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Joseph D. Grant Park (Winter): Grant Lake to McCreery Lake

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Joseph D. Grant Park (Winter)
Grant Lake to McCreery Lake

by Jennifer Oliver

Within the east San Jose foothills lies Joseph D. Grant Park, Santa Clara county’s largest park. Included in this park are over 50 miles of walking trails and an impressive variety of bird species at any time of the year. In the winter months two excellent stopping points within Joseph D. Grant Park are Grant Lake and the more secluded, adjacent McCreery Lake. Just past the main park entrance on Mt. Hamilton Rd. (Hwy. 130), they are easily accessible and provide a wide variety of waterfowl and shorebirds in the peaceful oak woodland hills. Within this same area you will also encounter many raptors, woodpeckers, and songbirds. 

Trip Covers: October - March

Key Birds: Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Wild Turkey, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, California Thrasher, Phainopepla, American Pipit

How to Bird 

Joseph D. Grant Park is Santa Clara county’s largest regional park with over 10,000 acres and 51 miles of extensive hiking/biking/horse-back riding trails. Located at the base of Mt. Hamilton, it consists of a variety of oak woodlands, grasslands, a few small creeks, and lakes (with Grant Lake the largest). This self-guided field trip will cover only the Grant Lake and McCreery Lake areas of the park, which are active with birds during the winter months. 

For this trip we will start at the Grant Lake Trailhead parking lot. The parking lot is on the left, just  past the Joseph D. Grant Park main entrance on Hwy. 130 (Mt. Hamilton Rd.). The lot is paved with a port-a-potty facility. (See pin 1 on the interactive map below.) 

Grant Lake Trailhead parking lot (with port-a-potty facility). Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

Red-tailed Hawk welcoming us at the Grant Lake Trailhead entrance. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

To start this field trip, enter through the gate and veer slightly left on the dirt trail. Continue on, over the small hill for about 0.15 miles to the south side of Grant Lake. Depending on the water level, you may be able to walk out closer to the water’s edge and in-between some old pier cement pillars. (See  pin 2 on the interactive map below.) Around this area, look closely for a variety of sparrows in and around the brush: White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Song  Sparrows, Lincoln’s Sparrows.

Immature White-crowned Sparrows on cement pillar. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

As you approach the water’s edge look and listen for shorebirds such as Killdeer and Greater Yellowlegs, as well as American Pipits. The Killdeer and American Pipits you will likely hear first before seeing them. The American Pipit blends in especially well with the mud on the shore! 

American Pipit at Grant Lake shoreline. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

This is a great place to stop for a while and observe all the birds on the lake. It is some distance  across the lake, so this is where a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope comes in handy. Some of  the wintering birds to look for on the lake are: Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross’ Goose, Cackling Goose, Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Northern Pintail, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback.  

Cackling Geese on Grant Lake. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. Cackling Geese are similar in coloration to Canada  Geese – but are smaller, shorter-necked, have a flatter head, and a smaller bill.

Hooded Mergansers on Grant Lake. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. Hooded Mergansers are ducks with quite  impressive crests or “hoods.” The males have very striking black and white “hoods” while the females are  beautiful with their cinnamon-colored plumage.  

You may also see some Wild Turkeys and occasionally some feral pigs on the west shore of the lake.  They are always fun to observe - especially when the ground is muddy and the pigs are rooting for  food and rolling around in the mud! 

When you are ready to move on, walk back to the trail and veer left. Follow the trails along the east side of Grant Lake. As you walk along, the reeds and brush are especially a good place to locate and view a Song Sparrow or Savannah Sparrow up close.

Savannah Sparrow near Grant Lake. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

During winter there is also an abundance of Northern Flickers that join the year-round resident Acorn Woodpeckers and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. See if you can hear them calling from the oak trees.  Occasionally you may see a California Thrasher run across the path in front of you too. 

Continue about 0.5 miles along the trail until reaching the bench on the northeast side of Grant Lake.  From this point, you can view birds that would’ve been too far to see from the south side or had been hidden behind the center island. It’s also a good spot to take a rest, if needed. (See pin 3 on the  interactive map below.)

Bench on northeast side of Grant Lake. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

Keep your eyes peeled during the entire trip for the many raptors that live in Joseph D. Grant Park.  Check higher-up in the trees and watch what’s flying overhead. You may even encounter a Bald  Eagle. Some of the other raptors common to the Grant Lake area are: Red-tailed Hawk, Red shouldered Hawk, Kestrel, White-tailed Kite, Turkey Vulture.

Bald Eagle at Grant Lake. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. Very close to extinction 30 years ago, the Bald Eagles  continue to make strides to increase their numbers in the U.S. As of today, Bald Eagles have been reported nesting in 41 of the 58 counties in California (data as reported by CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife). Still such a treat  to see one! 

When done resting and viewing at the north side of Grant Lake, head back south, towards the trailhead/parking lot entrance. Just before reaching the parking lot turn left onto the Yerba Buena  Trail. (See pin 4 on the interactive map below.) Continue along this trail for 0.25 miles. Then turn left at McCreery Lake Trail. McCreery Lake is a small lake, only about 500 ft. down this path. (See pin 5 on the interactive map below.) The birds on this more secluded and quiet lake seem to be more skittish when humans approach, so I recommend approaching slowly and quietly for the best bird viewing. 

McCreery Lake. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

This little gem of a lake can still attract some beautiful birds – such as Wood Ducks, Great Egrets,  Green Herons, Mallards, and Gadwalls. There is also a good chance you may encounter a Belted Kingfisher flying around or perched in the trees overlooking the water.

Green Heron on McCreery Lake. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. Green Herons are quite comical to watch fish. They  will walk along the water’s edge, stalking their prey from above (usually somewhat hidden in brush or reeds).  Then they will then quickly strike down to capture a fish. They have even been known to attract fish with “bait”  (items such as insects or sticks). 

To head back to the parking lot you can either: (a) backtrack on the same Yerba Buena trail as you  came in on (which is the flatter option), or (b) for a slightly different path that also provides a nice  view on the hill overlooking Grant Lake, veer right onto Lake View Trail and walk up and over a fairly steep trail. Then turn left to get to the parking lot. (See pin 6 on the interactive map below.)

At the top of Lake View Trail. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

On this Lake View Trail, this will be a good area to look for Phainopepla since several of the oak trees have clumps of mistletoe growing in them. Mistletoe is the favorite food of the Phainopepla.  The Phainopepla have specialized digestive tracts that allow them to safely eat the fruit. They can  eat up to 1100 berries a day! 

Clumps of mistletoe growing in oak trees, a favorite of Phainopeplas. Photo by Jennifer Oliver.

The silky black plumage of the male Phainopepla. Photo by Jennifer Oliver. 

Ready for More?  

Just west only a few hundred feet on Mt. Hamilton Rd. is the main entrance to the park. You can walk or drive there to continue birding.  At the Ranch House there is a pond, a lovely rose garden, and lawn areas that are easily accessible.  Check out the nearby self-guided field trip for Joseph D Grant Park – Ranch House / Twin Gates  / Smith Creek for more details. (This link is for the spring and summer, but these areas are year-round good birding spots.) 

Interactive Map 

Route Summary:

  • Start at the Grant Lake parking lot (just past the main Joseph D. Grant Park entrance, on north side of  Hwy 130). 

  • Walk 0.15 miles to the southside of Grant Lake.  

  • Follow trail alongside the east side of the lake until reaching the bench on the northeast side of lake, approx. 0.5 miles. 

  • Back track to almost the main parking lot, approx. 0.4 miles 

  • Take Yerba Buena Trail for 0.25 miles, then left on McCreery Lake Trail.  Walk 500 ft. to McCreery Lake. 

  • Return to parking lot.  (Alternate return path: Use Lake View Trail - which is a somewhat steep trail.) 

Directions: From US-101, take the E Capitol Expressway exit (east). After 1.5 miles, turn right onto  Quimby Rd. Continue east for approx. 6.8 miles. (Note: Quimby Rd. becomes a steep and winding  road after a few miles. At one point it also narrows to 1 lane.) Turn right onto Hwy 130 (Mt. Hamilton  Rd.). The main Joseph D. Grant Park entrance will be on the right side within less than 0.5 mile, but  continue just past this to the small Grant Lake parking lot on the left side of the road. 

Parking: The Grant Lake parking lot is paved and has about 20 parking spots. Parking includes 1 ADA compliant parking spot. (Additional parking in the main Joseph D. Grant Park, but it  will require about 0.75 mile walk to the Grant Lake trailhead. During winter months, parking is not  usually a problem, but in spring and summer it can fill up.) 

Fees: None 

Public Transportation: None 

Park and/or Trail Hours: 8 am to sunset 

Facilities: NO CELL PHONE SERVICE. 1 porta-potty (plus additional restrooms available in main  Joseph D. Grant Park). Picnic tables available in the main Joseph D. Grant Park. 

Trip Mileage: 1.65 miles  

Trail Conditions: Besides the main road and parking lot, all trails are dirt. Also it should be noted that  the optional Lake View Trail is fairly steep. All other trails around Grant Lake are fairly flat and only a minimal incline walking up to McCreery Lake. 

Accessibility: Only the main parking lot is wheel-chair accessible.  

Bikes: Allowed, but not recommended for this trip.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed if on a 6 ft. (or less) leash. 

Additional Note: Please be aware that feral pigs are common inhabitants of Joseph D. Grant Park. They may be aggressive if their young are present. It is recommended to keep your distance and not approach them.  

More Information: 

More Resources 

Banner Photo Credit:  Grant Lake by Jennifer Oliver

Last Updated:  Jan 6, 2023

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