20 Attractions to Explore Near El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve

The Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is located on the western slopes of historic Kings Mountain in Woodside. Purisima Creek Redwoods doesn’t have any old-growth redwood groves; its two canyons are instead filled with dense stands of small to mid-sized second-growth redwoods. The popular Redwood Trail is wheelchair accessible. Like many parks in California, dogs are not allowed. The preserve is home to many species of animals, including bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes and rabbits.

Wunderlich Park is about 900 mountainous acres of redwood forest, oak and madrone woodlands, and hillside meadows and savannas. Much of the park is well-shaded, so it's a good choice on a hot day. With a private stable on site, the trails can be busy with equestrians, but usually only on weekends. The park contains about 15 miles of developed trails. The trails are mainly fire roads, with the exception of the Bear Gulch Trail and Redwood Trail.

A majestic forest park set over 900 acres of coastal mountain environment with numerous trails running along cool gulches and over unique hillside habitats. It has barbecue pits, a playground, grassy meadows, and hiking and riding trails, Huddart Park makes a great place to have a picnic or explore a redwood forest.

This 1,084-acre park on the San Francisco Peninsula anchors the southern terminus of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and lies between Huddart County Park and the historical Filoli mansion.This area was once a portion of Rancho Cañada de Raymundo which was aggressively logged during the nineteenth century. After entering the estate from Cañada and Edgewood Roads, Phleger Road immediately crosses the south fork of Laguna Creek which flows north to Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir.

Filoli 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.

Edgewood 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.

Windy Hill is a popular and very enjoyable preserve that stretches from Portola Valley, at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, to Skyline Boulevard, at the crest. Access to the summit is easy from State Route 35, the ridge road along the Peninsula Range. Facilities focus on trails for hiking and mountain biking, with around 14 miles of hiking trails. The area is rich in wildlife.

A public beach in front of a private gated community. The property is surrounded by high cliffs and farm lands so there is just one way to the beach – the gated road.For many years Martins Beach has been a popular spot for families, surfers, photographers, fishermen and others.

This 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.

This is a 366-acre public recreation area, near the City of San Carlos with trails for hiking and walking one's dog, including an off-leash area. The preserve's six miles of trails offers access to cool canyons and a ridge top with views toward the bay and surrounding hillsides.

Pulgas Water Temple is a beautiful monument complete with a reflection pool lined with cypress trees and meadows of grass. it was designed in the Beaux Arts style by William Merchant, a San Francisco architect trained by Bernard Maybeck. The water temple was originally built in 1934 (and revamped in 1938) as part of a massive project to bring water to San Francisco by damming up the Hetch Hetchy valley, 160 miles away in the Sierras.

San Gregorio State Beach is a stunning beach in a valley about 10 miles south of Half Moon Bay and a short drive from Silicon Valley in the South Bay.Park facilities include restrooms and picnic tables. Dogs are not permitted on the beach, as it has been identified as an itinerant nesting habitat for the locally underpopulated western snowy plover. North of the main beach is a nude beach on private property.

San Gregorio state beach is one of the better scenic beaches on highway one a few miles south of half moon bay. This is an excellent beach walk with high sandstone cliffs the entire way. North of the creek there are caves and fossils in the sandstone cliffs to investigate. Park facilities include restrooms and picnic tables. Dogs are not permitted on the beach, as it has been identified as an itinerant nesting habitat for the locally underpopulated western snowy plover.

An 850-acre park of lush redwood forest, ridges, and grassy knolls, ideal for equestrian excursions and hiking.Trails climb up to a ridgeline with views across the Pescadero Creek valley, Butano Ridge, and the Pacific Ocean. The park includes Heritage Grove and borders Pescadero Creek County Park through which it connects to Memorial County Park, Portola Redwoods State Park, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Horseback riding is popular here, and many use Ja ck Brook Horse Camp.

Stanford Dish, is a radio antenna in the Stanford foothills. The 150-foot-diameter dish was built in 1961 by the Stanford Research Institute. The dish is still actively used today for academic and research purposes. The area around the Dish offers a popular 3.5 mile recreational trail. This is a popular local hiking trail, with view of 280 and Stanford. There are a few trails but the main one is 3.56 miles

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve is a regional park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This 3,137-acre preserve known for its showy display of wildflowers in spring. In summer, the hills turn to gold with the late evening sunlight. Diverse plant communities, miles of forest edge, and abundant springs make Russian Ridge an outstanding habitat for wildlife.

This is a beautiful mixture of rolling grassland and evergreen forest. It protects most of the Arastradero Creek watershed, including its ephemeral Mayfly Creek tributary. It also includes the upper reach of the Felt Creek tributary to Stanford's Felt Reservoir. Each area of the preserve has something different to offer, whether it is a view of the bay, a quiet walk through the grasslands, or a snooze by the lake.

The San Mateo County History Museum is located in downtown Redwood City. It features exhibits depicting the history of the Peninsula through the times of the Ohlone Indians, the Spanish explorers, the ranchos, pioneer logging, agriculture, dairy farms, whaling, and the Victorian era of great estates.

A beautful beach, which lies at the end of Poplar Street west of State Route 1. The Coastal Trail links Poplar Beach to Half Moon Bay State Beach along the top of a bluff with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Mavericks surfing location to the north. This hiking trail is also open to horses and dogs.

This is a 1,400-acre park and nature preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. The park contains nearly one tenth of all land in Palo Alto. About 90 acres of the park are developed with amenities including a large grassy field, picnic sites, a walk-in, tent-only campground, and a nature interpretive center. Boronda lake is used for fishing, rowing, and canoeing. The park also has 15 miles of trails.