Portola Highlands Park
Rate this placeNearby: Fleetwood Park Pacific Heights Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Portola Highlands Park is a beautiful park located in San Mateo County, California.
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Summary
The park is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. There are many reasons to visit Portola Highlands Park, including its stunning views, well-maintained trails, and peaceful atmosphere.
One of the main attractions in the park is the hiking trails. The trails offer breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and valleys. The park also has several picnic areas, playgrounds, and open spaces for visitors to enjoy.
A unique feature of Portola Highlands Park is the presence of a disc golf course. The course is a popular attraction for disc golf enthusiasts and is challenging for both beginners and experienced players.
The best time to visit Portola Highlands Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is mild and the park is lush and green. However, the park is open year-round and offers a different experience during the fall and winter seasons.
Interesting facts about the park include its location on the San Andreas Fault, which is visible in many areas of the park. The park was also used as a filming location for the movie "The Parent Trap" in 1998.
Overall, Portola Highlands Park is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a peaceful and scenic outdoor experience in California.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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