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

Park Ranger Badge

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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Junior Ranger Family Day participant receives certificate

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 2023

#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.  

CWTMP Map Update Feedback Tool

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.

RV with overhang and fresh flowers

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!

Scout volunteers with fishing poles at south bay fishing in the city

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!

motorcycle rider in air at metcalf motorcycle park with background of golden hills

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

 

hudson painted a deer with a butterfly perched on its back. trees and grasses in the background

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

 

Children participating in owl dissection activity at Habitat Day

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.

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

Sunday, February 12, 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, February 12, 2023
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Saturday, February 18, 2023

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, February 18, 2023
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Nature Center Pop-up | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Collage with images of Sanborn, YSI Nature Center, and kids creating crafts.

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]

Event Type:
Public Programs
Sunday, February 19, 2023
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

333 Blossom Hill Rd
Los Gatos, CA 95032
United States

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, February 19, 2023
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Chitactac Adams Weeding Party | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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.

Sign Up Here

Event Type:
Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, February 25, 2023
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

10001 Watsonville Rd
Gilroy, CA 95020
United States

 

A ranger is educating children in a redwood forest

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.

Event Type:
Junior Rangers
Saturday, February 25, 2023
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

16055 Sanborn Rd
Saratoga, CA 95070
United States

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, February 25, 2023
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Quicksilver History Hike | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Park Interpreter talks to hike participants.

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]

Event Type:
Public Programs
Sunday, February 26, 2023
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

21785 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
United States

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, February 26, 2023
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

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

SIGN UP HERE

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

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

©2023 County of Santa Clara. All rights reserved.