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Huddart Park is a San Mateo County park with canyons and redwood forests. The park is 3.5 miles west of Highway 84 on Highway 35 (Skyline.). The park has barbecue pits, a playground, grassy meadows, and hiking and riding trails.

Huddart Park offers numerous trails, including some for horseback riding, and some for hiking only. The Richards Road Trail winds its way from the eastern corner of the park, around its eastern and northern edge, and meets Skyline Boulevard at the park's western most boundaries. This trail is also a very popular with equestrians.

The Chickadee Nature Trail is a 3/4-mile long fully accessible trail that accommodates users of all capabilities. The trail traverses three predominant plant communities, coastal redwood forest, mixed evergreen forest and chaparral. What you see along the trails the re-establishment of the mature forest that existed before the impact of logging and grazing on the peninsula.

You must stay on the marked trails, especially when riding horses, and particularly in the open meadow and grassland areas where endangered plants and animals exist. Please respect your fellow trail users and follow the guidelines for safe and courteous trail use.

The various facilities of Huddart Park include picnic sites with barbecue pits, a nature trail, hiking and riding trails, and a playground. Grassy meadows, youth and adult camps, and an archery range (maintained by King's Mountain Archery Club in partnership with San Mateo County Parks) are also found at the park.

Family picnic areas are located in the park. Five group picnic areas (Zwierlein, Redwood, Oak, East Meadow, and West Meadow) are available by reservation only Monday through Friday. These areas accommodate 150-250 people. All sites have barbecue pits.

Three shelter buildings are located in the park, the Werder Shelter, the Miwok Shelter, and the Redwood Shelter. These buildings provide partial cover for group picnics. Fees are charged for shelter building use and are available by reservation only. The Werder Shelter is adjacent to the park's largest grassy meadow and the Redwood Shelter affords a wonderful view of the central Bay Area. Miwok Shelter is closed during the week except by reservation.

Three youth campgrounds, Toyon areas #1, #2, and #3, are available by reservation only April-October (closed Nov-March) for organized youth group activities. Group camping is also available in the Toyon areas with a maximum occupancy of 50 people per site. Restroom facilities are available with running water. The Sequoia Day Camp, located in the easterly portion of the park is popular youth for day camp activities. An amphitheater is located in the Sequoia Day Camp area and can be reserved alone on selected days for activities. All these areas are by reservation for organized youth and/or adult groups.

Huddart Park affords over 900 acres of coastal mountain environment for a variety of activities. Many miles of trails afford even the experienced hiker many hours of pleasure. Many of the trails are also open to equestrian use, making this park one of the favorite destinations of the local equestrian community.

The youth group campgrounds and day camps make this a popular spot for organized youth activities. Day camps are held throughout the summer by various groups and agencies for thousands of the area's youth and usually are not available for use by outside groups.

The grassy meadow just below the Werder Shelter has long been a favorite of park visitors. Its five acres of gently sloping grassy meadow is a popular location to just drive to, park, and spread out for a relaxing picnic.

Huddart Park is open every day of the year including all holidays. It opens daily at 8:00 A.M. The closing time varies by time of year. The closing times are:

Entry into the park for overnight camping reservations is restricted after the park closing time.

Several different plant communities offer a varied habitat for the creatures found in the park. Along the streams and in gullies, the majestic coast redwoods provide a cool, well-shaded environment. Here sword fern and redwood sorrel provide luxuriant cover for large, yellow banana slugs that inch slowly on their way.

In contrast, the chaparral areas are hot and dry. Few trees exist here. Shrubs, such as manzanita, chaparral pea, and yerba santa form a thick, almost impenetrable mass of brush. Here the visitor can see jackrabbits, brush rabbits, Merriam's chipmunks, and lizards scurrying through the underbrush. Birds that are often seen and heard are the California quail, scrub jays, and wrentits.

Bordering the chaparral and the redwood forest is the mixed evergreen forest, which covers most of the park. Here trees, such as tanbark oak, madrone, California laurel or bay, coast live oak, and Douglas fir are dominant. Beneath the trees are many shrubs, including monkey flower blush, wild lilac, toyon, wood rose, and poison oak. Brilliant wildflowers, such as western hound's tongue, Indian warrior, and Fremont's star lily are found along with the wood fern. Flowers usually bloom between March and May.

Black-tailed deer, raccoons, black squirrels and, less commonly, bobcats, coyotes and grey foxes may be seen. Common birds include acorn woodpeckers, chickadees, towhees, and stellar jays.

Integrating with the other plant communities in the extreme lower part of the park is the foothill woodland characterized by large valley oaks, California black oaks and bay trees.

When coming to Huddart from San Francisco or San Jose, use Highway 280. Exit at Woodside Road (Highway 84). Head west (towards Woodside) and proceed for approximately 1.5 miles through the Town of Woodside. Turn right on Kings Mountain Road. Proceed up the hill to the main park entrance.

Huddart Park has five group picnic areas that can be reserved. The Zwierlein accommodates 250, the Redwood accommodates 150, the Oak accommodates 125, the East Meadow accommodates 250, and the West Meadow accommodates 120. They are all available by reservation and a fee is charged for their use.

Three shelter buildings are located in the park. The Werder Shelter, the Miwok Shelter, and the Redwood Shelter each accommodate 125 people. These buildings provide partial cover for group picnics. They are available by reservation and a fee is charged for their use.

There are three youth campgrounds (Area #1, #2, and #3) for organized youth group activities. Each holds up to 50 youth and adult leaders. The Toyon Adult Camp holds up to 50 adults and the Toyon Youth Camp accommodates 250 youth and leaders. These campsites are closed November-March and open for use by reservation only April-October.

The Sequoia Day Camp, when reserved with the amphitheater accommodates up to 300 youth and leaders. The amphitheater, when reserved separately accommodates up to 200 people is available on selected days for activities. All these areas are available by reservation for organized youth and/or adult groups, except the amphitheater, which can be reserved for other limited activities.

Reservations are not required for general drop-in use. Reservations are required for groups of 50 or more and for all youth groups regardless of size or age. Vehicle entry fees are charged at the gatehouse. Please call the Reservations Desk at (650) 363-4021 to reserve facilities at Huddart Park.