The creek runs from the southeast to the northwest, originating near Orinda and flowing into San Pablo Bay.

[9] The damming of the creek has limited threatened steelhead spawning sites but has allowed it to continue to survive there.

[4] The San Pablo Canyon through which the creek flows was in the early 19th century an open grazing area shared by adjoining Mexican ranch owners.

In the latter years of the 19th century, a narrow gauge railroad, the California and Nevada, ran down the canyon as far as Orinda.

The company intended to construct their line past Orinda all the way to the mining districts of Nevada, but the railroad was plagued by washouts in the canyon every winter, and was relegated to serving weekend picnickers traveling from the cities on San Francisco Bay.