Coyote Point Recreation Area

The hope is that as you get older, you get wiser. I have to admit, I've been learning to try to see things from a big-picture-perspective, and the same applied as I realized that I had been to Coyote Point Recreation a few years back and did not realize until I came to update my review for this place. I had initially been to only one area of the wide, spacious Coyote Point Recreation Park; this time around, I realized that they had this whole other area where you get see a view of the city of SF as well as sit in the middle of a wide, grassy area that is close to a huge playground for kids. Talk about being able to see things from a different perspective once you get a bigger picture understanding of a situation. I definitely think a person could spend an entire day here just going on a picnic, watching the beautiful view of the city, exercising, etc. Yes, there is a $6 parking fee, but I think that buys you access to one beautiful park.

Coyote Point is one of our favorite places to go walking. There are several different trails and most of them are fairly easy and flat. Depending on how many miles you want to do, you can walk from Burlingame all the way to Foster City and beyond on the Bay Trail. We often like to start right by the gun range at the start of Coyote Point. From there, you can walk along Bay Trail back to Burlingame or walk towards the boat harbor or towards Seal Point Park. The trails are all generally very clean, very little sightings of dog poop or any other trash. There are also lots of restrooms, garbage cans and poop bags along the way. We even paid for the annual parking pass for $72 which allows you free parking in all Sam Mateo County Parks. It's definitely worth it if you are a frequent visitor like us. The other plus is nice bay views and you can also watch planes take off and land.

I have a certain fondness for Coyote Point because this was where my dad took me fishing when I was a toddler. Cherubic as I was, I got so fidgety with my pole that I never caught a thing. I have the same problem now.. oh never mind. Flash forward to this past summer and here I am at the entrance gate wheee the reality of those elapsed years hits me when the young ranger told me I can park for free since it was obvious to him I was a senior. A senior? My life flashed before my eyes. But what the hell, I saved five bucks.

Besides, I had enough energy to walk most of the trails that traverse the 149 acres that cover the recreation area. Much of the area around the beach promenade was fenced off due to renovation work, but the Marina and Shoreline Trails were fully open and attracting quite a few boaters and sea birds. There are distant views of San Francisco from the Bluff Trail where the area is most forested. It's definitely worth a stop here whether you're a six-year-old with a fidgety fishing pole or an aspiring senior with a fidgety...oh never mind.

RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

The Anderson Cooper Interview

Anderson Cooper: This is a nice spot.

Bradley Naranch: Thanks. I discovered it while a patient at La Selva. We came here on a group excursion in early August. I figured it would serve as a suitable location for our interview.

AC: Rainbow City has been a political revelation for this country, you know. The DC establishment is still trying to process what it all means.

BN: It means that persistent political and economic issues that once appeared intractable will be fixed soon.

AC: And political interviews won't take place in TV news studios or via Zoom.

BN: Exactly! People places like this outstanding open air recreational area will play host instead where famous journalists like you can connect with ordinary citizens and future direct democracy voters, once my social media messaging really takes off.

AC: Including a transcript on Yelp may help.

BN: I think it gradually will win over Internet users. (Slight pause). Especially those who already have read Rainbow City.

AC: Which is a work of creative genius, I must concede.

BN: Regardless of what happens in 2024, my political ideas are poised to take flight.

AC: And visiting places as scenic and publicly accessible drive your creativity forward?

BN: Absolutely!

AC: I can see why!

BN: Right?

[End of Transcript].

One of the few places you can actually take a dip in the Bay.

My recent trip to Coyote Point included beach combing and a nap. Two things I love to do and am really good at. You get some nice winds coming off the Bay and a consistent stream of aircraft coming into a landing at SFO. On summer days, it's great to get your feed wet or actually go for a dip into the Bay. My last trip was not ideal for a dip because the water looked pretty murky.

When I last visited there were some renovation happening on the hill near the beach. Perhaps this is why the water was uninviting. I'd love to go back after the work us finished so I can review how many stars I awarded.

This is a special place and worth a visit once the renovations are completed.

Sat 5/22/21 went to Coyote Point Rec Area, San Mateo. They charge $6, others said no dogs.

There's 7 parking lots, I parked near Magic Mtn. They have separate bathrooms, women's had 3 stalls, 1 sink, soap, hand dryer.

Lots of families having picnics & parties. Many playgrounds, there's a beach area, we walked by Captain's House, CuriOdyseey, Merchant Marine Memorial overlook, Marina, and back.

You can bring bikes and bike around.

It's a popular park so very crowded.

Agreed with one of the comments, not worth the $6.00 parking fee (I paid via credit card is it becomes $6.25). We spent about 40min by the marina. Nice view and quiet place. Ok for sitting on the bench and enjoy the sunny weather and gentle breeze.
For people who walk dogs: beware of snakes. Picture attached. My dog loves to go potty and sniffy in the grass and he was sniffing something deep in the grass so I followed him to check out. And then I suddenly realized that that's a HUGE snake! We were just standing next to it with my dog attempting to sniff it! It's in the grass next to the deepest parking lot near the marina.

Great place for a walk/jog/run on the peninsula along the Bay. If you want to put the walking miles in, park on the street outside of the park so you don't have to pay for parking.
This place combines beach, some woods, and marina. There are some small hills but easy for any pedestrian or beginning trail runner. There is a beautiful area of trees to be shaded by the sun. You're also able to see the planes fly into SFO airport as well as some boats sailing in the bay. There are benches that you can sit along the trail or even marina to see what I just mentioned.
So if you want to go for a stroll along the tranquil water, this is the place to go to on the peninsula.

Review for paid reservation for eucalyptus are 3/4

Only reason I have two stars because we paid and reserved for both areas and NONE of our outlets worked to blow up our balloons with an electric pump.

That's why it's two starts.

My son and his gf picked this area to have their baby shower so we reserved Saturday the 24th I originally reserved the Sunday the 11th but they said that wouldn't work.

They actually refunded that money back and I used it to switch dates to Saturday the 24th.

It's a nice area close to the water location would be 4 stars if you live close to the area but I live in concord ca so that wasn't convenient.

Make sure you bring soap for the bathroom.
Eucalyptus areas 1-4 are close to the bathrooms so that's a plus ( just bring your own soap) MAKE sure your outlets work
We paid over 200 something to reserve both areas 3/4 and NONE WORKED but we made it work with hand pumps.

Areas 3/4 have a lot of sun so maybe having tents covering tables etc would work something to get shade because there is no shade at ALL :/
Area 1/2 has a little shade I regret not getting that area.
Make sure to go early to check your outlets etc and that no one will take your tables when we got there some lady walked into our area looking around mugging the hell out of us but that wasn't even her area to begin with.

The park is nice I would give 5 stars for it being clean, nice area but two stars for none of our outlets working when it was a paid reservation.

When I think about it I didn't even need to have both sides one side would of been fine.

They've made no progress since I've moved here nearly 2 years ago to connect the path between the park and seal point park. There's been a sign blocking the trail saying it'd be done by 2022 and literally no work has ever been done on it, just wasted city tax dollars and detours making it useless and even a felony charge if you go on the trail.