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San Mateo County’s western edge is well-known for its picturesque beaches and coastline along Highway 1. Have you also explored the miles of shoreline facing the San Francisco Bay and East Bay?
The Peninsula’s eastern edge is lined with parks that offer an abundance of natural beauty and recreation, with a diversity of activities to enjoy in the final weeks of summer and beyond. From newly developed parks with bridge views to natural preserves with undisturbed marshland to sprawling recreational sites hosting events for the community, here are eight shoreline parks to visit next.
Oyster Point Marina/Park, South San Francisco
The Oyster Point neighborhood of South San Francisco has been a site of transformation over the last several years. Built above a capped landfill, Oyster Point has developed into a biotech hub with shops, gyms, restaurants and hotels.
The marina itself features a boat-launching ramp, a 300-foot fishing pier, nearby hiking and jogging trails, and goose-watching on the Bay. Recent construction work has included widening the Bay Trail path, adding grills and picnic tables, and installing fencing for a dog park. Restrooms and public parking lots are available for visitors, including those taking a ride from the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal to Oakland or Alameda.
For a meal or beverage after your outdoor adventures, The Cove biotech campus in Oyster Point is a five-minute drive away and includes eateries such as Truffle Poké Bar, Nick the Greek and Guapas Mexican Grill. Acclaimed Brazilian spot Cafe de Casa is also nearby on Airport Boulevard.
Oyster Point Marina/Park, 95 Harbormaster Road #1, South San Francisco; open daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Anza Fisherman’s Park, Burlingame
Anza Fisherman’s Park is a rectangular open space surrounded by the San Francisco Bay. This 0.7-acre park has drawn fishers for decades, with fishing areas on rocky berms into the Bay.
Owned by the state of California and maintained by San Mateo County, Anza Fisherman’s Park can serve as a starting point for explorations into the wider Burlingame waterfront. The park connects to walking trails going north and south, leading to a variety of dining centers and hotels offering respite for those on long walks. Visitors starting their explorations from Anza Fisherman’s Park can grab a pick-me-up at Equator Coffee, located around the corner at the Burlingame Point office development.
Anza Fisherman’s Park, 350 Airport Blvd., Burlingame; open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bridgeview Park, Foster City
Bridgeview Park is aptly named for its location at the west-side entrance of the San Mateo Bridge. Sitting on 3.2 acres, the land was formerly owned by San Mateo County and was later sold to Foster City for $1. This plot of land was undeveloped for years before becoming Bridgeview Park, which now features picnic tables, a small succulent garden and a small field for visitors. It is an excellent starting point for outdoor activities, especially biking, walking and jogging.
Bikers can cycle along the levee, and a Fixit bike repair station is on-site. The walking trail connects to the larger Bay Trail, with views of the San Francisco skyline in the distance and airplanes flying overhead. The park can be reserved for picnics and gatherings, with public restrooms and a small parking lot on-site. Fun fact: Visitors can see the former San Mateo Pier from the walking trail, which was once California’s largest fishing pier before closing in 1997.
Bridgeview Park, Parks and Recreation, Beach Park Boulevard, Foster City; open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Shorebird Park, Foster City
Located south of Bridgeview Park, Shorebird Park faces Redwood Shores and also offers views of the San Mateo Bridge and Bay. The park features paved trails, public art installations, benches, picnic tables and a public restroom. While the park does not have a dedicated lot, visitors can park in the surrounding neighborhood.
One of Shorebird’s key features is its outdoor bodyweight circuit training gym, which features workouts that can be completed in under 10 minutes for adults of all fitness levels. Along the nearby Belmont Slough Trail, an informal BMX trail is set up for dirt jumping off sand and dirt piles.
Shorebird Park, 1200 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City; open daily sunrise to sunset.
Coyote Point Recreation Area, San Mateo
Coyote Point once endeavored to be the “Coney Island of the West.” In 1922, the land was home to Pacific City amusement park, complete with a boardwalk, roller coaster, dance pavilion, merry-go-round and more. Pacific City would last only one year before closing, but a piece of its history lives on at the San Francisco Zoo, which operates a hand-carved wooden menagerie Dentzel carousel inherited from the amusement park in 1925.
Today, many other types of amusement can be had at Coyote Point Recreation Area, which motorists can access through a $6 vehicle entry fee. Once inside, visitors can explore the four trails on-site, including the Bluff Trail, which passes a large eucalyptus grove along the water.
Exploring with little ones? Stop by the castle-and-dragon-themed Magic Mountain Playground or visit CuriOdyssey museum to get up close to wild animals and try hands-on science exhibits. Those interested in water sports can visit the northside Coyote Point Promenade, which features three launch ramps for windsurfers, kiteboarders, sea kayakers and paddle boarders. Other recreation areas include the Coyote Point Yacht Club, Coyote Point Pistol and Rifle Range open to the public and law enforcement, reservable picnic sites, and RV camping from April 1-Oct. 31.
Coyote Point, 1701 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo; currently open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., closing hour varies by time of year.
CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point, 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo; open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bair Island, Redwood City
Bair Island is named after Fred Bair, who owned a cattle ranch and home on the land in 1920. The 3,000 acres of restored tidal wetlands are described as “a complex mosaic of twisted tidal channels, mudflats and salt marsh vegetation” by Peninsula Open Space Trust, which successfully led the campaign to save the wetlands in the 1990s. The land is now owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and managed as part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Composed of three islands – Inner, Middle and Outer – the Inner island is just off Highway 101, with public access and parking at Bair Island Marina. Starting from the marina, the park offers hiking trails and wildlife viewing for visitors, including a 1.7-mile trail to the Middle Bair Island Observation Deck. Interpretative signs are posted along the trail describing the history of the land and the environmental impact of wetlands. Keep your binoculars at the ready while you hike – wildlife such as rabbits, harbor seals, great egrets and the salt marsh harvest mouse can be spotted.
Bair Island, 702 Bair Island Road, Redwood City; trail open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto
The Baylands Nature Preserve features 1,940 acres of undisturbed marshland on the San Francisco Bay. Bounded by Mountain View and East Palo Alto, the site features 15 miles of multi-use trails for walking, jogging and observing wildlife (the Baylands is considered to be one of the best birdwatching areas on the West Coast.)
To dig deeper into the history of the Baylands, be sure to explore the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center, which is open on weekends. Here, visitors can explore an exhibit about the site and view the salt marsh habitat up close by walking the adjoining boardwalk. Named for Stanford University alumna Lucy Evans, who fought for the preservation of the Baylands, the interpretive center leads education programs and serves 3,000 elementary school students and 80,000 visitors annually.
Other areas to explore within the Baylands include the Duck Pond overlooking the landing strip at Palo Alto Airport and Byxbee Park, which includes trails, views of the marshlands and a compass rose at the highest point of the park. Canoeing, fishing, kayaking and boardsailing are also options at the Baylands. For a refreshment close by, Cloud9 Coffee is on Embarcadero Road and offers coffee, tea, avocado toast, croffles, and pastries from The Midwife and the Baker.
Baylands Preserve, 2775 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto; currently open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., closing hour varies by time of year.
Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center, 2775 Embarcadero Road; open Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Shoreline Park, Mountain View
Shoreline Park is a sprawling, 750-acre regional recreation area and wildlife refuge that celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023. The park is a habitat for various species of animals, including the resident Species of Special Concern, the burrowing owl. Unique features of the park include a designated kite-flying area, which allows visitors to fly kites up to 150 feet in height; athletic fields, a dog park, the Shoreline Links golf course and the Shoreline Lake and Boathouse with classes and events held each month, plus boat rentals.
Want to grab a bite to eat while visiting the park? There are two dining options on-site: American Bistro at the Boathouse and Michael’s at Shoreline Links. Rengstorff House, Mountain View’s oldest home, should also be a stop on your visit to Shoreline Park. First opened to the public in 1991, the Victorian Italianate home is on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for tours three days a week.
Shoreline Park, 3160 N Shoreline Blvd.; open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Historic Rengstorff House, 3070 N Shoreline Blvd.; open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
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