There are many parks, open spaces, and recreation areas in Santa Cruz County. See also hiking
Open Spaces
- Antonelli Pond (Westside)
- Arana Gulch (Eastside)
- Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve (Bonny Doon)
- Byrne-Milliron Forest (Corralitos)
- Canada De Los Osos Ecological Reserve
- Coast Dairies (Bonny Doon)
- Lighthouse Field
- Little Basin (Boulder Creek)
- Loch Lomond Recreation Area A lake area in the Redwoods of Lompico known for its fishing, boating, and hiking.
- Miller Property County Park (Boulder Creek)
- Moore Creek Preserve (Westside)
- Neary Lagoon
- Pinto Lake (Watsonville)
- Pogonip
- Quail Hollow Ecological Reserve
- Quail Hollow Ranch
- Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander Ecological Reserve
- Watsonville Slough Ecological Reserve- CA Dept Fish & Game
- Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center (Watsonville)
City/Neighborhood Parks
Aptos
Santa Cruz
- Abbott Square (Downtown)
- Bay Drive Median (Westside)
- Beach Flats Park (Boardwalk)
- Bethany Curve Greenbelt (Westside)
- Bicycle Trip Bike Park (Downtown)
- Central Park (Midtown)
- DeLaveaga Park Including golf/disc golf courses (Eastside)
- Depot Park (Downtown)
- Derby Park (Westside)
- El Portal (Eastside)
- Frederick Street Park (Eastside)
- Friendship Garden (Downtown)
- Garfield Park (Westside)
- Grant Park (Midtown)
- Harvey West Park (Downtown)
- John D. Franks Park (Eastside)
- Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park (Downtown)
- La Barranca Park (Westside)
- Laurel Park (Downtown )
- Loch Lomond Park — See Loch Lomond Recreation Area (Felton)
- Lighthouse Neighborhood Park (Westside)
- Mike Fox Park (Downtown)
- Mimi De Marta Park (Downtown)
- Mission Plaza (Westside)
- Neary Lagoon Park (Downtown)
- Ocean View Park (Eastside)
- Pacheco Dog Park (Eastside)
- Poet's Park (Boardwalk)
- Rincon Park (Downtown)
- Riverside Gardens Park (Downtown)
- Round Tree Park (Westside)
- San Lorenzo Park (Downtown)
- San Lorenzo Riverway (Downtown)
- Scope Park (Downtown)
- Star of the Sea Park (Eastside)
- Town Clock (Downtown)
- Trescony Park (Westside)
- Tyrell Park (Seabright)
- University Terrace Park (Westside)
- West Side Pump Track (Westside)
- Westlake Park (Westside)
Capitola
- Cortez Park
- Esplanade Park
- Jade Street Park
- McGregor Park
- Monterey Avenue Park
- Noble Gulch Park
- Peery Park
- Soquel Creek Park
Boulder Creek
Ben Lomond
Felton
La Selva Beach
Scotts Valley
- Camp Evers Fishing Park
- Hocus Pocus Park
- MacDorsa Park
- Lodato Park
- Scotts Valley Skate Park
- SkyPark
- Shugart Park
- Siltanen Park
- Scotts Valley Triangle Park
Watsonville
- Arista Park
- Atri Park
- Brentwood Park
- Bronte Park
- Callaghan Park
- Cherry Blossom Park
- City Plaza Park
- Crestview Park
- Emmett Courts Park
- Flodberg Park
- Hansen Park (Temporary)
- Hazelwood Park
- Hope Drive Park
- Joyce Mckenzie Park
- Kearney Park
- Las Brisas Park
- Marinovich Park
- Martin J. Franich Park
- Memorial Park
- Muzzio Park
- Peace Drive Park
- Pinto Lake Park
- Ramsay Park
- River Park
- Riverside Mini Park
- Romo Park (Temporary)
- Seaview Ranch Park
- Victorian Park
County Parks
- Aldridge Lane County Park (Corralitos)
- Anna Jean Cummings County Park (Soquel)
- Aptos Village County Park (Aptos)
- Ben Lomond County Park (Ben Lomond)
- Brommer County Park (Live Oak)
- Chanticleer County Park (Live Oak) Under construction
- Coffee Lane County Park (Live Oak)
- Felton Covered Bridge Park (Felton)
- Felt Street County Park (Live Oak)
- Floral County Park (Live Oak)
- Hestwood Neighborhood Park (Live Oak)
- Hidden Beach County Park (Rio Del Mar)
- Highlands County Park (Ben Lomond)
- Jose Avenue County Park (Live Oak)
- Mesa Village County Park (Watsonville)
- Michael Gray Field (Felton)
- Miller Property County Park (Boulder Creek)
- Moran Lake County Park (Live Oak)
- Mount Madonna County Park (Watsonville)
- Pinto Lake County Park (Watsonville)
- Polo Grounds County Park (Aptos)
- Quail Hollow Ranch County Park (Felton)
- Richard Vessey/Maplethorpe County Park (Soquel)
- Santa Cruz Gardens County Park (Eastside)
- Scott County Park (Corralitos)
- Seacliff Village County Park (Aptos)
- Seascape County Park (Aptos)
- Simpkins Family Swim Center (Live Oak)
- Soquel Lions County Park (Soquel)
- The Farm Park & Community Center (Soquel)
- The Hook County Park (Pleasure Point)
- Twin Lakes County Park (Twin Lakes)
- Valencia Hall (Aptos)
- Willowbrook County Park (Soquel)
- Winkle Farm Park (Eastside)
State Parks in Santa Cruz County
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park (Boulder Creek, Highway 236)
- Castle Rock State Park (Boulder Creek)
- Fall Creek Unit (Felton) managed by Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (Aptos)
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (Felton)
- Little Basin (Boulder Creek)
- Rancho Del Oso State Park (On Highway 1, 10 miles past Davenport)
- Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe State Historic Park (Corralitos)
- Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park (Downtown)
- Wilder Ranch State Park (Westside)
State Forests in Santa Cruz County
Private Parks
Santa Cruz
Beaches
- See: Beaches & Surf Spots
Bodies of Water
- See: Lakes & Streams
