We happy few who live in San Carlos are within striking distance of the San Francisco peninsula's many parks and open spaces. And within the San Carlos city limits there are many smaller parks with much to offer. The locations of these parks are shown in this map, and more details about each park are given in the listing that follows.

Arguello Park-- Wellington Drive - Phelps Road
Baseball diamonds, benches, Hiking Trails, Open Space, Picnic Tables, BBQ's, Play Equipment, Restrooms, Soccer Field, Tennis Courts

Big Canyon Park -- 3200 Block of Brittan Avenue
Benches, Hiking Trails, Open Space
Notes: Park along Brittan Avenue at the park entrance sign. A path leads back into this steep canyon. The trail winds up one side and down the other. The west side of the canyon trail goes steadily up, crossing little creekbeds (active in the rainy season) with a few nice little wooden bridges. At the point where the trail turns back down the east side of the canyon there used to be an old wooden bridge, with some of the slats missing, built on two long tree trunks. We called this "Dead Man's Crossing", because of the lethal 4 foot drop on either side. This was recently (in 1996) replaced with a very sturdy and expensive-looking wooden bridge. We call it "Sub-Contractors Folly". The east side of the trail is relatively open and can get hot on sunny days.
Eaton Park-Big Canyon Trail: Across Brittan Avenue from the park entrance is the "Eaton Park-Big Canyon" trail that winds across the hills to Eaton Park. This little-known neighborhood trail has some ups and downs and switchbacks at both ends. There are fantastic views of the southern peninsula on clear days, and a variety of ecosystems, from windy barren hilltops to secluded canyon creekbeds. This trail isn't over-used, which makes it special. One recent Sunday afternoon we saw just as many coyotes on the trail as we saw humans (2).

Burton Park -- Brittan Ave., Cedar St., Arroyo Ave.
Baseball diamonds, Basketball Courts, Benches, Horseshoe Pits, Picnic Tables, BBQ's, Play Equipment, Recreation Center, Restrooms, Soccer Field, Tennis Courts
Notes: This is San Carlos' main city park. It's the focus of the annual Hometown Days celebrations and many other activities, and gets busy on weekends and summer evenings. In addition to a large playground with new equipment, there is a smaller, fenced in toddler's playground.

Cedar Street Park -- 100 Block of Cedar Street
Basketball Courts, Benches, Picnic Tables, BBQ's, Play Equipment

City Hall Park -- Elm Street & San Carlos Avenue
Benches, Picnic Tables
Notes: The location for occasional concerts and arts and craft fairs. The San Carlos Christmas tree often appears here.

Crestview Park (Nannarone Field) -- Crestview Drive at Leslie Court
Basketball Courts, Benches, Jogging Path, Picnic Tables, Play Equipment, Restrooms, Soccer Field
Notes: This is a sometimes-windy neighborhood park with a nice view of Edgewood Park and Pulgas Ridge to the south and west. There is a sandy jogging path loop around the large soccer field.

Eaton Park -- West end of Eaton Avenue
Benches, Hiking Trails, Open Space
Notes: There is a secret (not anymore) trail from here over to Brittan Avenue, where you can connect to Big Canyon Park. This is described in the Big Canyon Park section above. Not a lot of parking on Eaton Ave., which dead ends at the park entrance.

Heather School Athletic Field and Dog Exercise Area -- 2700 Block of Melendy Drive
Baseball Diamond, Benches, Dog Exercise Area, Hiking Trails, Open Space
Notes: Just west of Heather School on Melendy Drive there is a partially-fenced in set of paved and unpaved trails specially set aside for dog walking. Next to Heather School there is a large playing field with a baseball diamond. The field is also sometimes used for soccer games. This spot can get windy, but offers terrific views of surrounding hills. The dog walking trails tend to head down the canyon, but shorter loops are available, some with stairs.

Highlands Park -- Melendy Drive & Aberdeen Drive
Baseball Diamond, Benches, Jogging Path, Picnic Tables, BBQ's, Restrooms, Soccer Field, Tennis Courts

Hillcrest Circle -- Hillcrest Road & Arundel Road
Basketball Courts, Benches, Picnic Tables, BBQ's, Play Equipment

Laurel Park -- Laurel Street, Downtown San Carlos
Benches, Stage, Tables and Chairs for Eating
Notes: It has a bandstand for concerts, and a little walkway with benches for those who need to take a break between buying cups of coffee at various Laurel Street venues.

Laureola Park -- 503 Old County Road
Baseball Diamond, Basketball Court, Benches, Picnic Tables, BBQ's, Play Equipment, Recreation Center, Restrooms, Soccer Field
Notes: With the support of the city and neighborhood volunteers, this little park has been greatly improved in recent years. It offers new picnic tables and play equipment and a very well-maintained baseball diamond. On spring evenings the Little League baseball game cheers can be heard throughout the neighborhood. There is an old basketball court, just right for a little one-on-one. We saw a raccoon here, once, so keep an eye on your personal belongings.

San Carlos Avenue Neighborhood Park -- 2400 Block of San Carlos Avenue
Benches, Picnic Tables, BBQ's, Play Equipment