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

Coyote Creek Habitat Day - FREE family fun!

Join us on Saturday, June 1 from 10am to 1pm at the Coyote Creek Visitor Center (19245 Malaguerra Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037) for a day of activities highlighting wildlife connected with Coyote Creek. Learn about the people and animals who have made their homes along this watershed both long ago and today.   Learn more.

 

Hike The Hundred Challenge!

Are you ready for the next Santa Clara County Parks Challenge? Hike your way to 100 points in 100 days to celebrate Stevens Creek's 100 year milestone. Get your hiking boots and binoculars ready, the Hike The Hundred scavenger hunt has begun. 

 

Earth Day Youth Art Contest

Calling all young artists pre-K to 12th grade! Celebrate Earth Day and Santa Clara County Parks by sharing your creative and original artwork. Let’s celebrate Earth Day by showing how you might save the planet by reducing the use of plastics or sharing what Earth Day means to you. Submissions accepted April 1-30.

Parks Administration Office Move

Effective April 8, 2024, the Santa Clara County Parks Administration Office will be relocating from its current address at Vasona Lake County Park (298 Garden Hill Drive, Los Gatos, CA) to a brand-new location at 5965 Silver Creek Valley Road, San José, CA 95138.   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.

Volunteer Hours Icon

29,366

2022 Volunteer Hours

Miles of Trails Icon

342

Miles of Trails

Acres Protected Icon

52,000+

Acres Protected

Regional Parks Icon

28

Regional Parks

Annual Visitors Icon

5,482,718

Annual Visitors

Upcoming Events

Filter Events

Saturday, January 21, 2023

motorcycle track with green hills background and several riders waiting to ride onto track thumbnail

Santa Clara County Parks will be submitting an application to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division for consideration of a 2023 grant to help fund Metcalf Motorcycle Park maintenance, operations, and improvements.

If you're a frequent visitor to Metcalf, we invite you to learn about the OHV grant and provide input. Join us at the group picnic area.

Metcalf Motorcycle County Park
300 Metcalf Road, San Jose CA 95138

Event Type:
Public Programs
Saturday, January 21, 2023
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Bernal Historic House Open | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Bernal ranch house and family in 1910

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.

Saturday, January 21, 2023
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

motorcycle track with green hills background and several riders waiting to ride onto track thumbnail

Santa Clara County Parks will be submitting an application to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division for consideration of a 2023 grant to help fund Metcalf Motorcycle Park maintenance, operations, and improvements.

We invite stakeholders to learn about the OHV grant and provide input. Meet at group picnic area

Event Type:
Public Programs
Saturday, January 21, 2023
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

300 Metcalf Rd
San Jose, CA 95138
United States

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Bernal Historic House Open | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Bernal ranch house and family in 1910

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.

Sunday, January 22, 2023
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Hellyer Weeding Parties | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 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

SIGN UP HERE

Father and son at Hellyer County Park weeding party
Event Type:
Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, January 28, 2023
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

985 Hellyer Ave
San Jose, CA 95111
United States

Coyote Creek Junior Ranger Hike | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

 

Children and adults by Coyote Creek with an interpreter.

 

Join us for a Junior Ranger family hike to explore different ways animals have adapted to life along the Coyote Creek watershed. Junior Rangers will look for evidence of local wildlife and discover how they survive as well as protect themselves in this special habitat.  Less than one mile hike, best for ages (7-12) Located at Coyote Creek Visitor Center by Anderson Lake at 19245 Malaguerra Ave, Morgan Hill CA 95037.

Click here to sign up or email [email protected] for more details.

Saturday, January 28, 2023
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Bernal Historic House Open | 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Bernal ranch house and family in 1910

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.

Saturday, January 28, 2023
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Bernal Historic House Open | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Bernal ranch house and family in 1910

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.

Sunday, January 29, 2023
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Friday, February 3, 2023

three male raking in front of a white house

Bernal Ranch is a historic site located in Santa Clara County Parks. The Muwekma Ohlone were the first inhabitants of the land and recognized the value of the natural fresh water spring of Santa Teresa Spring. The spring was also used during the Juan Bautista De Anza expedition in 1776. Jose Joaquin Bernal was thirteen years old when he first visited Santa Teresa Spring during the expedition. He eventually settled at Santa Teresa and 120 of his descendants lived on the same ranch land. Currently, the Santa Teresa community is home to a diverse population of families each with a unique history to the land.

Join us to volunteer and be part of the Santa Teresa community. Volunteer opportunities available include gardening, barn maintenance, and historical house upkeep. Hope to see you at the community volunteer days!

For families with children under 14, please be prepared to sign a release form for your child on the day of the event.

Minimum age: 8

SIGN UP HERE

Event Type:
Volunteer Opportunity
Friday, February 3, 2023
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Hellyer Weeding Parties | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 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

SIGN UP HERE

Father and son at Hellyer County Park weeding party
Event Type:
Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, February 4, 2023
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

985 Hellyer Ave
San Jose, CA 95111
United States

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