Current check
Route characteristics and official access pages were reviewed on August 26, 2026. Weather, fire risk, parking, and temporary closures can still change on the day.
Outside nearby - 7 named trails
One table.
Every hike.
Routes around San Mateo, compared on the things that matter in real life: where to start, how much walking, shade, young-kid fit, stroller access, and what to watch for.
- Best proper family hike
- Huddart - Redwood Nature Trail
- Best with a stroller
- Sawyer Camp
- Best tiny redwood walk
- Purisima - Redwood Trail
- Confirmed history
- 2 visited - 5 unconfirmed
Compare and choose
All known hikes
5 work with younger children. 2 are clearly stroller-ready. Visit history stays conservative: unknown means unconfirmed, not unvisited.
7 hikes shown
| Hike | Family route | Kids fit | Stroller | Shade | Surface | Watch for | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurelwood / SugarloafSan Mateo - Visited | Lower park stroll; Sugarloaf trails optional Flexible | Great in lower park Playground plus a short walk | Lower park only | | Paved paths + soil | The mountain trails are more strenuous and exposed than the lower park. | |
| Waterdog LakeBelmont - Visited Aug 3 | Lake Road out-and-back or a short marked loop Flexible loops | Active kids A real nearby hike with a lake | Carrier preferred | | Soil trail | Hills and bike traffic. Stay on marked trails; the lake is not for recreation. | |
| Sawyer CampSan Mateo - Not confirmed | South entrance out-and-back; turn around anytime 1-2 mi family option | Easiest family walk Stroller, scooters, and a predictable surface | Stroller ready | | Paved | Little shade, bicycle traffic, and no drinking fountains. Scheduled closure Sep 8-10, 2026. | |
| Purisima Creek RedwoodsWoodside / Skyline - Not confirmed | Redwood Trail 0.25 mi | Best tiny redwood walk Redwoods, picnic tables, and a very short route | Stroller friendly | | Easy-access natural trail | Small unpaved roadside parking area on Highway 35. Arrive early and unload carefully. | |
| Huddart ParkWoodside - Not confirmed | Redwood Nature Trail 0.70 mi | Best proper family hike Redwoods, a short loop, picnic, and playground | Carrier preferred | | Soil + short paved section | Easy rating, but the loop still includes about 155 ft of elevation change. | |
| San Pedro ValleyPacifica - Not confirmed | Plaskon Nature Trail; add Weiler Ranch Road 0.10 mi or 1 mi | Best first nature walk Creek bridges, visitor center, and picnic | Carrier is easier | | Soil / gravel | Plaskon is intentionally tiny. Add the easy Weiler Ranch Road only if the group wants more. | |
| Wunderlich ParkWoodside - Not confirmed | Lower loop; add Madrone or Redwood Trail 2.6-3.2 mi loop | Older kids or carrier A longer forest outing and Folger Stable | Not stroller ready | | Dirt road + soil trail | Steady climbing and shared equestrian trails. Give horses plenty of space. |
Before leaving
What this table does - and does not - claim.
Family fit
The child labels select a specific short route inside each park. They do not claim that every trail in that park is easy or stroller-friendly.
Privacy
The public table contains park locations only. It does not publish a home address, home coordinates, or home-to-trail distance calculations.
Check San Mateo County Park Advisories and the linked official park page before driving.