Calero Creek Trail (Fall/Winter)

by Hugh McDevitt

Looking for an easy, flat walk that encompasses a variety of birding habitats? The Calero Creek Trail at the end of San Jose’s Almaden Valley encompasses an old orchard, riparian areas along both Calero and Santa Teresa Creeks, chaparral hillside for birds that like a drier environment, and suburban plantings that attract a wide variety of smaller perching birds and raptors. This 2.4 mile out-and-back hike at the boundary of development and open space showcases almost 100 species of birds over the course of the year.

Trip Covers: October - February

Key Birds: Ducks, herons, egrets, raptors, Belted Kingfisher, six species of woodpeckers, Wrentit, Rock Wren; Rufous-crowned, Lark and other winter sparrows

How to Bird

The 2.4-mile-long Calero Creek Trail is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and runs along the base of the Santa Teresa Foothills. Park on Harry Road near the entrance to the IBM Almaden facility (private property). The trail entrance will be on the east side of the road. (Do not take the trail that runs along Camden Ave.) Alternatively, you can start on the opposite end of the trail by parking at the Stiles Ranch parking lot in Santa Teresa Park. See the interactive map and driving directions below for details.

Harry Road Entrance: Before birding Calero Creek Trail, I usually spend 30 minutes or so looking for birds in the brush and trees across the street from the IBM property and looking over the fence into the orchard on the IBM property. (IBM had plans years ago to sell the orchard for development, but backed off from local residence and political pressure. I hope that the agreement not to develop is held in perpetuity.) In the fall and winter, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows are common in the area near the property fence along the far side of Harry Road. Yellow-rumped Warblers are also found in the oak and evergreen trees on this side of the road. Year-round California and Spotted Towhees commonly associate with the fall sparrows.

Examine the sparrows carefully because we have had Lincoln's Sparrows along the Harry Road access on the IBM property. Bushtit, Oak Titmouse, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee can also be seen in the oak and evergreen trees. Flocks of Cedar Waxwing gather in the birch trees. You can often hear the call of Red-shouldered Hawks before they are seen. And what bird walk would be complete without a Black Phoebe, which can be heard and seen in the corral area. I usually hear at least one Belted Kingfisher along either Santa Teresa or Calero Creek and get a quick glance as they rattle along.

This is a good area for woodpeckers. Acorn Woodpeckers like the telephone poles where Harry Road turns into Henwood Road. Northern Flickers also like the telephone poles and have been seen feeding on the palm trees on the north side of Harry Road. (These palm trees also host Hooded Orioles in the spring and summer.) If you scan the trees in the orchard, you will occasionally encounter a Downy Woodpecker. Nuttall's Woodpeckers can be heard and seen on the north side of Harry Road and in the Oak trees along Santa Teresa Creek. One year, we even had three Lewis's Woodpeckers on the Calero-Morgan Hill Christmas Bird Count.

Calero Creek Trail: After birding along Harry Road, come back to the Calero Creek trailhead, which is the start of a mixed-use trail (walkers, bikers, equestrians, and birders) that runs down the valley on the left side of Calero Creek. The fenced left side of the trail gives a good view of the IBM orchard. Look for flocks of Lesser Goldfinch, Western Bluebirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and woodpeckers including Nuttall’s and Downy Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers. You will often hear the “keer” of the flicker before you see it.

The riparian area on the right side of the trail is good all year for California and Spotted Towhees, and the oaks and sycamores harbor Bushtits, Chickadees and Titmice. Bewick's Wrens love the berry brambles. This is also one of the earliest areas in the county for returning Warbling Vireos and Pacific-slope Flycatchers. There are a few places where you can get clear looks at Calero Creek. Check for Wood Duck, Common Mergansers, and Mallards.

It is always good to stop occasionally and look for raptors. It would be a rare day when you don't see at least a few soaring Turkey Vultures. Red-tailed Hawks are common in the sky above Harry Road as it winds up to the IBM research facility at the top of the hill. From my window office at IBM, I also watched an occasional eye-level Golden Eagle coming up the draw. Accipiters are not common, but I have seen Cooper's Hawks fly across the orchard and land in the Sycamore trees to the right of the trail. Sky gazing will also occasionally yield Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great and Snowy Egrets, and flocks of gulls.

The orchard serves as a skyway for American Crows. You can normally see dozens flying back and forth between the Harry/Henwood Road properties and locations further down Almaden Valley. (Common Ravens are found at the top of the hill at the IBM buildings.) California Scrub Jays are common in both the orchard and near the creek. You will occasionally see and hear Steller's Jays where the Calero Creek trail turns left towards the hills. The brushy area here will also yield Hermit Thrush. After the left turn, the trail skirts the far edge of the orchard. If you hear a loud, overhead buzzing noise in the field to your right, you are encountering synthetic bird species—the model plane or drone. The airfield here is one of the few places in this area to fly models in a relatively safe environment.

Chaparral covered hillside. Photo by Eve Meier.

The trail crosses Santa Teresa Creek, which is dry for a good part of the year, just before turning right again to parallel the hills. If you look carefully down the creek, you may be able to surprise Wood Ducks. The chaparral habitat on the hillsides are a good spot to listen and look for Rufous-crowned Sparrows and Lark Sparrows. You will often hear the ping-pong ball call of Wrentits and singing California Thrashers in this same area. In the winter, you can also find Savannah, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and Say's Phoebe on both sides of the trail. Lesser Goldfinches love to feed on the star thistle that is common along the trail. Rock Wrens are a possibility on the Serpentine rocks farther up the hill If you continue all of the way to the Fortini Trailhead, other birders have had “sparrow-paloozas” on the Stiles Ranch trail as it ascends the hill towards Santa Teresa County Park.

This is my Five-Mile-Radius patch. I’ve enjoyed watching the seasons pass, the ebb and flow of species, the excitement of “first patch birds,” friendly competition for first county sightings of returning favorites, and the development of a relationship with this small natural oasis at the end of the Almaden Valley. Maybe I’ll see you on the trail!

Interactive Map

Directions:

To start at the Harry Rd entrance

From CA-85 in San Jose, exit Almaden Expy south. Drive south for about 5 miles, turn left onto Harry Rd. In about 0.4 miles, the trailhead will be on your right. Street parking. Latitude/Longitude: 37.207362, -121.823553

To start at the Stile Ranch entrance

From CA-85 in San Jose, exit Almaden Expy south. Drive south for about 5 miles, turn right onto Harry Rd, take the next left onto McKean Rd and go 1.3 miles. Turn left onto Fortini Rd, in 0.6 miles turn left onto San Vicente Ave. Parking is on the right. Latitude/Longitude: 37.203347, -121.806014

Parking: Harry Rd street parking, San Vicente Ave small parking lot and side of road parking

Fees: None

Trail Hours: One hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset

Facilities: No bathrooms or benches, poor cell phone coverage, nearest facilities are at the Rancho San Vicente entrance to Calero County Park off of McKean Road. Latitude/Longitude: 37.193737, -121.807111

Heads-up! The area has limited to no cell phone service. To print or download this guide before you go, select the text you want (don’t include the banner photo), then print to PDF, or use a free service such as printfriendly.com, which lets you shrink or remove photos.

Trip Mileage: 2.4 miles round trip from Harry Road to the Fortini trailhead and back.

Trail conditions: Sidewalk on Harry Road. The dirt Calero Creek Trail is a very popular trail with bikers, runners, and walkers. Even on weekdays, the trail can be busy. You need to recognize that the trail is narrow in spots and be aware of the approach of bicyclists. A little patience and a lot of good will goes a long way! Start early to beat the crowds! Finally, bring water and apply sunscreen liberally. The last part of the trail between Santa Teresa Creek and Fortini is exposed and can be very warm, even in the early morning.

Accessibility: The trail entrance on Harry Rd does not have a trail barrier and curb cuts are available but the trail entrance near the Stile Ranch parking lot has a barrier. This is a narrow dirt trail. A muddy path can be expected in winter. Be watchful for bicyclists even on a weekday; one has to pull to the trail side from time to time to yield the way. Also, there is a dip that is manageable by a powerchair along the trail where it crosses Santa Teresa Creek.

Bikes: This is a great trip to do by bike.

Dogs: Yes allowed on leash! It is a strange day when I don't encounter at least three walkers and their dogs.

More Information

Calero Creek Trail Map
eBird hotspot: Calero Creek Trail

More Resources

For more trips like this one, visit Self-guided Field Trips.
Visit the SCVAS Birding Resources page for more information on where to bird, our birding community, birding identification resources, and more.
Read “What to Look for Now” by SCVAS Executive Director Matthew Dodder.

Banner Photo Credit: Calero Creek Trail by Eve Meier

Last Updated: 12/8/2022

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