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Purple Finch by Jeremy Frank
Early Autumn Stroll at Joseph D. Grant County Park (San Jose)
Joseph D Grant County Park, high in the hills of east San Jose, is an excellent spot for birding. The Ranch House offers excellent looks at finches, warblers, and other small birds, and the lake provides chances at Bald Eagle and other raptors, as well as wintering ducks.
Optional: pack your own lunch/snack and we'll picnic together afterwards.
Trip Difficulty: 2-3 miles, gravel and dirt trails, some elevation gain (less than 300 ft elevation gain), some shade, poison oak alongside trail (wear long pants)
Other Trip Notes: Fall will be in full swing. Be prepared for a cool morning and a slightly warm afternoon.
Leaders: Howard Friedman (408) 806-6772, Vicki Silvas-Young (408) 807-6993
Family Friendly Ages 14 and up
Meet: Ranch House parking lot
Directions: From US-101 exit Capitol Expy in San Jose and continue east for 1.7 miles, turn right onto Quimby Rd and continue for 7 miles. Turn right onto CA-130 E and continue for 0.2 miles. The park entrance is on the right. After passing through the park entry kiosk, continue into the park for about 300 ft. At the brown sign directing you to the park office and ranch, turn left into the parking area. Park near the restroom and green barn. Note that google maps “Ranch House Parking Area” will take you to a different location in the large parking lot. Latitude/Longitude: 37.337493, -121.716896
Facilities: bathroom, ADA accessible pit toilet, cell coverage may be intermittent or non-existent
Parking Type and Fees: paved parking lot, parking fees (use Santa Clara County Park annual pass, otherwise it is $6.00 per car, credit card only)
Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvas.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.