The 40-acre community park is nestled within the historic community of El Granada, located 25 miles south of San Francico, and just 3 miles north of Half Moon Bay's historic district. The park is open to the public and within walking distance of the Coastside trail along the Pacific Ocean.
Larry Pollard's extensively detailed trail map of Quarry Park
In celebration of Earth Day every April, MPL hosts their annual meeting and Work Day event at Quarry Park, offering music, lunch, and children's activities. Volunteers work together to clean and beautify the park with such activities as tree planting, sign making and trail maintenance. Additional work days are held in June, September, November and January. |
 In addition, MPL holds fundraisers throughout the year, with musical
concerts and other events. Please let us know about your ideas for other
activities. This is your park, so please get involved in one of the regular
events or suggest one of your own. For additional information and to make
suggestions, please contact MPL at (650) 636-6888 or "Midcoast
Park Lands" <MPL@sanmateo.org>. |
Favorite activites of park users include hiking, jogging, horseback riding and picnicking. The spectacular vistas, wildlife, and native plants make for excellent nature photography. Local plant specialists have identified over 40 native plants, mostly concentrated on the north slopes. In the spring and early summer, a show of wildflowers brightens the park. Animal species in the area include bobcat, gray fox, opossum, raccoon, and black-tailed deer. The are over 50 bird species in the area including Anna's hummingbird, Brewer's wren, brown towhee, chestnut-backed chickadee, and red-tailed hawk. Two wetland areas have been identified by the presence of Pacific tree frogs, willows, and other wetland species. During the winter and early spring, vernal (spring) ponds are active with life on the Quarry floor and on the terrace above.
In 1905, the Shore Line Investment Company purchased 1,271 acres for a showplace town they called Balboa (now El Granada). The design, by famed landscape architect Daniel H. Burnham, envisioned 640 acres of open space behind the proposed town, including today's 40-acre Quarry Park. However, in 1920 the Shore Line Investment Company went bankrupt and the parkland was sold.
For 75 years the land was used first for grazing then as a quarry, which supplied rock for both Highway 1 and the WWII airport runway - now Half Moon Bay Airport. Then, in 1995, a group of coastsiders convinced San Mateo County to purchase the 40-acre parcel. The final plan entailed leasing the property to a local nonprofit. MPL was formed to manage and operate the land as a community park. Today, Quarry Park stands both as a historic monument to the designer's vision of El Granada and as a refuge for a variety of native plants and animals.
The Tot Lot is a small children's playground with a jungle gym, a swing set, picnic tables, and a restroom. Along the trails within the park, the first point of interest is the Quarry Floor, a large open, flat area that is excellent for picnics, games, and events. The next point of interest is a small wetland about two-thirds of the way up the quarry face. Finally, the most spectacular point of interest is the Vista Point. From here, you can enjoy one of the best views along this section of the coast. You will notice as you wander that the trails are well marked and the trees are being carefully removed to enhance the views. The park is young; and as you return, you will notice changes taking place. In the meantime, the map and the tour will help guide your visit.
QUARRY PARK TOUR (see map)
The Tot Lot is to the right of the Quarry Park sign, on Columbus St. To reach the hiking trails, follow the unpaved road (extension of Santa Maria) through the pedestrian/equestrian gate. At the first fork, continue straight, and at the second fork turn left to get to the Quarry Floor - the first point of interest in the park. The Quarry face offers a glimpse into the geological heart of the mountain - Mesozoic age Montara Granites.
The next point of interest - the terrace wetland - about two-thirds of the way up the quarry face - can be reached by following the trail heading up the right side of the quarry face.
Finally,
to get to the most spectacular point of interest - the Vista Point
- go back down to the main trail and turn left as you leave the quarry to
continue uphill. As you ascend, watch on your right for a glimpse of the
Pacific Ocean. Follow the new signs - at a fork in the trail, go left and
then left again at the second fork to a large flat area - the quarry face
is on your left through the remaining eucalyptus trees. Follow the newly
constructed boardwalk down to the viewing area. Please heed the DANGER!
sign as it is a 30 foot drop to the ledge below. Here, you can see an awe-inspiring
view of Pillar Point and the Pacific Ocean. Click the thumbnail image on
the left for a larger (512x337
- 48K JPEG) image of the view.
Click here to get a printer-formatted pdf version of the park map and the tour description.
From Highway 1 in El Granada, exit at Coronado St., and folow the signs. The entrance to Quarry Park is located at the corner of Santa Maria Ave. and Columbus St. Facing the park sign, the main entrance is to the left and the Tot Lot is to the right.
Quarry Park is a day-use (dawn to dusk) park open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. Suggested donation is $1.00. Please self pay at the kiosk next to the tot-lot. Dogs are allowed, but they must be kept on leashes. To protect the beauty of the park, no unauthorized vehicles are allowed.
Please, no hunting, smoking, fires or fireworks! We ask that visitors report violations to the SanMateo County Sheriff's Office at (650) 573-3701 or (650) 363-4000.
