Memorial Park covers 673 acres of the Santa Cruz Mountains near Loma Mar. San Mateo County Parks says it's a place to see outstanding old-growth redwoods, with picnic areas, a nature center, a camp store and campfire programs. It's best known for its family campgrounds and the Tan Oak and Mt. Ellen nature trails.
History
The county says timber around the area was logged in the late 1800s and early 1900s for redwood lumber and tan oak bark. Four small sawmill sites sit on or next to today's park boundary. Many parts of the park escaped logging, and the county acquired them in 1924. It named the park for San Mateo County men who died in World War I. During the Depression, Memorial Park became a Work Projects Administration camp, and many of its restrooms, roads and picnic sites date from that work.
A bigger redwood complex
Memorial is part of the Pescadero-Memorial park complex, along with Sam McDonald County Park, Heritage Grove Redwood Preserve and Pescadero Creek County Park, according to Wikipedia. The complex borders Portola Redwoods State Park, with trails connecting the two. See our guides to Sam McDonald and Pescadero Creek County Park.
Before you go
The park charges an entry fee, and the county offers a fee waiver to people who qualify. Its park page also notes that the Board of Supervisors approved camping with dogs at Memorial, and that dog-friendly sites are reserved by phone. Check the county's Memorial Park page for current hours, campground reservations and alerts before you drive out.