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Welcome to San Mateo County Department of Parks. We are here to provide you with recreational opportunities in a safe and effective manner, and to protect and enhance the natural resources of the County.

The Department operates 17 separate parks, three regional trails and numerous other county and local trails encompassing 15,680 acres. They are located throughout the County and represent a wide variety of natural settings including a coastside marine reserve, a bayside recreational area, coastal mountain woodland areas, and urban sites.
Spring 2013 Newsletter Hot Off the Press: Parks Spring 2013 Newsletter
Check out our Spring 2013 newsletter and plan for some springtime fun in San Mateo County Parks. Learn about local wildflower displays, upcoming events and more.
Friends of Edgwood Recognized Friends of Edgewood Recognized for 20 Years of Dedication to Park
San Mateo County Board of Supervisor President Don Horsley presented the Friends of Edgewood with a resolution marking the group’s 20 years of work aimed at protecting the Park. The group will celebrate with a 20th birthday party Saturday, May 11 at the Park. Learn more.
Spring Color at San Mateo County Parks Our Parks Are Showing Off their Spring Colors
Spring is here! Colorful flowers are already blooming along the trails and spreading a colorful carpet across many of our Parks. You can find spring flowers in every San Mateo County Park, but wildflower displays are prevalent in Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve, San Pedro Valley County Park, San Bruno Mountain State and County Park, and Huddart Park. Learn more.
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Parking Lot Improvements Review of Proposed Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Parking Lot Improvements
On Thursday, May 9th, Parks will hold a meeting to discuss plans to rebuild the existing parking lot at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Learn about the meeting and see the most current plan on our Park Planning page.
Parks Commission Meeting Parks Strategic Draft Plan
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will consider the Parks Strategic Plan - March 2013 at their April 23, 2013 meeting. Learn more on our Parks Commission page.
The eagles of flown. Crystal Springs' Eagles Relocate
Local birders and biologists have noted that the bald eagles are no longer nesting at Crystal Springs Reservoir, but are still living in the Peninsula Watershed. While the eagles have moved on, we encourage Crystal Springs Regional Trail users to keep enjoying springtime on the trails!
Speier Corps "Speier Corps" Volunteers at Coyote Point Recreation Area
On August 29th, Congresswoman Jackie Speier's "Speier Corps" joined together to make improvements at Magic Mountain Playground at Coyote Point Recreation Area. Learn more.
SCA Student Conservation Association Summer Activities
The Student Conservation Association will soon wrap up a five-week upgrade local parks. Over the summer, the SCA has helped construct more than 20 drainage dips, cleared debris from two miles of trail at San Pedro Valley Park, removed and rebuilt 100 feet of split rail fencing at Huddart County Park, held a beach clean-up at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, and widened 100 feet of trail at Wunderlich County Park. Check out the feature article on the SCA at the San Mateo Daily Journal.
WW2 Memorial Refurbished Merchant Marine WWII Memorial Unveiled
On December 2nd San Mateo County unveiled a refurbished war memorial at Coyote Point Recreation Area commemorating the service of Merchant Marines during World War II. Learn more.
Crystal Springs Projects SFPUC Projects at Crystal Springs
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is engaged in a number of improvement projects around Crystal Springs Reservoir. See their blog to keep abreast of the Crystal Springs Dam Bridge project and other SFPUC efforts in the area as well as closures.
Take A Hike Take A Hike 2013
Come join us for these popular, informative, and healthy docent-led hikes. See the 2013 Take A Hike calendar.
Edgwood Wildflower Walks Free Docent-led Wildflower Walks at Edgewood Park
Celebrate spring by exploring the magnificent spring wildflower displays of Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve. The Friends of Edgewood are offering free docent-led wildflower walks at Edgewood Park every Saturday and Sunday mid-March through mid-June. Learn more.
nature journaling Nature Journal Workshop with John Muir Laws at Edgewood Park
Second Tuesday of each month, 3:30 - 5 pm. Nature Journaling makes you a better observer, naturalist, and artist. Learn how to keep your own nature journal through monthly workshops. Each workshop highlights new aspects of journal keeping including drawing flowers, making quick landscape studies, sketching birds, noticing important scientific details, or nature poetry. No experience necessary. Register at the Friends of Edgewood site.
See our Events Calendar for a full listing.
Crystal Springs Road Closure Concrete Pours on Crystal Springs Trail
The Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant project will conduct four intensive, one-day concrete “placement activities” near Crystal Springs Regional Trail to create the base slab for the new 11 million gallon treated water reservoir. Closures expected. Exact dates will be posted at sfwater.org/Peninsula.
Miramontes Trail closure at Phleger Estate Trail Closure at Phleger Estate near Huddart Park
The east end of Miramontes Trail at the Phleger Estate in Golden Gate National Recreation Area will be closed on April 4 until further notice. A 50-foot segment of the trail (approximately ¼-mile northwest of the entrance to Phleger Estate from Huddart County Park at Richards Road) and adjacent hillside are eroding due to recent storm damage, creating unstable trail conditions, particularly for equestrians. The repair is expected to take several weeks. For more info contact GGNRA Planning at (415) 561-4930.
Crystal Springs Road Closure Bypass Opens on Crystal Springs Regional Trail
A bypass has been provided while the Sand Trail portion of Crystal Springs Regional Trail, located south of Edgewood Road, is closed. A bypass has been provided while the Sand Trail portion of Crystal Springs Regional Trail, located south of Edgewood Road, is closed. The bypass continues to provide passage as work resumes in late April or early May to complete the site.
Bear Gulch Trail Closure Bear Gulch Trail at Wunderlich Park, Closed to Horses
Contractors have finished rocking Bear Gulch Trail at Wunderlich Park, but the trail will remain closed to horses until May to allow the rock to harden and set.
news Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Closure
The Crystal Springs Dam Bridge will be closed for four years beginning October 25th, 2010. North and southbound traffic on Skyline Boulevard, both automobile and bicycle, will be re-routed. Access from the south on Sawyer Camp Trail will be blocked and an alternate path identified. More info about the Dam Bridge Replacement Project at Department of Public Works. More info about the Dam Closure at SFPUC. See the detour map.
Closure at Memorial Park Closure at Memorial Park
Homestead Youth Camp Areas at Memorial Park are closed indefinitely.
Make a Reservation
Reserving a camp site, picnic site or other park facility on line is easy. Get Started.
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Parks Spotlight
Take A Hike 2013
Get to know San Mateo County Parks with these popular docent-led hikes.
We Want YOU!
Volunteers are making a huge difference in our county parks, and so can you. Our calendar is full of outdoor projects for people of all ages and abilities.
How Are We Doing?
Filling out our customer survey is a fast easy way to improve our county parks.
Annual Park Pass
A great gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life, or for yourself.
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