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    Crystal Springs Regional Trail

    4.4 (54 reviews)

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    James H.

    Very easy flat and paved trail. Free parking. Not much shade this is a good trail for bicyclists, walkers, joggers and runners. I wasn't able to go on the full trail but will be back.

    Haiyang H.

    My go-to food coma recovery trail. Easy, pleasant, good view and many animal companions. Came here after a big and late lunch. Easy to find parking. Saw some deer, a big turkey family, condors, butterflies, dragonflies, loads of birds and some lizard party going on. Trail is currently cut short to 1.5 mile. Super easy to finish, all paved and almost flat. Good view at the water reservoir. Easy for kids as well.

    Crystal Springs Dam
    Michael C.

    Brilliant trail with well paved roads and splendid views of the Crystal Springs Reservoir perfect for walking, running, skating/rollerblading, bicycling and horseback riding. The Crystal Springs Regional Trail is a planned 17.5-mile trail that, when finished, will extend from San Bruno to Woodside. 15.3 miles of the trail are now complete. It provides an alternative recreational route to the 1,210-mile Juan Bautista DeAnza National Historic Trail. Stolen from: https://parks.smcgov.org/crystal-springs-regional-trail The two northern segments are wide, flat, paved trails winding around the eastern shore of San Andreas Lake and the Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir, while the southern segment is a skinnier dirt trail that follows Cañada Road and the Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir. Link to a detailed map: https://parks.smcgov.org/sites/parks.smcgov.org/files/CrystalSpringsTrailMap-Nov2018-FINAL-web-formatted.pdf?v=1.1

    https://goo.gl/maps/UH9sNeHeC8tSTDUp8 37°31'33.4"N 122°21'38.9"W
    Cathrin P C.

    There's apparently an extension of the Crystal Springs trail in San Mateo that goes southbound. It's far less crowded, almost like not too many people know about this extension. It's only about a mile long though and there's a porta-potty bathroom along the way. This part is great for bicyclists. Too bad it's so short. If you have little kids who need a safe place to ride their bikes, this would be a better spot than at the more crowded entrance. https://goo.gl/maps/UH9sNeHeC8tSTDUp8 37°31'33.4"N 122°21'38.9"W

    Maximiliano G.

    It's a very nice walking trail. When I came here the trail was partially closed so I wasn't able to walk too far but the scenery is very beautiful. There's a lot of trees and nice views of the reservoir plus you might get to see some of the wildlife that live in the area. I recommend coming here if you want a relaxing walk or if you like biking.

    Jessica E.

    Nice place but a lot of the lake views are obscured by trees. You can only see the lake very well towards the beginning of the walk or if you go through the bridge. It would be much more enjoyable if you bike instead of walking, as it is quite a long walk. It gets quite busy on the weekends and parking can be difficult to find. Overall, a nice place, you can see a lot of families here with scooters, bikes, and rollerblades. Don't forget to bring your helmet if you're biking.

    Lovely walk!
    Christina L.

    Amazing easy hiking trail! We just discovered this trail recently and plan to come back weekly. Love the shady trail and expect to encounter deers and birds on the way. Family friendly but be careful of the bikers behind. It gets pretty crowded in the afternoon, plan to come earlier for parking spots...

    Emily F.

    Beautiful trail that is paved and easy walk is well trafficked by pediatrics and bikers. Benches and picnic tables throughout the trail. The trail is wide which is great with how many people are out and to stick with COVID precautions. Mile markers along the way and also some restrooms that are near the beginning and end of the trail. I was happily surprised that the restrooms were fairly clean. I only wish parking was better so recommend starting early if going on a weekend. I hope to visit again soon and check out more trails.

    Elaine Y.

    The road is completely paved all the way through - perfect for leisure walkers, runners, and bicyclists. The road is also open to equestrians, but I've only ever seen horses once during my many trips here. You can't deviate from the path either because the trail is fenced in by barbed wire...but I would say most of it is for your safety (steep drops) and for hunting/gaming prevention. There is almost always wildlife ever present here which makes it pretty neat. Deer gather in herds. But there are also birds/waterfowl, beetles, slugs (esp. after a rain) and lizards. I've seen gophers too. The trail is about 6 miles long, I've never actually seen the other end...still working towards it. Just keep hydrated, but not so much that you'll have to use the restrooms. It's a glorified port-a-potty...haven't used it, but have definitely smelled it from afar.

    Heading south on the Sawyer Camp trail at the Crystal Springs Reservoir (Saturday afternoon 2015-03-07)
    Ziyan C.

    If you're looking for at least a somewhat strenuous hike, this isn't for you. My friends and I like at least pretty hardcore hikes with over 100 feet in elevation change (I tracked this on Strava and that was the actual total elevation change). We did get good mileage, 12 miles round trip along the entire Sawyer Camp segment, from the Crystal Springs entrance to the San Andreas Lake. There's even more mileage to be covered on either side of those segments. Also, it's a paved trail so there are lot of strollers, bikers, and families with kids. Not very isolated; it can get a bit crowded here. Despite that, we did get a parking spot not far from the entrance around 11:30am or noon on a Saturday, which I was surprised about. A lot of the open spots seemed to be people who'd come earlier in the morning and had already finished their hike. Also, the entire trail is completely fenced off with barbed wire on either side (about 10-20 feet off the trail). So while you do get to enjoy a pretty good view, there's no off-roading or getting near the reservoir. It's a fairly exposed trail so make sure to bring protection from the sun! most of the walking along the reservoirs aren't covered, but most of the segment between the two reservoirs is. Some nice views: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/crystal-springs-walking-trail-san-bruno?select=EBwonTbnP_P6pII-7F9iOA#aEO6ISRD9DTjR9BAEhG4cg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/crystal-springs-walking-trail-san-bruno?select=EBwonTbnP_P6pII-7F9iOA#EBwonTbnP_P6pII-7F9iOA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/crystal-springs-walking-trail-san-bruno?select=EBwonTbnP_P6pII-7F9iOA#XmfUs_OPGUK6koqhrgeM1g Trail map; http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/crystal-springs-walking-trail-san-bruno?select=EBwonTbnP_P6pII-7F9iOA#9LJBv8DKzyJMdeEhm4x6HA

    Spring on Crystal Springs Trail.

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    3 years ago

    Awesome place to ride bikes with open spaces! The road is closed off on Sundays except holidays.

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    2 years ago

    Great place to hike, lots of shade and very peaceful. Lots of shade and tons of parking

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    5 years ago

    I went for a walk over the weekend. I love the water view and the weather. Parking could be a challenge but it is worsted. I recommended.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Crystal Springs Regional Trail

    Where to park if you cane for walking?

    Just outside the gate,there is handicap parking but it gets full

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    Review Highlights - Crystal Springs Regional Trail

    There's a lot of trees and nice views of the reservoir plus you might get to see some of the wildlife that live in the area.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Coyote Point Recreation Area

    Coyote Point Recreation Area

    4.2
    (247 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    Visiting the area and decided to take a walk here to explore the beach, park, and see the planes…read moreflying over the ocean into SFO. While walking in we encountered the ranger booth. There were two rangers standing there having a seemingly pleasant conversation which smiles and laughter. I walked up because I noticed a price per car for $6 but didn't notice a price per person for pedestrians and wanted to clarify and pay the appropriate fees if needed. I was impressed that I didn't need to stop their conversation, they stopped on their own, greeted us with big smiles, asked how they could help us. Brandon and Lee let us know that as pedestrians we didn't need to pay or occupy the time limits. I let them know my buddy would be picking up the girls when he got off work and leaving immediately. They stated no charge, I gave them the vehicle type, they weren't worried. I gave my buddy their names and let him know. Upon his entry he had no issue entering without paying since he was just looping through. Using the restrooms, they were clean, stocked, had soap and were useable. The bbq pits were cleaned from dirt and debris and ready to use. We went to sit on a picnic table and were stopped by a gentleman who stated he had just finished painting those specific tables and was currently adding a "wet paint" label to the tables We obviously were grateful for that. He ushered us to tables that were clear to be sat at and enjoyed. Parking areas were cleaned and so was the beach. On thing I did notice was a pathway of material in several different areas. I hate walking through deep sand and getting sand into my shoes and being stuck with it all day. My second thought was that that wasn't the intended use, that possibly the intended use for for individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, other assisted devices or for those with mobility issues to have a smoother surface. This made me happy that the facilities were seemingly inclusive as much as possible! I mean it is nature.

    This is a nice large outdoor area. You have to pay $6 to go in unless you have some other…read morearrangement (e.g. membership at CuriOdyssey may give you free parking?) There was a lot of parking when we went on a Saturday afternoon. They had a few parking lots scattered in the area. There are a lot of picnic areas that you can reserve for the BBQ grills. There were plenty of bathrooms scattered throughout the picnic areas. The one I used was relatively clean and had plenty of toilet paper. They have a lot of trails here where you can bike or walk. You can watch the planes go in and out of the airport above you! There are also a lot of birds hanging out in and by water if you want to bird watch. I was hoping to catch some sea lions but I guess they weren't around. There is unfortunately a lot of powerlines in the area that would spoil an otherwise nice view but what can you do. I also saw there was a yacht club by the water! I saw you could rent the facilities for parties (not sure if you had to be a member or not).

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    Coyote Point Recreation Area
    Coyote Point Recreation Area
    View looking over the water and bridge in the distance

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    View looking over the water and bridge in the distance
    Sawyer Camp Trail

    Sawyer Camp Trail

    4.6
    (453 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    I was on my way to an estate sale and needed a bathroom quick, so I clicked the closest restroom on…read moreApple maps and it brought me here. Thanks to that app, I found this place and since I was already there I take a short walk, and it ended up being a nice surprise. The trail was really clean with some nice views along the way. It's paved, so it's an easy place for a walk or a bike ride without having to worry about rough terrain. There were plenty of people out enjoying it as well. There's a good amount of parking along the main road, which made it easy to stop by.

    It's a long walk, on concrete, very shaded, and next to a beautiful reservoir where we get all our…read moreclean drinking water (after passing the reservoir, you basically only see trees). The main con is that you have to turn back since there's no loop (about 6 miles one-way), so you have to figure out where your stopping point is, otherwise the trail spans across multiple cities (north entrance in Millbrae, southern entrance in San Mateo). No pets allowed. There are restrooms at the beginning of the trail, and in the middle after going a good amount of distance. There were a lot of wildlife to be seen, like random families of deer, lizards, turkey couples, and even turkey vultures. In some puddles along the path, there were newly-hatched tadpoles. If you want a peaceful, quiet, long and shaded walk or bike ride, this is a solid choice. You will run into other groups along the way, as it is a popular and well-maintained trail. Sawyer Camp Trail's purpose is pretty niche, though, as I'd much prefer a path that loops or an option for elevated terrain.

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    Sawyer Camp Trail
    Turkey vultures
    Turkey vultures
    Finally open again. 1.5 miles is better than zero.

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    Finally open again. 1.5 miles is better than zero.
    Bayside Park

    Bayside Park

    4.3
    (6 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    When I first came to this park, I thought it was just part of the Bay Trail that mostly hugs the…read morewater. But when I saw the entrance to this park, I was kind of surprised. This park is mainly set up for softball or baseball, with bleachers, a scoreboard, a little snack bar, and even little sheds that house the equipment!! I can see this place jumping on a Friday night with the Tavern league games, which are always a great time. Hopefully, that atmosphere will return, I'm pretty sure it will and I'll check out this park again!!!

    This trail area is one of my go-to walking spots in the Peninsula! There's no hills, all paved, and…read moreextremely easy to walk for any fitness level. Great place to walk your dog and burn some calories! In the morning/early afternoon the weather is typically mild, but as the afternoon hits, it gets windier and windier. This trail runs along the bay, from Millbrae to San Mateo. I start at the Burlingame Marriott, and make my way towards to Coyote Point park. What's great about this trail is that you can make it as long or as short as you want. I typically can make this hike anywhere between 5-10 miles, depending on how I feel that day. You'll be treated to stunning views of the Bay, SF skyline, and of course plenty of airplane taking off and landing. Currently Facebook's new building is being built, so you'll want to watch for construction in the area as you head towards Coyote Point Rec center. I typically park by the Marriott right off the Millbrae ave exit, across the street from New England Lobster. There's a public lot with 10+ parking spots, so if you get there early, parking is easy. Come bit later, you may need to park across the street. Wherever you decide to park along the trail, HIDE ALL BELONGINGS! Car thieves are common in this area. If you plan to park closer to the Burlingame Dog Park on Airport, I had my car broken into while parking here, but it was my fault for leaving stuff out in the back seat. Definitely a lesson learned.

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    Rustic bench...nice
    Rustic bench...nice
    Bayside Park
    California Poppies, Anza Lagoon

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    California Poppies, Anza Lagoon
    Mills Creek Canyon Park

    Mills Creek Canyon Park

    3.4
    (24 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    I was hesitant to visit at first after seeing the 3.5 star Yelp rating, so I was pleasantly…read moresurprised by this trail. We parked at the main trailhead at Adeline near Hillside. Limited parking but this isn't a hike I'd drive out of the way for; it's a good neighborhood trail. At the entrance there was a sign warning of ticks, poison oak, and mountain lions - it's nature after all. Take a photo of the map at the entrance for first time visitors. We had a late start so we only did the west half of the loop to get to the overlook, which ended up being a view mostly of the canyon and small view of the bay in the distance where we saw a plane descending towards SFO. It was a pleasant walk and you can hear the creek. For the half we did, there were a few moderate switchbacks and stairs at the start of the trail, but they weren't that steep. The Sebastian entrance on the map was marked as steep. Watch where you step since parts of the trail were slightly rocky (not too much); the half we hiked seemed relatively easy with moderate incline in some parts to get your heart rate up. We walked on a paved service route for part of the hike, and saw one family with a young child on the service route so it seems family friendly (not stroller friendly though). Since it was evening, the trail didn't seem busy, and when we did pass others, they put on their masks if they weren't already masked. We did see one owner with dogs off leash, but I believe dogs should be leashed on the trail because of the mountain lions (we didn't see any).

    This really isn't the best park to visit unless you're willing to ignore the issues with locals…read more(most of them not wearing masks, and making side comments "Thanks Karen") and the fact the trail is crazy junky. There are a ton of rocks, and roots, and overgrown brush on these paths, and while I didn't end up having an issue, it seems kinda easy to twist your ankle or get lost. Even in the middle of the day in direct sunlight. My guess is this park is basically used as a communal backyard for those who live in the area. I'm probably good with never returning.

    Photos
    Little bridge
    Little bridge
    Mills Creek Canyon Park
    Mills Creek Canyon Park

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    Arroyo Park

    Arroyo Park

    4.0
    (6 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    I've lived two streets away from this little creek and park for six years and never realized it,…read morebut this year during quarantine I noticed it on Maps and had to check it out. The first time I came here I was actually a little scared! It's a legit woodsy area right next to a neighborhood, with a small babbling (or maybe trickling) creek. The mallard ducks like to call this place their home, mostly visible in early morning or evening (you can sometimes catch them sleeping!). After you get used to the insular quietness of this park, you come to really appreciate it! It's a very short path (I think my Fitbit logs it as about 200-300 steps across), but it's very peaceful. You can listen to the birds chirp, the squirrels rush about, and the water and gentle rustling of leaves. I also found it funny to catch the squirrels yelling their heads off more than once. It's located between two streets, so you can clearly see houses on both sides, and it's pretty safe. I'd recommend taking a stroll! But not too many so I can keep the quietness to myself :)

    Arroyo Park is probably one of the honey's favorite parks in the area due to the mallard ducko…read morefamily that is in residence in the stream. We originally thought it was just the drake and his two ladies, but it turns out there's at least two drakes and three hens, though we don't usually see them all together. The park is open during daylight hours and is usually pretty quiet, surprising for being not that far from the bustling El Camino street. You can hear the brook babbling and birds, and it's really quite a lovely stop.

    Photos
    Historical park sign
    Historical park sign
    Fun in cool water
    Fun in cool water
    Arroyo Park

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    Crystal Springs Regional Trail - hiking - Updated August 2026

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