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    Crystal Springs Park

    4.4 (17 reviews)

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    Jenny T.

    This hidden reservoir is made for hiking n' biking. The trails are naturally curved along the side of the tranquil waters, sometimes you incline, sometimes you don't but with each curve and twist, you'll find yourself admiring nature at it's finest. Expect to park about a mile away and up the hill. You will get a good workout even if you decided you were not going to work hard :)

    Sign Dayi g it's closed and didn't say when it's going to re open.
    Kristy M.

    It's closed so we kept driving around ... there was not too many signs. There wasn't too many parking spots either.

    Kevin S.

    She's a beautiful jewel on a deadly chain. For my 1400th review I'm happy to call attention to Crystal Springs Park. This is a San Mateo County Park which consists largely of the Sawyer Camp Trail (reviewed extensively elsewhere) and the land surrounding Crystal Springs Reservoir, also known as San Andreas Lake, lying directly on top of the San Andreas fault just before it leaves dry land and runs into the Pacific and heads for Point Reyes. The reservoir itself, split by one dam and created by another, makes the drive down 280 from San Francisco towards Half Moon Bay and Silicon Valley one of the loveliest in the area, especially when a fog is creeping over the hilltops and reaching through the trees and across the highway. I long thought it was a relatively recent creation, but Crystal Springs Reservoir came into existence with the construction of Lower Crystal Springs Dam in 1890. That dam is rather special, in that it was the first concrete dam in which the water content of the concrete was specifically controlled to maximize the strength of the dam, under the novel theory that more water makes concrete stronger. It must have--the dam survived the Great Earthquake of 1906, when San Andreas herself did her best to knock our silly constructions asunder. Maybe she just enjoyed her beautiful jewel too much to spoil it. The result of the dam is a spectacular lake running down a rift valley, and a surrounding belt of land that has been preserved to protect the reservoir, allowing many rare and endangered species of plants and a wealth of wildlife to thrive largely free of intrusion except along a few closed road trails and the streams of traffic heading along 92 to and from Half Moon Bay. It's a little odd to realize that a good portion of the area's potable water is stored here, above the most notorious faultline in North America, but hey--didn't seem to cause any problems 100 years ago! For being a beautiful backyard for San Francisco and San Mateo County for over 100 years, Crystal Springs Park is my 1400th review.

    Mary S.

    Beautiful trails. All paved. Great for families with little ones looking for a place to practice bicycling.

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    15 years ago

    I have to say this is my favorite place to just get away and relax before i start the work day ..

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    Review Highlights - Crystal Springs Park

    Plus, how cool is it knowing you're also directly on top of the San Andreas Fault?!?!

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    Sweeney Ridge

    Sweeney Ridge

    4.3
    (190 reviews)
    8.2 mi

    This is a nice enough spot to go for a hike. It was easy to find my way to the Sneath Lane Trail…read moreParking using google maps, a small lot within a residential neighborhood, that fits about 10-15 vehicles. It was foggy, cold, and incredibly windy during my visit last week, and of course, there's an incline as the trail wraps around the mountain. But it wasn't too bad, the actual climb up didn't feel as difficult as it looked from a distance, starting with the sneath lane trail then connecting to other trails higher up. In fact, there are many options for different trails to take. The Baquiano Trail had a dirt pathway while the Notch Trail toward the Nike Missile Control Site was paved. Near the SF Bay Discovery Site, there's a small restroom building (it was pretty clean for a park facility, on a Thursday afternoon). The gorgeous foliage lining the various paths was captivating, along with lovely views of the hills, lake (san andreas reservoir), and sunlit scenery in the distance. Too foggy to enjoy the views the higher you get though, just a giant cloud of fog everywhere. I barely made it three miles out before turning back. It was just far too windy and foggy to wanna be out there very long (I'm sure hot days would be even worse with zero shade to be found). Plus my legs definitely had a workout from the uphill trek. Luckily the jog back down was a breeze. And I did slow down to appreciate the vegetation and vast array of plant species, once again, before leaving.

    There are a few entrances, but I think the most popular one is on Sneath Lane. This trail is paved…read moreand pretty steady and not too difficult for about a mile but then gets a bit steeper for the next mile to the top. On the way up you can see views of the San Andreas Reservoir Lake. After the rain you can hear the water flowing and see some little streams and wild mushrooms. To the ridge is a little under 2 miles. I like the fact there is a small bathroom which I find quite rare on trails like this. To the left is the San Francisco Discovery Site which has a plaque with some information. Apparently, this was the place the Spanish settlers first saw the San Francisco Bay. To the right the trail goes along the ridge to the remains of the old Nike missile site. The views are stellar, and one can see for miles on end, Marin, the city, Pacifica Mount Diablo, etc. I love watching all the planes coming in and out from nearby SFO. From Sneath the hike is about 5 miles and 2 hrs. I've also gone the Mori Trail route which is nice because it's not paved but this trail is steeper. It's worth checking out the funky Shelldance Orchid Gardens which is located at the trailhead but they are only open on the weekends.

    Photos
    Sweeney Ridge in mid March
    Sweeney Ridge in mid March
    Sweeney Ridge in mid March
    Sweeney Ridge in mid March
    Plants and flowers along the trail

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    Plants and flowers along the trail

    Crystal Springs Park - parks - Updated July 2026

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