on this warm Sunday afternoon, we still found the whole place to be beautiful. We strolled along the different pathways, read the educational boards, learned about the surrounding vegetation, and shared interesting conversation as we passed by birdhouses in trees and plants with funny names. We saw some California coffeeberry, sticky monkeyflower, California buckwheat, California Wildrose (just the thorns for now), and the only color during the winter season coming from the bright pink island mallow flowers (which bloom in late winter) and red toyon berries (lots of this to be seen here). We also saw random mushrooms and lots of sage among the plants and wildlife. My favorite part was spotting the rabbits in the sage, and watching these adorable long-eared cottontails run around (we saw at least 3-4 of them). It's a small nature preserve, but still plenty to see and appreciate, even in the winter. And for runners, it connects to other trails so there's no shortage of space for getting active around here.

Hike Minded The last forty acres of undeveloped land in the City of Santa Clara, and is its only dedicated natural open space in the city. The Good: *Free street parking *Bird and butterfly garden *One-mile crushed granite and AC loop trail *Access to the Lower Guadalupe River Trail *Great place to see native wildlife and wildflowers The Meh: *For an "open space" type of park, it's awfully small. *Not much shade The Ugly: *No Restrooms TLDR: Nice place to visit for local flora and fauna, but if I'm schlepping out this way, I'd much rather go to Alviso-Marina County Park or Don Edwards.

Love strolling this beautiful trail near home! Always lots of beautiful flowers and plants (many of which are marked) and so many birds and other wildlife to observe. Fun to take kids along, a very easy walk.

Just got back from visiting this beautiful place. What a peaceful and quiet place to take a walk. Lots of birds and squirrels. Highly recommend.

This is a lovely preserved natural area that is close to urban living (you can see Levi stadium from parts of it). The park is divided into 7 different "biotic communities" such as grassland, woodland, wetland etc. The trails are well paved with cement and surrounded by lovely flora. It's a great place to take kids since the trails are flat and stroller and bike friendly. There are no benches, but there are some log circles that kids like to play on as well. We saw a bunch of neat birds. The trails aren't very long- probably took 20-30 minutes to walk through them all at a leisurely pace. If you want a longer stroll, it does connect to the trail along Guadalupe River which is not shaded but fairly lush alongside. It is also dog friendly! Restrooms and picnic tables are located at Lick Mill Park which is across the street from Ulistac. Parking is street parking by the entrances and is easy.

I was delighted to find out that this wilderness area existed in Santa Clara, especially when I saw that dogs are allowed. It is on Lick Mill Road and goes back to the Guadalupe River. There is parking on the street, excluding football game days at the nearby stadium. I did not get to see any of the reported coyotes, but then, they tend to be nocturnal. Since this is a natural area and not a park, be prepared for the fact that there are no restrooms, water, benches or picnic areas.

What a beautiful nature area to walk and explore in!!! Ulistac Natural Area is a quaint walking area to see different fauna and nature all around you. They have lots of signage and a variety of things that you can explore. I had a bunch of fun and ended up staying until dark and it was very creepy having to haul behind back to my car in pitch black darkness with all the rattling bushes and sounds of animals walking around. Definitely do not stay after dark because it gets scary fast! Other than that, this is a great place to get some steps in and see cool and interesting plant life!

We were staying at the Hyatt House that is about a mile away so I came here to check it out. There's plenty of free parking on the street with no time limits. This nature park has something for everyone. We walked along the dirt trails and many people were here enjoying it plus the bicyclist and runners that were on the river side part of the park.

A Hidden Forest . Ideal place for bird watching. Must visit for experiencing Nature on demand in this area

Overall I think this is a great place to hike .. unpaved but flat path surrounded by nature. At this time of the year when everything start turning green , you can see the healthy green foliage along the Guadalupe river, the tree and the meadow on one side of the trail, and the other side , residential houses and community. I was thinking, man those fruit trees grew so well, I wished I can have green finger like this. I gave three stars because I was looking for more flower but didn't see much this time which was a little disappointing, but I didn't talk the entire loop, so maybe I missed it? if you continue hiking to your right, the trail became a little deserted which I won't recommend.

This is a small nature reserve dedicated to native California flora and fauna. It is close to Levi Stadium, Guadeloupe River Trail and Rivermark Village. A great place to visit during the day. Take a walk and see all the native plants that evolved here in our California. I really like the choice of plants that will help feed butterflies and their caterpillar young. Especially monarch butterflies which appear in smaller and smaller numbers year after year in the South Bay. Did you know some types of milkweed are better than others for monarch butterflies? Well, you can learn about this and other facts on posted information areas in the park . Volunteers are welcome. Just go to the website to see how you can contribute. https://www.ulistac.org

I am a fan of Ulistac Natural Area because of to reasons: 1. Nature 2. Pokemon Go Now, you have a great deal of flora and fauna at this small place and you can traverse through it to start your run on the Guadalupe trail. It is a cool and calm area to run, jog, enjoy nature or just let your Pokemon go wild and crazy. We have 2 gyms and a couple of Pokestops in this area that is usually held by a handful of people. I am giving it 4 stars because of the thick mosquitoes that haunt the place and can easily lift you and take you away (jk).

Beautiful relaxing placer to enjoy alone or family or friends. Peaceful. Ones in a while you will see Coyotes, be carful.

My boyfriend and I love taking our dog here. It is a hidden gem for sure. During different times of the year, we see different types of plants and flowers flourishing. It's a beautiful, well maintained and peaceful place to clear your mind and get away for a bit.

Very nice park along the bike trails. It's a peaceful place to get away from the traffic and busy city. It's well maintained and a good place for a walk, bike ride or see some nature. It's free so that's even better.

A great place to go on a nature walk. Went here with my two little boys. They had an absolute blast playing on all of the tree stumps. There are a few main trails that loop around and a lot of smaller trails to explore. Along the trails are signs describing each area and the plants and wildlife that could be found on that type of California landscape. It's really interesting if you have the time to read it. Though this place is all we were exploring for almost two hours and my kids didn't want to leave. Check this place out if you are looking for someplace to get out with your crazy energetic kids. Most people were wearing masks and it was fairly quiet on a Monday afternoon.

This is a nice trail for long walks, biking and jogging activities. It's located right next to the Guadalupe River. It's a natural area so it's open 24 hours. It's not really a park but more like a long trail which goes in both directions. Sunsets are nice. However there is a gas pipeline and water pumping facility right next to the river. Nevertheless it provides a quick escape from the urban jungle and located in a nice area of Santa Clara. If yiu live in North San Jose this is the place to go for your daily workouts or weekend walks. I don't know if it's safe to walk here at night but you should be fine walking by yourself till sunset.

You never know what you're going to run into in Santa Clara. From crazy tall buildings to unknown trails, oh South Bay, you've got it all don't you? I stumbled along Ulistac on accident. Needless to say, it was a great find because my little pup and I absolutely loved it! There are plenty of trees, birds, shade, and happy go lucky people lol. There are no benches or restrooms here. So go wild or nothing! There are humongous logs along the way and my dog couldn't help but run and jump off them. Butterflies? Yes they've got them. Birds? Yeah those too. Squirrels? Trees? Wild crazy looking flowers? YES! Look, I'm no tree hugger but I definitely appreciate what's out there. Til next time!

The air in here in definitely fresh and filled with the scent of the trees. My first visit to Ulistac was late in the afternoon and I definitely felt a little regret that I did not come earlier. So the next free time that I had, I hit up Ulistac again. This time with my dog. With the many parks that are in the Santa Clara County, this nature reserve is definitely one of the best ones that I've been to. There are four entrances to this one. Two along Lick Mill and another two along the Guadalupe Trail. Entrance to this natural area is free of charge so make sure that when you come and visit, to keep it clean and follow the directions along the trail. This area is very clean and obviously well-kept. Not only is Ulistac eye-pleasing with all the trees, there are plenty of shrubs all around and a lot of them have flowers that I am sure this area never runs out of blooms all year. Birds fly in the atmosphere and some of them aren't even shy! There's also a place for Monarch butterflies. Just a little FYI, there are no public bathrooms in this area. Parking is along the street or next Lick Mill Park. Oh the eucalyptus trees! Walking by these trees is so refreshing. Once, when I was walking by and the eucalyptus had flowers, the whole tree looked enchanted. It is undeniably great to hear the rustling of the leaves when the weather is windy. Very relaxing and comforting. Although there are no benches in between the areas of the park, there are gigantic logs that are located everywhere where people can sit down and just absorb the goodness of nature around. I know that these logs were placed strategically for that purpose. In one location, there is a circle of logs that make it look like people can gather around and create a bonfire! This place is also a good learning ground for people like me who are very much into trees and shrubs. Coming back here numerous times has help me get more familiar with the plants and understand more about trees. Tree hugging is really good for you! There are plenty of eucalyptus trees, oak trees and this one tree with nuts that are so big, they look like dried up testicles. (You didn't see that coming, did you?). My love for this area has made me the Duchess and I am very honored. I shall protect thee and cherish your pristine beauty as best as I can !

I came here during the mid-summer, so everything is dry and golden color. However, I can imaging how it looks during the rain season when everything flourishes. I'm not the biggest environmentalist nor a tree huger, but I do believe we need to leave something for our future generation. It is so great to see an area like this devoted to restore what Silicon Valley looks like before the Internet Boom. The area, or park, isn't very big, I highly recommend if you have kids, park at River Oaks VTA station, walk on the Guadalupe River Trail (about 0.8 miles). Just spend some time in nature and get some exercise.

Recently went to a nature event at Ulistac with a local non-profit (Bay Nature), I have lived here for decades had no idea this little oasis existed in the middle of Silicon Valley, 40 acres of nature. You can bring your dog, your kids, suggest bringing a picnic to enjoy across the street at the park as no food or drink (water bottle OK) allowed inside Ulistac. The park also has rest rooms. Mosquitos start to come out early evening so bring repllent depending on time of day. Highly recommend Ulistac as a respite from the craziness we deal with every day, traffic, high density housing, big box stores, all the things that are the antithesis of SIlicon Valley's former name... 'Valley of Hearts Delight', known for its high concentration of orchards, flowering trees, and plants. Until the 1960s it was the largest fruit producing and packing region in the world. I know, it's hard to believe.

This is a wonderful park, lots of great trails, bird watching is highly recommended and I love all the native plants. (I'm going to have to buy Hummingbird Sage to plant.) It's peaceful and smells so nice with all the flowering plants. I even got a picture of a hummingbird! Happy dance. The trails are easy, for those of us with not so great knees or backs, this is a nice even trail. If you've got little ones they will love it. Bring a camera or binoculars to really enjoy all the neat animals.

Beautiful, nature-abundant, and all-around awesome! Please disregard the negative review that was written SEVEN years ago. Ulistac has come such a long way since then, and it's run by a team of dedicated, passionate and friendly volunteers who work hard to maintain the environment and the plants and trees that thrive there. Their mission continues...there's going to be a creek, a savanna with native plants, and added diversity to the plant life in the works. But even as it is now, the environment and serenity of this place is the reason why joggers, families, and dog-walkers love it so much. Definitely a true gem in an already overdeveloped area in Silicon Valley. A must-visit for kids, families, and nature enthusiasts!

One of those unexpected and awesome discoveries when visiting a couple of friends at the Nantucket apartments in Santa Clara. I noticed the characteristic brown metal sign indicating some sort of natural something. So I went there another day and found that it was a natural area repopulated and maintained by volunteers. Kudos to you guys for this great restoration work. This is the nicest place in Santa Clara for sure. I learned a lot about every single tree and plant growing there as absolutely everything had the info of what was about. You will see an array of wildflowers and tons and tons of butterflies. Do not expect any trail or hike, I went just for the sake of contemplating nature and do a short walk smelling nature. Mission accomplished.

Doesn't look like much when you walk past but this place is a gem in the middle of the city. There are California native plants plants you can't find anywhere else. There are also native animals, native birds in this beautiful setting. It's not that big but it connects to the levee system and you can walk all the way to downtown San Jose or out to the bay. It's a great place , my favorite place to hike in the Santa Clara valley. .

It wasn't the experience I was expecting. I haven't seen that many mosquitoes in a long time or ever. I do take walks outside. It must've been the time 8pm on the middle of June on a Friday. It was daylight and not dark. Tip: If you are going to go wear mosquito repellent. We didn't stay long. Just parked walked on the beginning on the dirt path. When I saw that not only there was a lot of mosquitos but huge ones, it was time to go. I saw them hoovering around us. We got bit. The mosquitos are thriving there. While looking at the path it made me think we should watch out for snakes. Maybe had we walked more we would have seen more. I really feel the mosquitos ruined the experience there for us.

Great place to explore with family. Clean and free outdoors experience. I hope to visit soon again.

Often overlooked but really well-maintained nature area. Lots of variety throughout the different parts, leaves you totally relaxed an refreshed. Great place for a picnic or dog walk

Excellent easy shaded walk for a 13 year old doggy. Buster got to sniff, hear woodpeckers, see ducks, and enjoyed himself immensely. It's a little oasis next to Levi stadium, tech companies, and high density housing. You can walk through the shaded part, then go up to the butterfly/hummingbird garden, and walk up to the sunny paved big path where there are runners and cyclists. Dogs on a 6 foot leash allowed. Buster says paws up!

This is one of my fav. Places i love to walk in side of river and in area .. love nature .. soulful .. relaxed and happy. Very nice view of sunset and very silence and mother nature .

A small gem in the urban environment of Santa Clara. A short break from the daily routine was enriched by the director responisble for Ulistac, Mr. Dennis Dowling, who stopped us on the trail and asked us if we knew anything of the park. Instead of just walking through Ulistac we got to know more about the history of "Uli's Place". The plantlife, the wildlife and also some California history. The park is in it's infancy and run solemnly byt voulenters. But it's already a great place to visit. Don't rush through it, but enjoy the plantlife, and the ambiance that the people of ulistac.org is trying to achieve. Go here for a quick break from your buisy life, and enjoy - if you like nature that is (because this is not a regular park).

This a nice quiet small natural park, easy to get to to escape of City life for awhile. Some short trails next to the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara. I heard the City of Santa Clara wants to move 3 soccer fields here from the current location next to the new 49er stadium. How sad this would be to destroy this park this way.

Love this place! Very peaceful. This is a good place to get away from the stresses of silicone valley and chill :). I have volunteered here and I found it to be quite rewarding :) I never knew of how the valley used to look like. Made me want to plant native plants in my yard....also I learned a lot just walking thru the park. I didn't know Sage was native to California!

So happy I found this place ! So beautiful being able to run, surrounded by nature and its sounds and also on a soft smooth trail. Vs running on concrete (parks) I hope this spot never disappears! now I finally have a nice running spot, plenty of trees around to rest under the shade. Makes you appreciate nature so much more. The only thing is, the trail around isn't that long around, but more laps !

The place to go if you want to have a slight idea of what the Silicon Valley once looked like. It is virtually the only patch of land left "natural" in Santa Clara City (it was a municipal golf course for some years). Volunteers and concerned citizens are struggling to save it from the killing/boring urban sprawl, fighting against city plans for building 3 soccer fields (as if there weren't enough underused parking lots), planting trees, shrubs and flowers and grasses to preserve native species. Some California ecosystems are recreated, with information boards explaining the species you might find in the real ones. You will NOT find lawns, buildings, restrooms, picnic tables or children playgrounds: you have all that just crossing the street. This place is something else. It is spectacular from March on: California poppies, Ceanothus, fremontodendrons and redbuds are in full bloom by the time of the anual Wildflower Day, when some free activities take place. It is also a heaven for insects, bees, birds and birdwatchers and at night you can hear the frogs. For the 5 star, it lacks better connection to the Lick Mill boulevard (more entrances), especially from the bird and bee garden, which actually acts as a very rich arboretum. A couple more paper bins wouldn't hurt either.

Nice place for a run with the dog. A few tips, though: when you enter from lick mill rd and get to the main trail, stick to the upper trail. I took the lower one on my return trip, and it was very rocky and uneven. Also, I didn't see any water fountains or doggie stations, so don't forget to bring bags to clean up after your pets, and bring enough water for you and Fido (don't forget a bowl!). This place is less than a mile from my apartment, so I'll definitely be back!

I am extremely glad I had the opportunity to take photos of the awesome birds found at this beautiful nature preserve. We need to hold on to gems like this with a firm grip and not let them slip away to development. It would be a shame if this would be turned into soccer fields. Please get out and see all of the birds that call this natural area home.

great place to go for a jog, take a stroll, or just sit and enjoy the nature that surrounds this area. this place has grass, lots of trees, flowering plants and various critters and flyers that like to visit. since it is a part of the guadalupe river trail (northern section in santa clara, leading to alviso), i get to run through this frequently. it is definitely family-friendly as i frequently see adults and children here, some in strollers, some being carried. unfortunately, the recent drought has just made this area more brown and less attractive in the past few years, but it is still a natural wonder in santa clara valley that should be appreciated.

Parking is on the street. Nice little hidden gem in the suburbs. Lots of sweet little birds to look at. Dogs enjoyed walking here too. Some of the plants are labeled too for a learning experience.

Ahhh Mother Nature... it's tough to get some semblance of rest and relaxation in Silicon Valley, with the hustle and bustle, people making money, living among million dollar tool sheds we call homes. Ulistac is a place I grew up near. It used to be the Fairway Glen golf course back in the 70's. It became abandoned for many years until the city reclaimed the area and made it a nature preserve. Good thing they did, because developments like Rivermark and the stadium turned the area into one big traffic jam. Ulistac is a nature area that is situated along the west side of the Guadalupe river.its been renovated with a nice walking trail, native plants, and some benches to sit and take in the sights and sounds. It's perfect for an afternoon stroll, although the traffic noise can be a bit distracting. Most people visit during the weekends when it's quiet and slow in the area. Just be aware that any stadium activity will created traffic that you'll have to contend with. Overall, Ulistac is a wonderful oasis of calm in the middle of Silicon Valley. A rare place to enjoy nature, even if you're surrounded by the rat race that we call home...

The trail is too short, I worked around the area in about 20 minutes, the distance is about only one mile. But for a moment, I forget I am in the center of silicon valley. A good place to relax if live nearby.

Very relaxing with many eucalyptus trees for shade. It is nice and peaceful on a Sunday morning,with a cold breeze that runs through to boot.

The beauty of Ulistac is that it is left natural and a bit on the wild side. The amount of wildlife here is incredible. I can't take a walk through here without seeing many new things each time. There is great variety in this small area. When the traffic along Lick Mill isn't too crazy, you can really soak in all the sounds of nature. It's incredible that you can get away to a natural and relatively undisturbed spot right in the midst of the Valley! I hope they keep it this way and don't make it all tidy and manicured (for example, leaving the brush piles around is good as it provides habitat for birds and other creatures).

"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." Ulistac is a wonderful, little treasure in Santa Clara.

I'm not a big fan of running in the wild, and it's not due to my rational fear of (sub)urban mountain lions. I don't like getting my running shoes dirty, or having gum stuck to the bottom of them! But every so often I get this urge to go out and hunt in the wilderness. I might not be fully evolved, come to think of it... The point is, between my fear and my desire, I settled for this "natural area" in Santa Clara. It is close enough to the paved roads and civilization yet has the word "natural" in the name - completely fulfills my false hope of security and my sense of adventure. I think this is the perfect place for me to explore my wild side, so on a Sunday morning, I came here and went for a run. It turned into my annual acid-rain run: I had rain water seeping through my ever-so-breathable Asics, mud splattered against my calves, my hair was stuck to my forehead and I had cold water running down my spine, into my undie-roo. No I was not crying from freezing my butt off, it's rain water. RAIN WATER! In all seriousness, snails and earthworms come out after the rain. Don't step on them, you might slip and break your hip.

Its a great place for california native plant restoration and wildlife/bird watching. I have been volunteering at the Ulistac Natural Area, since 2011. I love the plants. UNA is not for everyone, but it has a sense of wilderness. They recently got a grant from the Santa Clara Valley Water District to bring back a pieces of the seasonal wetland. It is a secret garden.

We took our Cub Scout den there last year to work, and the boys (and their parents) just loved it. We will do it this year, too. It is a great place to get back in touch with physical labor, contributing, and collaborating. The volunteers and staff there are also extremely friendly and helpful. It's a work-in-process...constantly. I think it's an Ohlone term for the settlement that was here before the Mission was built. And in fact, it's a great place to learn about our local history, too.

Ulistac was really disappointing. I'm sure if you live near there, it's great to have a place to walk or run that isn't on the sidewalk. But it really isn't worth the drive. It looks more neglected than natural.