20 Attractions to Explore Near Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park

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.

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 the main hub of Half Moon Bay State Beach, is located at 95 Kelly Avenue. The beach is easily accessible with a paved ramp leading down the sand. The day-use area features a large picnic area with barbecues and restrooms with running water. The campground hosts tent and RV camping with sites offering electric hookup or dry camping.

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.

Dunes Beach is one of the northern beaches in Half Moon Bay State Beach.Short steep sandy trails take you down to the beach through the dunes on the bluff. South of the beach access the beach is below sandstone bluffs and north of the access are the beach’s namesake dunes. The Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail runs north-south behind the parking lot for running, walking, and biking. This paved path extends the entire Half Moon Bay shoreline from Pillar Point to Redondo Beach.

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.

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.

A pretty white sand beach located on Young Avenue off of Highway 1 in San Mateo County. It is one of the many Half Moon Bay beaches and offers beautiful views of the water, especially from up on the hiking trails. There are no pets or fires allowed on the beach, but it is a great secluded spot for surfers who want to catch some waves or beachgoers who are seeking solace. A horse trail parallels Coastside Trail from Roosevelt Beach to Francis Beach.

Miramar Beach is a sandy beach in western San Mateo County, California. Miramar Beach is one of the numerous beaches on Half Moon Bay, a Pacific Ocean embayment noted for its surfing and extensive visitation. It is one of the iconic beach where you can enjoy with your family and friends.

A pair of artificial lakes located in the northern Santa Cruz Mountains of San Mateo County. It is one of the beautiful recreational location in this area and also there are so many things to ee and do in this natural area.

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 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.

El Corte de Madera Creek is a small river in the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Mateo County, northern California. It is a tributary of San Gregorio Creek.The creek flows about 7 miles, from its source in Kings Mountain near Skeggs Point on Skyline Boulevard, to its confluence with San Gregorio Creek about 2.7 miles east of San Gregorio.

The Crystal Springs Regional Trail is a planned 17.5-mile trail that, when finished, will extend from San Bruno to Woodside. 15.3 miles of the trail are now complete. It provides an alternative recreational route to the 1,210-mile Juan Bautista DeAnza National Historic Trail.The trail serves over 325,000 visitors annually. People of all ages can be seen on a given day, from parents with children in strollers to distance runners.

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.

Montara Mountain is a challenging oceanside hike on the northern edge of the Santa Cruz Mountains, mixing Hawaii-like greenery with beautiful coastal views. Its Trail starts as a meandering jaunt through the Blue Gum Eucalyptus forest with striking glimpses of coastal Pacifica and the ocean beyond.

This beautiful park, which is adjacent to Sugarloaf Mountain, has serene walking areas and a playground as well as trails leading into Sugarloaf Mountain.The park was acquired in 1923. The wedge-shaped park underwent a major renovation in 2021.

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.

Pillar Point Harbor is a boat harbor created by a riprap jetty in San Mateo County, California. The contemporary hamlet is the site of a small cluster of resort hotels and restaurants, and the harbor is now used largely by pleasure craft.

Mavericks 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.