Things to Do in San Mateo

San Mateo offers a diverse environment for touring cycling, road cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and hiking. The region features bayfronts, rolling hills, and redwood forests, providing varied terrain. Komoot lists 5 routes in San Mateo, with an average rating of 4.83 stars from more than 2,000 visitors.

Popular touring cycling routes include the "Kings Mountain Road – Pulgas Water Temple loop" (65.2 miles [105 km]) and the "Jepson Laurel – San Andreas Lake loop" (16.4 miles [26.4 km]). The Cycling in San Mateo guide provides additional options. The Crystal Springs Regional Trail also offers a paved recreational path.

Notable road cycling routes include the "Highway 1 and the Coast" loop and the "Planet of the Apes" loop for coastal views. The "Portola Valley – Junipero Serra Boulevard loop" (51.7 miles [83.2 km]) and "San Andreas Lake – San Andreas Lake loop" (21.7 miles [34.9 km]) are also favored. More routes are detailed in the Road Cycling Routes in San Mateo guide.

Waterdog Lake Park is a popular spot with compact, technical trails, including fire roads and singletrack. The "Skeggs loop" is a challenging 22.6-mile [36.4 km] route through redwood forests. Other highly rated trails include Utter Delight, Boy Scout Trail, and Manzanita, as highlighted in the MTB Trails in San Mateo guide.

Joggers can use the flat, paved San Francisco Bay Trail for bay views and wildlife. The Crystal Springs Regional Trail is also popular for running. For coastal views, the Año Nuevo Point Trail (3.5 miles [5.6 km]) is available. The Running Trails in San Mateo guide offers more options.

San Mateo offers diverse hiking experiences, from the San Andreas Fault Trail (1.4 miles [2.3 km]) through shaded forests to trails in Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve. The Año Nuevo Point Trail also provides scenic coastal hiking. Further details can be found in the Hiking in San Mateo guide.

The Crystal Springs Regional Trail, including the Sawyer Camp and San Andreas segments, offers over 15 miles [24 km] of paved trail suitable for all fitness levels. This trail features gentle descents and scenic views of reservoirs. Coyote Point Recreation Area also has paved trails ideal for family cycling.

San Mateo features extensive bayfronts and coastal views, rolling hills, and dense redwood forests. Scenic reservoirs like Crystal Springs and San Andreas Lake are central to many routes. Diverse ecosystems in areas like Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve also offer opportunities for wildlife observation.

Yes, a 3.8-mile [6.1 km] segment of Cañada Road along the Crystal Springs Regional Trail is closed to vehicles on Sundays for "Bicycle Sunday." This allows cyclists and others to enjoy the road car-free. More information is available in the Traffic-free bike rides in San Mateo guide.

Komoot offers several guides for San Mateo, including Cycling in San Mateo, Road Cycling Routes in San Mateo, and MTB Trails in San Mateo. Guides for Running Trails and Hiking are also available.

The official website for the City of San Mateo is www.cityofsanmateo.org. For general inquiries, the main phone number is (650) 522-7000. The Parks District Office can be reached at (650) 851-1210 for specific park information.