Martial Cottle Park

About this adventure

Martial Cottle Park in south San José is a 287-acre working ranch turned park, farmed by the Cottle family from 1856 until 2014 and now run by Santa Clara County Parks to teach the valley's farming history. More than 3 miles of flat paved trails wind past organic fields, good for walking, bikes, scooters and skates (dogs on 6-foot leashes welcome); the lawns are not for organized sports. Park partners run their own plots: 4-H families raise livestock that visitors can see, UC Master Gardeners offer garden tours and workshops, Our City Forest has an urban-tree education center, and UC composting educators teach backyard composting. The Walter Cottle Lester Visitor Center shows the family's clothing, letters, toys, bakeware, butter-making supplies and farm tools; call ahead, since it opens when volunteers are available. Kids with a phone or tablet can play Agents of Discovery, a free 30–45 minute educational mobile game along the paved paths that starts outside the visitor center. The historic ranch-building area is slated to open to the public in summer 2026. California State Parks passes are not valid here.