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

Hike The Hundred Challenge!

Due to popular demand and recent hot weather, the Hike the Hundred scavenger hunt has been extended another 100 days! Get your hiking boots and binoculars ready, the Hike The Hundred scavenger hunt now ends October 31. 
 

In the Park After Dark Movie Night

Bring family and friends to County parks this summer to watch movies. Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the movie under the stars. Admission is FREE, and parking is $6. See the Upcoming Events Calendar.

8th Annual Fall Festival at Marital Cottle

Come celebrate our valley's rich agricultural history! The 8th Annual Fall Festival will have local arts, crafts and food, kids activities, agricultural workshops, historical autos, antique farm equipment, live music, food trucks, exhibitors, entertainment, pumpkin patch - and more. on October 5, 2024 from 9 am to 2 pm. Admission is free and there is a $6 Parking Fee. Learn more.

 

Parks Administration Office Move

Effective April 8, 2024, the Santa Clara County Parks Administration Office relocated from 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

52,800+

Acres Protected

Regional Parks Icon

28

Regional Parks

Annual Visitors Icon

5,482,718

Annual Visitors

Upcoming Events

Filter Events

Friday, September 20, 2024

Crafternoons at Casa Grande | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Graphic promoting a Hispanic Heritage themed Craft program. In the bottom half is an image of 1800's New Almaden Miners celebrating Cinco De Mayo. In the top left is an image of tissue paper, scissors, and a papel picado craft. In the bottom left corner is the Santa Clara County Parks Logo. In the middle going left to right is an illustration of a chain of papel picado. Overlayed text says Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September 12pm to 4pm.

Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons at the Museum
Friday-Sunday 12pm-4pm in August  | Almaden Quicksilver at Casa Grande

Join us for September crafternoons at Almaden Quicksilver County Park's Mining Museum at Casa Grande! (21350 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA 95120)

Make a fun papel picado craft and learn about how Hispanic communities of the 1800's contributed to the historic mining operations of New Almaden and the greater California.

 

This is a free drop-In event, no reservations required.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Officially observed September 15th to October 15th Hispanic Heritage month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.

Free drop in event, great for all ages.  Questions? Email [email protected]

Event Type:
Public Programs
Friday, September 20, 2024
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

21350 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
United States

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Crafternoons at Casa Grande | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Graphic promoting a Hispanic Heritage themed Craft program. In the bottom half is an image of 1800's New Almaden Miners celebrating Cinco De Mayo. In the top left is an image of tissue paper, scissors, and a papel picado craft. In the bottom left corner is the Santa Clara County Parks Logo. In the middle going left to right is an illustration of a chain of papel picado. Overlayed text says Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September 12pm to 4pm.

Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons at the Museum
Friday-Sunday 12pm-4pm in August  | Almaden Quicksilver at Casa Grande

Join us for September crafternoons at Almaden Quicksilver County Park's Mining Museum at Casa Grande! (21350 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA 95120)

Make a fun papel picado craft and learn about how Hispanic communities of the 1800's contributed to the historic mining operations of New Almaden and the greater California.

 

This is a free drop-In event, no reservations required.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Officially observed September 15th to October 15th Hispanic Heritage month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.

Free drop in event, great for all ages.  Questions? Email [email protected]

Event Type:
Public Programs
Saturday, September 21, 2024
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

21350 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
United States

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.

This event is also part of Binational Health Week.

No registration required, just come by between 4 pm and 7 pm!

Questions? Please email [email protected].

Interested in volunteering? Sign up here: https://scc.samaritan.com/custom/502/opp_details/4202

A crowd gathers outside of a barn.

 

Saturday, September 21, 2024
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

372 Manila Dr
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Crafternoons at Casa Grande | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Graphic promoting a Hispanic Heritage themed Craft program. In the bottom half is an image of 1800's New Almaden Miners celebrating Cinco De Mayo. In the top left is an image of tissue paper, scissors, and a papel picado craft. In the bottom left corner is the Santa Clara County Parks Logo. In the middle going left to right is an illustration of a chain of papel picado. Overlayed text says Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September 12pm to 4pm.

Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons at the Museum
Friday-Sunday 12pm-4pm in August  | Almaden Quicksilver at Casa Grande

Join us for September crafternoons at Almaden Quicksilver County Park's Mining Museum at Casa Grande! (21350 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA 95120)

Make a fun papel picado craft and learn about how Hispanic communities of the 1800's contributed to the historic mining operations of New Almaden and the greater California.

 

This is a free drop-In event, no reservations required.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Officially observed September 15th to October 15th Hispanic Heritage month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.

Free drop in event, great for all ages.  Questions? Email [email protected]

Event Type:
Public Programs
Sunday, September 22, 2024
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

21350 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
United States

Friday, September 27, 2024

Crafternoons at Casa Grande | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Graphic promoting a Hispanic Heritage themed Craft program. In the bottom half is an image of 1800's New Almaden Miners celebrating Cinco De Mayo. In the top left is an image of tissue paper, scissors, and a papel picado craft. In the bottom left corner is the Santa Clara County Parks Logo. In the middle going left to right is an illustration of a chain of papel picado. Overlayed text says Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September 12pm to 4pm.

Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons at the Museum
Friday-Sunday 12pm-4pm in August  | Almaden Quicksilver at Casa Grande

Join us for September crafternoons at Almaden Quicksilver County Park's Mining Museum at Casa Grande! (21350 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA 95120)

Make a fun papel picado craft and learn about how Hispanic communities of the 1800's contributed to the historic mining operations of New Almaden and the greater California.

 

This is a free drop-In event, no reservations required.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Officially observed September 15th to October 15th Hispanic Heritage month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.

Free drop in event, great for all ages.  Questions? Email [email protected]

Event Type:
Public Programs
Friday, September 27, 2024
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

21350 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
United States

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Monthly Tree Watering Stewards | 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
A gorgeous view in the Santa Teresa Park

Make habitat. Make friends. Make a difference.

Join Santa Teresa Land Steward Volunteers on the fourth Saturday of every month to care for and improve Santa Teresa County Park.

Projects are focused on improving native habitat for plants and animals as well as enhancing the beauty of the park. Work will involve watering trees and shrubs in the Pueblo Day Use Area. Please note that this work can be physically challenging and can involve moving 100 to 200 feet of garden hose through tall grass and over uneven terrain.

Bring a water bottle, hat, sunscreen, and work gloves if you have them. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and closed-toe shoes for protection. Tools will be provided.

SIGN UP

Event Type:
Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, September 28, 2024
8:30 AM to 11:30 AM

260 Bernal Rd
San Jose, CA 95119
United States

Volunteers cleaning up weeds at Hellyer Park

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.

Locations include Hellyer Park's Velodrome, Dog Park, and east side of Cottonwood Lake. The Maintenance Crew has greatly appreciated the work that volunteers have done all around the main park over the past year, so keep it up!

Please bring a water bottle, hat, sunscreen, and work gloves if you have them.

All ages welcome!

SIGN UP HERE

Event Type:
Volunteer Opportunity
Saturday, September 28, 2024
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

985 Hellyer Ave
San Jose, CA 95111
United States

Family standing on red bridge at Vasona, looking and pointing into distance

Discover a new County Park on the last Saturday of each month as we explore, learn about, and respect nature in this 1-hour family program.
After completion of 3 park explorations, Junior Rangers can submit their completed logbook and receive the Santa Clara County Junior Ranger badge.
Best for ages 7-12. 
Registration is required. Registration link

Questions? Email [email protected] 

Event Type:
Junior Rangers
Saturday, September 28, 2024
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Crafternoons at Casa Grande | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Graphic promoting a Hispanic Heritage themed Craft program. In the bottom half is an image of 1800's New Almaden Miners celebrating Cinco De Mayo. In the top left is an image of tissue paper, scissors, and a papel picado craft. In the bottom left corner is the Santa Clara County Parks Logo. In the middle going left to right is an illustration of a chain of papel picado. Overlayed text says Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September 12pm to 4pm.

Hispanic Heritage Month Crafternoons at the Museum
Friday-Sunday 12pm-4pm in August  | Almaden Quicksilver at Casa Grande

Join us for September crafternoons at Almaden Quicksilver County Park's Mining Museum at Casa Grande! (21350 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA 95120)

Make a fun papel picado craft and learn about how Hispanic communities of the 1800's contributed to the historic mining operations of New Almaden and the greater California.

 

This is a free drop-In event, no reservations required.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Officially observed September 15th to October 15th Hispanic Heritage month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries.

Free drop in event, great for all ages.  Questions? Email [email protected]

Event Type:
Public Programs
Saturday, September 28, 2024
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

21350 Almaden Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
United States

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Volunteers clearing weed at Alviso

We invite you to join Santa Clara County Parks Natural Resource Management team, in partnership with San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, in their efforts to restore the coastal habitat of Alviso Marina County Park.

Volunteers will assist in the removal of invasive plants and the spreading of mulch in preparation for the planting of native plants.

Please bring sturdy gloves, closed toe shoes (boots if possible), proof of vaccination, and your can-do attitudes!

Please contact the volunteer office with questions: [email protected] or (408) 918-4930.

Minimum age: 12

SIGN UP HERE

Event Type:
Volunteer Opportunity
Sunday, September 29, 2024
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

1195 Hope St
San Jose, CA 95002
United States

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