Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Trip Report Memorial Park, San Mateo County, Ca. Near La Honda and Pescadero.

As part of my mid years resolution to see more public parks in the San Fransisco Bay area I took a drive to Memorial County Park in San Mateo County near Pesdcadero and La Honda.
http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal/...tcurrchannel=1

 Friday - Day 1 

After driving Summit Road (Hwy 35) out of Soquel and stopping along the way to hike a few hills and "mountains" we rolled into Memorial Park about 5pm. You camp in huge redwoods groves with giant trees all around you. I have never been here before and in fact I never even heard of the place until a few weeks ago. It reminds me of Big Basin Sate Park . Great camping right next to huge trees. What makes Memorial Park even better is a creek that gets deep enough you can actually swim in and they allow fires! I am definitely keeping this place in rotation for the few times a year the Santa Cruz mountains get hot enough to need a swim or cold enough to need a fire.

 Saturday - Day 2 

We hiked some of the short trails around the park. What a beautiful area. Redwoods and mixed chaparral forests. Lots of banana slugs. Later that day we drove down to the ocean to throw the poles in the water (Caught a few sandabs) and stopped in Pescadero to get some supplies.

 Sunday - Day 3

Hiked to Ellen Summit. A short 1.6 miles hike with interpretive displays set along the way. Drove the coast home and stopped in Davenport for brunch

 Summary 
A great family camping place within an hour of most of the Bay Area. Good swimming. Driving distance to the ocean. A lot of kids which can be noisy at times. Camp sites 39, 37, 35 are the best IMHO. Renting all three of these and possibly 33 and 31 too would be a great place for a group outing.