Welcome to the 2025 Take A Hike Challenge! We have selected seven hiking routes in our parks to introduce you to the beauty and biodiversity of your San Mateo County Parks! A special reward is available for those who complete the #2025TakeAHikeChallenge.
Follow these steps to complete the challenge:
- Plan ahead for your hike.
➤ Try your best to complete the route and explore other parts of the park if you have the time!
➤ You can complete the challenge in any order you prefer. We will be highlighting a different park each month, but you do not need to complete them in the same order.
➤ Huddart Park, San Pedro Valley Park, Sam McDonald Park, and Junipero Serra Park have a $6 vehicle entrance fee. Find out if you qualify for a vehicle entry fee waiver.
➤ Some parks allow dogs and others do not. Check out the individual pages for each park for more information! Learn more about about Dog Access in County Parks. - Take a selfie or group photo at the designated spot. See the photos below for where to take your picture.
- Help promote the challenge and share your photo on social media with the hashtag #TakeAHikeChallenge and the hashtag at the particular park, for example #MemorialPark. Note: You don’t have to share on social media to qualify for the prize.
- To report your completed challenge and to submit for a prize, please fill out this form and email your challenge photos to sanmateocountyparks@gmail.com.
The deadline to complete the 2025 Take A Hike Challenge and claim your prizes is October 31, 2025.
Prize Levels
Four Challenges - Mini first aid travel kit + SMC parks sunglasses
All Seven Challenges - Above prizes + mystery prize
Please note that supply for prizes is limited to the first 150 participants.
Tails on Trails Participants!
Those participating with your four-legged family members, be sure to bring your pup to the parks that permit dogs and include them in your photos for a special pup prize!
Hike Materials
- Route 1: Quarry Park
- Route 2: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve & Pillar Point Bluff
- Route 3: Huddart Park
- Route 4: San Pedro Valley Park
- Route 5: Sam McDonald Park
- Route 6: Sawyer Camp Trail
- Route 7: Junipero Serra Park
Come Hike with Us!
This year we’re offering in-person Take A Hike events in addition to the Take A Hike Challenge. The routes we take for the in-person events will be the same as those for the challenge, so you can complete the challenge on your own or with us. All hikes run from 9:00 to 11:00AM.
Register using the links below. Each event will open on the 1st of the month prior to the hike (for example, registration for our first hike at Quarry Park will open on March 1).
- Saturday, April 5 - Quarry Park | Register
- Saturday, May 3 - Fitzgerald Marine Reserve/Pillar Point Bluff | Register
- Saturday, June 7 - Huddart Park | Register
- Saturday, July 5 - Sam McDonald Park | Register
- Saturday, August 2 - San Pedro Valley park | Register
- Saturday, September 2 - Junipero Serra Park | Register
- Saturday, October 4 - Sawyer Camp Trail | Register
Questions?
For questions or concerns, please email sanmateocountyparks@gmail.com.