Parkside Aquatic Park

Parkside Aquatic Park in San Mateo, California provides convenient access to the South San Francisco Bay for kayakers, canoeists, and small boaters. Located along the Marina Lagoon, this is the only public boat ramp in the city, making it a popular spot for launching small watercraft.

The ramp features two boarding floats and three carry-down walkways, accommodating boats up to 22 feet in length. With 10 parking spaces for vehicles with trailers, it offers ample space to prepare your craft for the water. The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, though the harbor patrol office and boating concessions operate only seasonally.

For paddlers, the protected waters of the Marina Lagoon and the broader South Bay provide a relatively calm and sheltered paddling experience. The South Bay is a large, estuarine environment, with a mix of open water, marshes, and shoreline habitats to explore. Launching from Parkside Aquatic Park, you can access a network of waterways and wildlife refuges, making it a convenient starting point for recreational boating and nature-based activities.