Course
Mark West Creek originates about 6 miles (10 km) west of St. Helena, California near St. Helena Road. It parallels the road westward to Calistoga Road, where it turns northeast, flowing through the town of Mark West Springs. From there, it descends southward, paralleling Mark West Springs Road. It passes Mayacama Golf Club and turns westward, emerging from hills east of the Sonoma County Airport. It crosses under U.S. Route 101 south of Airport Boulevard and continues generally westward, passing south of the airport to join the Laguna de Santa Rosa east of Forestville. From there, the creek flows north to a confluence with Windsor Creek, then parallels River Road westward to enter the Russian River east of Steelhead Beach Regional Park.
Near the Laguna de Santa Rosa confluence, Mark West Creek has been diverted southward three separate times, strengthening the impression that the creek feeds the Laguna instead of vice versa. Since 1988, the creek section between the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the Russian River has often been considered part of the Laguna, and the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation has promoted this nomenclature.
Read more about this topic: Mark West Creek