Junipero Serra Park
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: 1801 Crystal Springs Rd., San Bruno, CA 94066
Starting Point: We parked at the main parking lot near the park entrance, which has multiple trailheads to choose from (with well marked trail signs). There are other parking lots further inside the park which also have trailheads marked by signs.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Junipero Serra Park info link (San Mateo County Parks):
https://parks.smcgov.org/junipero-serra-park
Junipero Serra Park trails info and map link (San Mateo County Parks):
https://parks.smcgov.org/junipero-serra-park-trails
Distance:
On our recent visit, we pieced together trails that took us around the outer edges of the park but also cut through the middle to enjoy the views from the playground with views of San Francisco Bay, and then took the zigzag section of the Quail Loop Trail back to the entrance parking area. The trail marker mileage does not seem to exactly match the brochure trail map (see link above), but our walk covered a little under 2 miles. Junipero Serra Park is variously noted as covering 103 or 108 acres, which means plenty of space for playing and hiking.
Considerations:
• Junipero Serra Park has four parking areas to choose from.
• Toilet facilities are available near parking, playground and picnic areas.
• There is a small day fee ($6 on our visit), with various exceptions such as seniors, veterans, and disability placard holders.
• There are two playground areas and several picnic areas (certain picnic areas are available as reserved sites for events).
• Avoid contact with poison oak. Having a poison oak scrub like Tecnu handy is a good idea.
• Pay attention to health, safety and wildlife signs.
The trail:
Junipero Serra Park offers family friendly outdoor options including playground areas for children, picnic areas for gatherings, and nature trails criss-crossing the more than one hundred acres of the park.
The parking area near the entrance had spaces open when we visited on a sunny Sunday, and there are other parking areas further into the park. Parking and picnic areas spread around the park have toilet facilities as well.
We parked at the entrance area parking lot, with a picnic area and small playground in view. Rather than taking trails near this part of the parking area, we walked toward the end of the parking lot to the wooden fence and footbridge leading to an informational sign.
We took the Live Oak Nature Trail, noted on the trail sign as 0.4 miles. (The brochure map and trail sign mile markings appear to differ sightly in some cases.) We followed the Live Oak Nature Trail as it paralleled a creek bed, and then moderately rose as we walked through oak forest. The informational signs along the trail gave good insights on the local plant life. This winding, woodsy feel of this trail increased the further we walked, until we reached a trail marker showing the connector trail called Pine Trail (which seemed to be missing on the brochure map), noted as 0.3 miles.
We took Pine Trail, which had as many eucalyptus trees as it did pines, past a sharp turn section that led to a junction connecting us to the Quail Loop Trail, which was the main trail we wanted to take around the perimeter of the park.
The Quail Loop Trail rose uphill enough that when we got to an open meadow, we could see the San Francisco Bay and the airport. We wanted to visit the big playground area that Junipero Serra Park is known for, so we stepped away from the Quail Loop Trail and followed the Meadow Vista Trail (also noted as Meadow View) up a gradual rise through green grassy areas lined with trees, with mostly eucalyptus trees higher up.
The Meadow View picnic areas and parking area came into view. This is a pretty spot to sit and look toward the bay while having a snack break. Just up the hill is the larger playground known for its 54 foot slides.
After checking out the view from the top of the playground area, we reconnected to the Quail Loop Trail up the hill from the playground. There is a lovely eucalyptus forest here with dramatic shadows and light.
The Quail Loop Trail continued westward until the tree varieties changed again, and we made our way down a very pretty switchback section of trail. Some of the gnarled trees, tree tunnels, and shadow patterns were reminiscent of the scenery depicted in Tolkien stories, always a delight to wander along. Walkers will find themselves back near the entrance parking area and small playground and picnic area, and can either cut down to parking that way or finish the length of the trail to return to the parking area.
(Junipero Serra Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Finding Beauty in Shadow” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: 1801 Crystal Springs Rd., San Bruno, CA 94066
Starting Point: We parked at the main parking lot near the park entrance, which has multiple trailheads to choose from (with well marked trail signs). There are other parking lots further inside the park which also have trailheads marked by signs.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Junipero Serra Park info link (San Mateo County Parks):
https://parks.smcgov.org/junipero-serra-park
Junipero Serra Park trails info and map link (San Mateo County Parks):
https://parks.smcgov.org/junipero-serra-park-trails
Distance:
On our recent visit, we pieced together trails that took us around the outer edges of the park but also cut through the middle to enjoy the views from the playground with views of San Francisco Bay, and then took the zigzag section of the Quail Loop Trail back to the entrance parking area. The trail marker mileage does not seem to exactly match the brochure trail map (see link above), but our walk covered a little under 2 miles. Junipero Serra Park is variously noted as covering 103 or 108 acres, which means plenty of space for playing and hiking.
Considerations:
• Junipero Serra Park has four parking areas to choose from.
• Toilet facilities are available near parking, playground and picnic areas.
• There is a small day fee ($6 on our visit), with various exceptions such as seniors, veterans, and disability placard holders.
• There are two playground areas and several picnic areas (certain picnic areas are available as reserved sites for events).
• Avoid contact with poison oak. Having a poison oak scrub like Tecnu handy is a good idea.
• Pay attention to health, safety and wildlife signs.
The trail:
Junipero Serra Park offers family friendly outdoor options including playground areas for children, picnic areas for gatherings, and nature trails criss-crossing the more than one hundred acres of the park.
The parking area near the entrance had spaces open when we visited on a sunny Sunday, and there are other parking areas further into the park. Parking and picnic areas spread around the park have toilet facilities as well.
We parked at the entrance area parking lot, with a picnic area and small playground in view. Rather than taking trails near this part of the parking area, we walked toward the end of the parking lot to the wooden fence and footbridge leading to an informational sign.
We took the Live Oak Nature Trail, noted on the trail sign as 0.4 miles. (The brochure map and trail sign mile markings appear to differ sightly in some cases.) We followed the Live Oak Nature Trail as it paralleled a creek bed, and then moderately rose as we walked through oak forest. The informational signs along the trail gave good insights on the local plant life. This winding, woodsy feel of this trail increased the further we walked, until we reached a trail marker showing the connector trail called Pine Trail (which seemed to be missing on the brochure map), noted as 0.3 miles.
We took Pine Trail, which had as many eucalyptus trees as it did pines, past a sharp turn section that led to a junction connecting us to the Quail Loop Trail, which was the main trail we wanted to take around the perimeter of the park.
The Quail Loop Trail rose uphill enough that when we got to an open meadow, we could see the San Francisco Bay and the airport. We wanted to visit the big playground area that Junipero Serra Park is known for, so we stepped away from the Quail Loop Trail and followed the Meadow Vista Trail (also noted as Meadow View) up a gradual rise through green grassy areas lined with trees, with mostly eucalyptus trees higher up.
The Meadow View picnic areas and parking area came into view. This is a pretty spot to sit and look toward the bay while having a snack break. Just up the hill is the larger playground known for its 54 foot slides.
After checking out the view from the top of the playground area, we reconnected to the Quail Loop Trail up the hill from the playground. There is a lovely eucalyptus forest here with dramatic shadows and light.
The Quail Loop Trail continued westward until the tree varieties changed again, and we made our way down a very pretty switchback section of trail. Some of the gnarled trees, tree tunnels, and shadow patterns were reminiscent of the scenery depicted in Tolkien stories, always a delight to wander along. Walkers will find themselves back near the entrance parking area and small playground and picnic area, and can either cut down to parking that way or finish the length of the trail to return to the parking area.
(Junipero Serra Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Finding Beauty in Shadow” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777