Top 5 Natural Monuments around San Mateo

A fun, pretty place to stop while riding Cañada road. I has water and an air pump and bathrooms. Take a photo with friends.

San Andreas Lake is a hidden gem tucked into the hills of San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco. Originally a natural sag pond formed by the San Andreas Fault, it was transformed into a reservoir in the late 1800s and now serves as a vital water source for the region. The lake is off-limits for swimming or boating, but you can enjoy its peaceful beauty from the San Andreas Trail or the popular Sawyer Camp Trail, which runs along its eastern edge. It's a serene spot where you can walk or bike with sweeping views of the water and surrounding hills, all while standing right on one of the world’s most famous fault lines. Despite its proximity to urban life, San Andreas Lake offers a quiet, scenic escape steeped in natural and historical significance.

You're not hallucinating: This monument was deliberately built in the style of ancient Greek and Roman architecture, to commemorate the Great Depression-era Hetchy Hetchy Project that brought water down from the mountains to the Bay Area. The frieze says, “I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people.”

This park is named for a Puerto Rican attorney who helped get a family claim to these lands recognized, then played a major role in the street planning for Redwood City. He donated the land for the park, which includes basketball and tennis courts, a playground, picnic facilities, and an M5 tank, which was placed here as a memorial to those who served in both world wars. It's worth parking your bike to take a look.

This observation deck is an excellent spot overlooking the slough to view the wildlife in the wetlands and marshes. While you're here, watch for the California clapper rail and the salt marsh harvest mouse, both endangered species protected in this area.

a nice place to fill up your water bottle and relax a few minutes

The 1.67 acres park on the corner of Warren Street and Standish Street offers grass lawns, a playground, tot-lot, basketball half court, tennis court, practice wall, picnic tables, and an Army tank, placed in 1947 at the request of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a memorial to those who had served in the two world wars. The 16-ton M5 Stuart light tank was presented to the city by the American Legion as a war monument. In the 1850’s, all of what is now Redwood City was part of a large estate known as Rancho de las Pulgas. This estate belonged to the Arguello family, who had been granted the land by the government of Mexico in 1835. After the Mexican War, people began to settle along Redwood Creek, hoping that the U.S. government would refuse to recognize the Arguello’s right to the property. Simon M. Mezes, who had come from Puerto Rico to practice law in San Francisco, was hired by the Arguellos as an agent to protect their land title. In 1854 Mezes succeeded in clearing the Arguello family’s title. In return for this service, the Arguellos sold him a large portion of their estate. Mezes then proceeded to sell lots for $75 each to the people already living in the village on Redwood Creek. He also completed a survey for a map of the town, which he named Mezesville. Although this name has vanished into history, the present-day arrangement of Redwood City’s downtown streets can be traced to Mezes’ map. Mezes donated two blocks to Redwood City for plazas. In 1905 one of those blocks was turned into a park then known as California Square. The other block eventually became Mezes Plaza. In 1928 the Veterans Building was moved onto the Mezes Plaza block. Two years later, the park site was cleaned up and shrubbery was planted. Two tennis courts were built in 1934, and in 1937 playground equipment was installed. www.redwoodcityhistory.org/blog/2016/9/29/historical-blog-series-mezes-park-tank-park

In the 1850’s, all of what is now Redwood City was part of a large estate known as Rancho de las Pulgas. This estate belonged to the Arguello family, who had been granted the land by the government of Mexico in 1835. After the Mexican War, people began to settle along Redwood Creek, hoping that the U.S. government would refuse to recognize the Arguello’s right to the property. Simon M. Mezes, who had come from Puerto Rico to practice law in San Francisco, was hired by the Arguellos as an agent to protect their land title. In 1854 Mezes succeeded in clearing the Arguello family’s title. In return for this service, the Arguellos sold him a large portion of their estate. Mezes then proceeded to sell lots for $75 each to the people already living in the village on Redwood Creek. He also completed a survey for a map of the town, which he named Mezesville. Although this name has vanished into history, the present-day arrangement of Redwood City’s downtown streets can be traced to Mezes’ map. Mezes donated two blocks to Redwood City for plazas. In 1905 one of those blocks was turned into a park then known as California Square. The other block eventually became Mezes Plaza. In 1928 the Veterans Building was moved onto the Mezes Plaza block. Two years later, the park site was cleaned up and shrubbery was planted. Two tennis courts were built in 1934, and in 1937 playground equipment was installed. In 1947, at the request of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, an Army tank was placed in the park as a memorial to those who had served in the two world wars. The 16-ton M5 Stuart light tank was presented to the city by the American Legion as a war monument. There were several models of the light tank made by the Cadillac Division of General Motors, and the M5 was armed with a 37mm cannon as well as two machine guns. It was powered by twin 16-cylinder engines and could hit 36 miles per hour with some drivers reporting that it could go over 45 miles per hour. The M5 was outgunned in Europe but was used extensively against the Japanese. According to the American Armoured Foundation, the M5 tank is now quite rare, with only a dozen still existing. Today the park offers 1.67 acres of grass space, a playground, tot-lot, basketball half court, tennis court, practice wall, picnic tables, and of course the tank, on the corner of Warren Street and Standish Street. https://www.redwoodcityhistory.org/blog/2016/9/29/historical-blog-series-mezes-park-tank-park