32 Outdoors - Other to Explore in San Mateo County
Checkout places to visit in San Mateo County
San Mateo Countyjust south of San Francisco and home to the world-renowned Mavericks surfing competition. The county seat is Redwood City. he county's built-up areas are mostly suburban with some areas being very urban, and are home to several corporate campuses.
Popular Activities And Trips in San Mateo County
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Outdoors - Other to Explore in San Mateo County
Año Nuevo State ParkAño Nuevo State Park is a state park of California which are known for their pinniped rookeries. Located in San Mateo County. The reserve contains a diversity of plant communities, including old growth forest, freshwater marsh, red alder riparian forest and knobcone pine forest.
Big Basin Redwoods State ParkBig Basin Redwoods State Park is the oldest state park in California The park contains almost all of the Waddell Creek watershed, which was formed by the seismic uplift of its rim, and the erosion of its center by the many streams in its bowl-shaped depression. The park has many waterfalls, a wide variety of environments (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many animals and abundant bird life – including Steller's jays, egrets, herons and acorn woodpeckers.
Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State ParkThis historic ranch property is hidden in a pristine valley south of Half Moon Bay. The area offers solitude and a rich assortment of plants and wildlife along the riparian corridor of Mills Creek. The ranch is sheltered from wind and fog and is often several degrees warmer than the town of Half Moon Bay. A trail from the parking area consists of the old ranch road along Mills Creek. After a mile it passes a 1930s bungalow that serves as a park residence.
Butano State ParkThis is a state park of California showcasing a secluded redwood-filled canyon. The park features miles of hiking trails, 21 drive-in campsites, and 18 walk-in campsites, restrooms and more. Guided nature walk and weekend campfire programs are offered during the summer.
Castle Rock State ParkCastle Rock State Park is a 5,242-acre state park of California, United States, located along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It embraces coast redwood, Douglas fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that are a popular rock climbing area. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles of hiking trails.
Coyote Point Recreation AreaCoyote Point is a regional recreation area that provides a wide variety of opportunities: picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, bicycling, jogging, fishing, boating, and sailing. Facilities within the park include a large playground, the CuriOdyssey junior museum, a sandy bathing beach, a marina and yacht club, hiking trails, and picnic areas. In addition, the San Mateo County Sheriff's office has a shooting range on-site for training of law enforcement.
Devil's Slide This is a coastal promontory in California. The terrain is characterized by steep, eroded slopes with natural gradients ranging between 30 and 50%. There are small coastal valleys throughout along the major drainages within the Montara Mountain watershed.
Edgewood Park & Natural PreserveEdgewood County Park and Natural Preserve near Redwood City has miles of trails, shady picnic areas and some of the Bay Area’s most spectacular displays of spring wildflowers, native grasslands, and oak woodlands. It has 160 acres of serpentine soil which are known for having high proportions of native plant species including rare and locally endemic species.
Filoli Historic House & GardenFiloli is a country house set in 16 acres. It was built for Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn II. Now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is open to the public now.
Golden Gate National Recreation AreaGolden Gate National Recreation Area is famous for its iconic structures, the largest collection of historic buildings in any national park and the 146 kilometers of San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean shoreline that gives a home to some of the 2,458 plants and animal species in the urban park. It is also one of the largest urban parks in the world, with a size two-and-a-half times that of the consolidated city and county of San Francisco.
J V Fitzgerald Marine ReserveFitzgerald Marine Reserve is a marine reserve in California on the Pacific Ocean. The reserve is a 32-acre holding which extends from Montara light station at the north to Pillar Point on the south. The reserve consists of a three-mile stretch of beach.
Junipero Serra ParkThis foothill park, open all year round, provides family and group picnic areas, hiking and nature trails and shelter buildings. Visitors are drawn to the Oak Foothill plant community, spring wildflowers, El Zanjon Creek, and the peaceful retreat the area affords from surrounding urban development.
Mavericks BeachMavericks is a surfing location in northern California outside Pillar Point Harbor, just north of the town of Half Moon Bay at the village of Princeton-by-the-Sea. After a strong winter storm in the northern Pacific Ocean, waves can routinely crest at over 25 ft and top out at over 60 ft. Routinely, waves that break can be recorded on seismometers. The break is caused by an unusually shaped underwater rock formation.
McNee Ranch State ParkMcNee Ranch State Park is a beautiful, scenic, and surprising park. Comprised almost entirely of wide, multi-use fire roads. The highest point in the 690-acre ranch rises to 1,898 feet above sea level. An unpaved fire road, the North Peak Access Road, accessible from the Pedro Mountain Road, provides access to the summit by hikers.
Memorial County ParkThis is a forested retreat not far from the coast. Many campsites in Memorial Park Campground are among the redwood trees and all sites are within easy walking distance of Pescadero Creek. A swimming hole there is popular in the summer. There are also group sites, some of them designated for youth groups. Reservations for all campsites can be made for up a year in advance. A seasonal camp store is located near the park entrance.
Milagra RidgeMilagra Ridge is a 275-acre open space park that is an isolated island ecosystem, located about 7 miles south of San Francisco, between the cities of Pacifica and Daly City. It was first inhabited by the Ohlone indigenous people, and was later claimed by Spanish settlers and Mexican ranchers.
Mussel Rock Mussel Rock is a rock formation on the coast of San Mateo County, California, offshore from Daly City. It consists of one large and numerous smaller rocks of a type known as a stack, where a headland is eroded unevenly, leaving small islands. The rock itself is located 15 meters from the shore of Mussel Rock Park and stands 18 meters tall. The area above Mussel Rock consists of steep cliffs with frequent landslides, threatening homes in a subdivision above.
Pedro Point HeadlandsPedro Point Headlands offers a spectacular 255-acre landscape, three miles of trails and stunning views. At the same time, the Headlands suffered from persistent erosion, caused by past off-highway vehicle use. Sediment from the headlands runs into San Pedro Creek, harming fish, frogs and other wildlife.