Sam McDonald County Park
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (June 2015) |
San Mateo County's Sam McDonald Park is located between La Honda and Loma Mar and is operated by the San Mateo County Department of Parks. The park is 867 acres (3.51 km2) of redwood forest, mixed woods and open meadows. Trails climb up to a ridgeline with views across the Pescadero Creek valley, Butano Ridge, and the Pacific Ocean. The park includes Heritage Grove and borders Pescadero Creek County Park through which it connects to Memorial County Park, Portola Redwoods State Park, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park (via a trail easement across private lands). Horseback riding is popular here, and many use Jack Brook Horse Camp.
History
Sam (Emanuel) McDonald began acquiring the La Honda property in 1917. When he died in November 1957, he left his La Honda property (400+ acres) to Stanford. San Mateo County acquired the land in 1958 and dedicated it for public use in 1970. An additional 450 acres were acquired in 1976 from Kendall B. Towne, bringing the total acreage of the park to 867 acres.
Setting
Today, the park is part of a larger group of county parks known as the Pescadero-Memorial Park Complex,[1] formed by nearby land acquisitions:
- Memorial Park (1924)
- Sam McDonald County Park (acquired 1958, established 1970)
- Heritage Grove Trail
- Pescadero Creek County Park (acquired 1968)
They are adjacent to Portola Redwoods State Park and close to several areas preserved by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, including the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve.
References
- ^ "Pescadero Creek Park Complex" (PDF). Parks Department, County of San Mateo. November 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
External links
- "Sam McDonald Park". Dept. of Parks, San Mateo County. Retrieved 2015-06-12.