Discover San Mateo: Nature, Coast and History

The destinations featured here range from multi-section hiking trails to places offering vivid insights into nature and history. This makes it easier to decide in advance which themes matter most to you on your trip.

Coastal Trails and Outdoor Activities

The Cowell-Purisima Trail runs for 3.6 miles along gently rising coastal bluffs. Here, agricultural land meets the Pacific Ocean. Beach and coastal scrub ecosystems line the route; seals, pelicans, hawks and wildflowers may be spotted along the way. It’s an option for anyone looking to combine coastal scenery with nature watching.

The Devil’s Slide Trail is a 1.3-mile multi-use path on a former section of Highway 1. It gives hikers, runners, cyclists and horseback riders access to the rocky heights of Devil’s Slide above the Pacific. The overlooks have benches and viewing scopes; facilities also include bike racks, drinking fountains and restrooms. Coyote Point Recreation Area offers a different range of activities: picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, cycling, jogging, fishing, boating and sailing.

It’s important to distinguish between the planned and completed sections of the Crystal Springs Regional Trail: the planned route is a 17.5-mile connection from San Bruno to Woodside, and 15.3 miles are currently complete. The trail is used for walking, running, skating or rollerblading, cycling and horseback riding. For hikes of varying lengths, the trails in Pescadero Creek Park are another option: its scenic routes range in difficulty and can take anywhere from about an hour to a full day. Horseback riding is allowed on all trails; some may close in winter.

Tide Pools, Wildlife and Forest Landscapes

The tide pools at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve reveal the diversity of life along the coast. They are home to algae, crabs, sponges, sea stars, mollusks and fish. The reserve lies within Montara State Marine Reserve, a marine protected area established under the California Marine Life Protection Act. Those more interested in forests and plants will find 467 acres of woodland and grassland at Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve. Impressive wildflowers bloom there in spring, and there are also opportunities for hiking and nature watching.

San Mateo County Coastside covers more than 300 square miles and offers access to sandy beaches, redwood forests and open spaces. Along the coast, the Cowell-Purisima Trail offers views of the transition between farmland and ocean. For beaches and dunes, Half Moon Bay State Beach features four miles of sandy shoreline, ocean views and opportunities for shore fishing. The two descriptions emphasize different experiences: a trail along bluffs and through ecosystems, or an expansive beach with gentle dunes.

Each year, up to 10,000 northern elephant seals return to the dunes and beaches of the Año Nuevo State Park Natural Preserve to breed, give birth and molt. The Marine Education Center is housed in a historic 19th-century dairy complex belonging to the Dickerman/Steele family. Brooks Falls offers a different kind of natural spectacle: during the rainy winter and spring months, the falls cascade down three tiers over a drop of 175 feet; their flow depends on rainfall.

Forests and Trails at Your Own Pace

The park trails vary in length, scenery and use. The Redwood Nature Trail in Huddart Park is 0.70 miles long and rated an easy hike. The park’s streams and ravines are framed by coast redwoods, creating a cool, deeply shaded setting; there are also hiking and horseback riding trails. Seven trails in San Pedro Valley Park span different habitats, lengths and difficulty levels. The Montara Mountain Trail there offers views of the Pacific and the Farallon Islands.

Those seeking longer routes through forest landscapes can compare the listed trail lengths. Butano State Park offers 40 miles of hiking trails through more than 4,000 acres of canyons and uplands. In Portola Redwoods State Park, 18 miles of trails follow winding streams through coast redwood forests. Butano State Park’s peaceful canyon is also characterized by towering second- and third-growth redwoods and babbling streams. The Old Haul Service Road in Portola Redwoods State Park is open to horseback riders and cyclists and runs through the park’s redwood forests to Memorial County Park; operating conditions may vary.

History and Culture as Another Travel Highlight

Sánchez Adobe stands on the site of a mission outpost dating to 1786. Construction of the adobe home began in 1842. Rancho Day in September features programs with demonstrations such as brickmaking and corn grinding; dates may vary. Another way to explore regional history is at Woodside Store: the house museum displays period artifacts and offers a glimpse into the past of a once-busy logging area. Old Woodside Store Day features demonstrations and hands-on activities for families and takes place on the first Sunday in May; dates may also vary here.

Other sites offer concrete connections to the history of technology and architecture. The historic Fog Signal Building at Pigeon Point Light Station houses the original Fresnel lens and exhibits about the lighthouse and its keepers. The San Mateo County History Museum is located in the 1910 County Courthouse. The Hiller Aviation Museum’s collection includes a 1942 Link Trainer, a World War II flight simulator. These destinations complement the nature-focused attractions with insights into lighthouse, courthouse and aviation history.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: San Carlos, Burlingame, Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Brisbane, Belmont, Moss Beach, Montara, Foster City, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Pescadero, Woodside, Colma, Atherton.

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