Park Overview     Local Flora & Fauna     History of Wunderlich Park     Equestrian Information     Trail Use Guidelines

Visit Wunderlich Park

Park Overview

Wunderlich Park opens daily at 8:00 A.M. including all holidays.
The closing time varies depending on the season.
Address: 4040 Woodside Road, Woodside, CA 94062
Acres: 942
Miles of Trails: 17 Description and Trail Maps
Elevation: 354 - 4,251 ft.
Parking: Free
Restrooms: Yes
Picnic Facilities: Yes
Limitations: No pets, cyclists or smoking.
For current closures and conditions, go to the San Mateo County Parks advisory site.

A hiking trail with two picnic tables at Wunderlich Park in San Mateo County, California.

Wunderlich Park Map

 

Local Flora

Huddart and Wunderlich Parks are situated in the biologically diverse Santa Cruz Mountains. Ecosystems largely consist of Redwood and Oak Woodland forests, riparian corridors, chaparral, and grasslands. Below are some of the flora (plants) that can be found in these parks.

Bright green big leaf maple tree leaves.
Purple douglas iris flower.

    • Big Leaf Maple

    • California Black Oak

    • California Bay Laurel

    • California Buckeye

    • Interior Live Oak

    • Douglas Fir

    • Hazelnut

    • Madrone

    • Coast Redwood

    • Tanoak

    • Blue-eyed Grass

    • California Poppy

    • Crane’s Bill

    • Hound’s Tongue

    • Milk Maid

    • Miner’s Lettuce

    • Shooting Star

    • Soap Root

    • Trillium

Green poison oak leaves.
California grassland.

    • California Blackberry

    • Ceanothus

    • Chamise

    • Chaparral Pea

    • Coffee Berry

    • Coyote Bush

    • Manzanita

    • Poison Oak

    • Sticky Monkey Flower

    • Toyon

    • Wood Rose

    • Yerba Santa

    • Bedstraw

    • Bunch Grass

    • Rattlesnake Grass

    • Wild Blue Rye

    • Wild Oat

    • Chanterelle Mushroom

    • Death Cap Mushroom

    • Fiddlehead Fern

    • Coastal Wood Fern

    • Bracken Fern

    • Five Finger Fern

    • Golden Back Fern

    • Maiden Hair Fern

    • Sword Fern

Close-up photo of a young fern.
Mushrooms and moss.

Local Fauna

Below are some of the fauna (animals) that can be found in Huddart and Wunderlich Parks.

Black-tailed deer.
Red tailed hawk.

    • Big Brown Bat

    • Black-tailed Deer

    • Bobcat

    • Brush Rabbit

    • Coyote

    • Western Gray Squirrel

    • Mountain Lion

    • Common Opossum

    • Raccoon

    • Striped Skunk

    • Dusky Footed Wood Rat

    • Acorn Woodpecker

    • Stellar Jay

    • California Quail

    • Chestnut-backed Chickadee

    • Common Crow

    • Great Horned Owl

    • Dark-eyed Junco

    • Red Tailed Hawk

    • Scrub Jay

    • Turkey Vulture

Newt.
Banana slug.

    • Northern Alligator Lizard

    • California Slender Salamander

    • Coast Garter Snake

    • Pacific Gopher Snake

    • Newt

    • Western Fence Lizard

    • Banana Slug

    • Bumble Bee

    • Centipede

    • Grasshopper

    • Hover Fly

    • Orb Spider

    • Scorpion

    • Tarantula

    • Trap Door Spider

    • Turret Spider

    • Wasp

    • Water Strider

    • Yellow Jacket

Redwood trees on a trail at Wunderlich Park in San Mateo County, California.

History of Wunderlich Park

Before the redwoods were logged out and the Spaniards gave land grants to ranchers, and before the padres built the missions and the Spanish explorers claimed California for themselves, Native Americans thrived for centuries among the hills and gorges we now call Wunderlich Park.

Known by various names, depending on which tribe they belonged to, the Native Americans lived as hunters-gatherers of the abundant resources the land and water provided. They lived in concert with grizzly bears (now extinct locally), mountain lions, deer, coyotes plus many other species and carefully used them to their advantage along with the rich diversity of plant life. The last Native Americans known to be living in the local hills were spotted in 1857. Most had been converted by the Spanish missionaries some 75 years previously and were living near the missions. Unfortunately, the Spanish brought not only European religion but also tuberculosis and small pox that many Native Americans could not withstand.

  • Woodside Valley entered current recorded history on November 6, 1769, when the first Portola expedition camped in the valley.

    One of the first prominent settlers was John Copinger, an Irishman and one of the first non-Hispanic Europeans to live on the peninsula, who was granted the Canada de Raymundo Rancho on August 4, 1840 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado. This rancho consisted of most of the eastern slopes and valleys in the Woodside area, including Wunderlich Park. In 1846 Charles Brown received from Copinger a formal deed to 2,880 acres of timbered slopes and valley range, which contained Wunderlich Park.

    In 1872 Simon Jones purchased 1,500 acres of the western portion of the property and named it "Hazelwood Farm." He went on to prove that it had value beyond its lumber. Under his guiding hand the mountainside bloomed. Utilizing Chinese labor, he cleared the matted natural growth, built rock retaining walls, planted grapes and fruit trees and developed the property into a working ranch. Some of what Jones built still remain and some of his planting is still evident.

    Jones died in 1890 and his son Everett sold the property to James A Folger II on October 12, 1902. Folger came to California in 1850 and had gone into the coffee business in San Francisco. Under Folger's ownership, the land changed roles, becoming a recreation area, which suited the family's taste. Wagon trails and old skid roads became riding and carriage trails. Weekend campouts were quite common in the area of Alambique Creek. In 1904 Folger commissioned Arthur Brown Jr., in partnership with Henry Schulze, to design his estate and stables in Woodside. At the same time, Folger developed the first hydro-electrical power system in this part of California. Waters from Alambique Creek were used to develop this power.

    The next owner of the property was contractor Martin Wunderlich, who purchased the property from the Folgers in November 1956. In 1974 he graciously tendered it for public recreation by deeding 942 acres to San Mateo County for use as park and open space.

A horse in a field.

Equestrian Information

Wunderlich Park, though known for family outings and holiday barbecues, has a lot to offer the hiker and equestrian.

Wunderlich Park is a shady, creek-side gem with year-round, all-weather trails, picnic areas and restrooms with tie racks. 17 miles of public riding trails are accessible from the parking lot with designated horse trailer parking.

For up-to-date information about trail accessibility for horse riding at Wunderlich Park, go to the San Mateo County Parks trails site and filter by Park and Usage.

For current closures and conditions go to the San Mateo County Parks advisory site.

Boarding and horse care are available as well as a groomed sand riding arena for boarders and by membership, suitable for all disciplines, including dressage, jumping, and cutting.

Visit the County of San Mateo Parks website for more information about Horse Boarding & Recreational Activities at Wunderlich Park.

A woman looking up at the sky while hiking through the woods.

Trail Use Guidelines

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

  • When passing horses on trails stop and yield enough space to pass safely – this may require stepping off a single-track trail.

  • Do not run or jump near horses – especially from behind – announce your presence from a distance as you approach by simply saying, "Hello" or "I'm here." Runners must stop for horses.

  • Hikers with backpacks, large hats, walking sticks, strollers and large groups may confuse or excite horses. Again, speak to the rider so the horse recognizes you're not a threat, then follow the rider's instructions.

  • Equestrians must ride safely, courteously and pass all trail users at a walking pace.