Outdoors
Day-use and picnic areas near Palo Alto on public land, from quick drives to full-day outings.
Good to know: Group picnic sites can often be reserved; fire rules change with the season, so check before bringing a grill.
34 mi northwest · National Park Service
Kirby Cove is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at historic Battery Kirby. Visitors are awarded breathtaking views of San Francisco, its famous Golden Gate Bridge, and the rugged Pacific Coast of northern California.
34 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers
The Bay Model was built in 1957 as a research tool to test the impact of proposed changes to San Francisco Bay and its related waterways.
39 mi northwest · National Park Service
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species.
Map of 11 places loads as you scroll.
Kirby Cove is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at historic Battery Kirby. Visitors are awarded breathtaking views of San Francisco, its famous Golden Gate Bridge, and the rugged Pacific Coast of northern California.
The Bay Model was built in 1957 as a research tool to test the impact of proposed changes to San Francisco Bay and its related waterways.
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species.
Contra Loma Dam and reservoir are part of the Central Valley Project - Delta Division and offers recreational opportunities for the East Bay area near San Francisco.
The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge located in Stanislaus County encompasses more than 7,300 acres of riparian woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands that host a diversity of wildlife native to California’s Great Central Valley.
Recreation facilities at San Luis Lake were constructed under a cost-share agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and the State of Colorado during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
San Justo Dam and Reservoir are features of the San Felipe Project. The reservoir is approximately 3 miles southwest of Hollister, California . Facilities open for use Wednesday through Sunday. Operation hours: sunrise to sunset.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is one of the most spectacular marine protected areas. This sanctuary also has one of the largest underwater canyons and closest-to-shore deep ocean environments.
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 species of plants and animals to discover.
O'Neill Dam and Forebay are joint Federal-State facilities located on San Luis Creek 2.5 miles downstream from San Luis Dam. O'Neill Forebay Dam is a feature of the Central Valley Project - San Joaquin Division - San Luis Unit .
Nestled between Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs east of Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa provides ample public recreation opportunities.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Palo Alto. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by ThingssToDo.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Sudarshan Senthilvel.
Watch on YouTube ↗
Kirby Cove Campground (National Park Service), about 34 miles northwest of Palo Alto as the crow flies. Next are S F Bay Model Regional Visitor Center (34 mi) and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (39 mi).
Based on Palo Alto’s average highs, February–November. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, US Army Corps of Engineers. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.