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 & Upcoming Events
Want to be a Park Ranger? 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.
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Want to become a Virtual Junior Ranger?
Sessions run March 14th-23rd. We invite all Santa Clara County youth, ages 7-12, to join park staff after school via Zoom for Virtual Junior Rangers program. Reservations required. Learn more.
#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.
Provide Feedback on the Countywide Trails Map Update!
County Parks is working to update the Countywide Trails Master Plan Map to better reflect current planning and changes to the countywide trails network. Explore the Draft Map or attend an upcoming public meeting.
Let us know.
Do you like the Parks website?
What works? What doesn't? What's missing?
Click here to answer our brief survey.
Camp Hosts Wanted
Love to camp out in your RV or trailer? In exchange for 20 hours of volunteering a week, Camp Hosts can park their rig free of charge for terms up to 3 years. We are currently looking for dedicated ambassadors in our parks at Alviso Marina, Martial Cottle, Chitactac Adams, and Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Parks. Apply Here!
Volunteers Needed for South Bay Fishing in the City!
Love to fish? Help parks staff teach children ages 5-15 the joys of fishing and provide them the tools they need to fish on their own at lakes, ponds, and streams close to home. We are looking for one-time event volunteers as young as 14 years old, and Core Volunteers (18+) who would like to take a leadership role and attend multiple events throughout the season. Click here to sign up!
Let your voice be heard
County Parks submitted an application to the CA State Parks OHV Division for a grant to help fund Metcalf Motorcycle Park improvements and operations. We welcome your input March 7 - May 1. Details
Attn: Young Artists, Grades Pre-K - 12
Create and share the art that inspires you to explore your County Parks. This year’s theme is Earth Day 2023. Submit your original artwork by Sat, Apr 1 to receive a participation prize and a chance to win a grand prize.
Details
Coyote Creek Habitat Day, Apr 1, 10a-2pm
Join us for a family day of activities and to view wildlife connected with Coyote Creek. Discover the people and animals who have made their homes along Coyote Creek and how we can protect it in today’s changing environment. Details
SCC Parks Milestones
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
Filter Events
Sunday, February 12, 2023
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, February 18, 2023
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
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Can you discover anything new about nature when you tap into your creative side? Drop in for a "crafternoon" to learn more about the plants and animals that call our parks home before exploring the visitor center or nearby hiking trails on your own. No registration required. All ages welcome!
Location: Vasona County Park - YSI Nature Center
Questions? email [email protected]
333 Blossom Hill Rd
Los Gatos, CA 95032
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
Saturday, February 25, 2023
There are many ways to keep your park beautiful! 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.
Things to Bring: Please bring work gloves, sturdy shoes that can get dirty, a refillable water bottle, and dress in layers for working in cooler temperatures.
10001 Watsonville Rd
Gilroy, CA 95020
United States
Join us for a Junior Ranger family outing at Sanborn County Park as we explore what makes a redwood forest so magical. Best for ages (7-12)
Click here to sign up or email [email protected] for more details.
16055 Sanborn Rd
Saratoga, CA 95070
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
Sunday, February 26, 2023
Sunday, February 26th | 9:00 am - 12:00pm
Location: Almaden Quicksilver County Park - Wood Road Entrance
Join a Park Interpreter on a 3-4 mile hike in the Almaden Hills and discover how the processing of cinnabar into mercury was significant to the success of the California Gold Rush and the development of California as a state. Best for ages 10+. Space is limited. Reservations recommended. Sign up here.
Questions? Email [email protected]
21785 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
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
Friday, March 3, 2023
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.
Vaccination verification will not be required for volunteer events that are outside and one-time or short-term in nature. If you wish to apply as a Long Term volunteer (18 and older), or volunteer working indoors, you will be required to show proof of vaccination and all boosters for which you are eligible. Regardless of your vaccination status, do not attend a volunteer event if you are not feeling well or have been exposed to COVID-19. Click here for Santa Clara County's COVID-19 Guidelines. Please contact the volunteer office with questions: [email protected]
Minimum age: 8
372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States