San Mateo County to reopen 13 parks Not all will have parking available

San Mateo County's beaches are open, but their parking lots are not due to the coronavirus pandemic. That's caused people to search for parking on residential streets like this one in the Linda Mar neighborhood of Pacifica. In response, the residents have erected their own makeshift no-parking signs. (April 26, 2020,) less San Mateo County's beaches are open, but their parking lots are not due to the coronavirus pandemic. That's caused people to search for parking on residential streets like this one in the Linda Mar neighborhood ... more Photo: Mike Moffitt/SFGATE Photo: Mike Moffitt/SFGATE Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close San Mateo County to reopen 13 parks 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

San Mateo County, whose restrictions on public recreation in response to the coronavirus pandemic are some of the toughest in the Bay Area, will reopen more than half of its closed parks on May 4.

The parks to be reopened include some of the county’s most popular hiking spots: San Bruno Mountain, Pescadero Creek, Edgewood, San Pedro Valley and Pillar Point Bluff. (See the complete list below.)

Two of the county’s popular trails will also reopen: the Crystal Springs Regional Trail and the Ralston Bike Trail. The 15-mile Crystal Springs trail will allow walkers and joggers only — no cyclists. A segment of the Bay Trail that cuts through Coyote Point Recreation Area will also be accessible, but the park will remain closed.

The county Parks Department cautioned that visitors must adhere to physical distancing guidelines while on trails. Hikers must stay in single file on narrow trails, keep 6 feet apart from others, wear face coverings and only congregate with members of their own household. Some trails may be converted to one-way traffic.

While county beaches are open, beach parking lots remain closed. For the second straight weekend, police handed out verbal warnings to hundreds of mostly out-of-town beach-goers and issued about 600 parking violations.

San Mateo County is the only Bay Area county that mandates citizens must stay within five miles of their homes for all nonessential trips or activities during the pandemic. Despite the order, visitors who reside much farther away have been flocking to county beaches when the weather's been good.

Some of the parks that are reopening are near heavily populated areas where walk-in access is possible.

Parks reopening May 4:

—Crystal Springs Regional Trail: Parking available. Walkers and joggers only.

—Edgewood Park: Parking lot open.

—Huddart Park: Parking lot open.

—Junipero Serra Park: Parking lot closed.

—Memorial Park: Parking lot closed.

—Mirada Surf West

—Pescadero Creek Park: Parking lot open.

—Pillar Point Bluff: Parking lot open.

—Quarry Park: Parking lot open.

—Ralston Bike Trail

—Sam McDonald Park: Parking lot open.

—San Bruno Mountain Park: Parking lot closed.

—San Pedro Valley Park: Parking lot closed.

—Wunderlich Park: Parking lot open.

Parks remaining closed:

—Coyote Point Recreation Area: But the Bay Trail will be open.

—Devil's Slide Trail

—Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. The trail will be open for use, but the tide pools will be closed.

—Flood Park

—Friendship Park

—Moss Beach Park

—Sanchez Adobe

—Woodside Store

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Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate