The mission of the Santa Clara County Parks & Recreation Department is to provide, protect, and preserve regional parklands for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
Santa Clara County Parks strives to provide all visitors a place where diversity and inclusivity is valued and makes every effort to provide access to outstanding recreational opportunities, a rich cultural historical legacy, and an expansive regional trail system for all to enjoy.
Featured Items
Chitactac Family Day, September 16 | 10am-1pm
Join us at Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park for a family-friendly day of activities celebrating the park’s 25th Anniversary!
Come play traditional games, view the ancient petroglyphs, create unique crafts, and discover what has made this place so special to native people for thousands of years. Event details
Junior Rangers
Registration is open for the September 30th Junior Ranger Program at Vasona Lake County Park! Sign up while space is still available!
There are several ways to become a Santa Clara County Parks Junior Ranger throughout the year. Attend a monthly in-park Junior Ranger activity, download the self-guided logbook, Zoom with us for Virtual Junior Ranger sessions, or earn the Junior Ranger OHV badge at Metcalf Motorcycle County Park. Details
Day on the Bay, Oct 14
Save the date for Day on the Bay, our FREE annual multicultural event at Alviso Marina County Park on Oct 14, 10am-3pm. Join us as an exhibitor or entertainer to share all the wonderful resources we have in our beautiful County.
La Fuente, Sep 23 | 4 – 7 pm
As part of Hispanic Heritage month, celebrate the families of the past, present, and future at Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch and their relationship to the Santa Teresa Spring. Evening festivities include music, stories, crafts, and games for all ages. Event details.
Fall Festival Oct 7
Mark your calendars for our popular Fall Festival event on Oct 7, 9am-2pm. Check out local arts and crafts, children's activities, agricultural workshops and food. Event details.
#PixInParks Challenge has Begun!
Lace up your boots! It's time to get outside and connect with nature in the 7th and Final #PixInParks Challenge. Challenge ends December 15, 2023.
Santa Clara County Parks is hiring!
Be part of a dedicated team that stewards over 52,000 acres of Santa Clara County’s finest natural resources and historic areas, along with a wide variety of recreational facilities like campgrounds, boating lakes, an OHV park, shooting range, and more. Learn more.
SCC Parks by the Numbers
Since the first County parkland was acquired in 1924, the Santa Clara County Parks system has grown to include 28 regional parks encompassing over 52,000 acres of land. We at Santa Clara County Parks are committed to balancing the need for public use of parks and recreational lands with preserving the natural beauty of our area, including wildlife refuges and historic sites.
29,366
2022 Volunteer Hours
342
Miles of Trails
52,000+
Acres Protected
28
Regional Parks
5,482,718
Annual Visitors
Upcoming Events
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Saturday, December 17, 2022
If you are looking to get outside and connect with new people right in your backyard, this is the opportunity for you! California native plants play an important role in the health of our parks. To help them thrive, we have to work together to remove non-native and invasive plants.
This event is in partnership with Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful.
Minimum age: 12
985 Hellyer Ave
San Jose, CA 95111
United States
Neighborhood Naturalists
A beginner's natural history course for adults
Saturdays, December 3, 10, and 17 | 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Location: Bernal Historic Ranch Area, Santa Teresa County Park
New to the area or curious about the natural world in your own backyard? This three-session educational program for adults will introduce participants to the natural history of the Santa Clara Valley, with a focus on the South San Jose region's geology, geography, flora, and fauna.
Morning sessions will include nature journaling, brief presentations, outside activities, and group discussions.
Space is limited. Advance registration required.
Questions? Contact [email protected] or [email protected]
A visit to the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch historic area of Santa Teresa County Park immerses you in the realities of living and working on a family ranch more than 100 years ago.
The Bernal house was built c. 1860, and served as family home for the Bernals and their descendants for over a hundred years. It has been restored to its c. 1910 appearance, as in this historic photo. House museum rooms and exhibits inside tell the story of the Bernal family and the home.
372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States
Celebrate the holiday season with a festive traditional Filipino craft. Join Park Interpreter Katrina at Martial Cottle Park to make parols, colorful star-shaped lanterns traditionally made in the Philippines that are displayed during the holiday season.
This craft activity honors the Filipino farmworkers who worked on Cottle Ranch in the mid-20th century.
No registration required. Drop-in between 1 - 3pm. Craft materials will be provided.
5283 Snell Ave
San Jose , CA 95136
United States
Sunday, December 18, 2022
A visit to the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch historic area of Santa Teresa County Park immerses you in the realities of living and working on a family ranch more than 100 years ago.
The Bernal house was built c. 1860, and served as family home for the Bernals and their descendants for over a hundred years. It has been restored to its c. 1910 appearance, as in this historic photo. House museum rooms and exhibits inside tell the story of the Bernal family and the home.
372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States
Saturday, December 24, 2022
If you are looking to get outside and connect with new people right in your backyard, this is the opportunity for you! California native plants play an important role in the health of our parks. To help them thrive, we have to work together to remove non-native and invasive plants.
This event is in partnership with Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful.
Minimum age: 12
985 Hellyer Ave
San Jose, CA 95111
United States
A visit to the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch historic area of Santa Teresa County Park immerses you in the realities of living and working on a family ranch more than 100 years ago.
The Bernal house was built c. 1860, and served as family home for the Bernals and their descendants for over a hundred years. It has been restored to its c. 1910 appearance, as in this historic photo. House museum rooms and exhibits inside tell the story of the Bernal family and the home.
372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Parks Trivia Night
Join us via Zoom for our free Parks Trivia night and put your knowledge to the test. Questions will highlight nature, history, and fun facts about our 28 Santa Clara County Parks. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, place winners will receive prizes. All are welcome to join. Best for families and children 10+
Are you up for the challenge? Sign up today!
Click here to sign up or email [email protected] for more details.
Saturday, December 31, 2022
If you are looking to get outside and connect with new people right in your backyard, this is the opportunity for you! California native plants play an important role in the health of our parks. To help them thrive, we have to work together to remove non-native and invasive plants.
This event is in partnership with Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful.
Minimum age: 12
985 Hellyer Ave
San Jose, CA 95111
United States
A visit to the Bernal-Gulnac-Joice Ranch historic area of Santa Teresa County Park immerses you in the realities of living and working on a family ranch more than 100 years ago.
The Bernal house was built c. 1860, and served as family home for the Bernals and their descendants for over a hundred years. It has been restored to its c. 1910 appearance, as in this historic photo. House museum rooms and exhibits inside tell the story of the Bernal family and the home.
372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States