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Skyline Blvd (Spring) : Birding at the Top of the Santa Cruz Mountains

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Skyline Blvd (Spring) :
Birding at the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains

by Luis Villablanca

Skyline Boulevard runs at the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This higher elevation area is home to a variety of birds which are harder to find in other parts of the county. This guide covers 3 stops along Skyline Blvd which can be visited by car and with a minimal amount of walking.

Trip Covers: Late April - July

Key Birds: Cassin’s Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting

How to Bird

Spring is a special time of the year in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The mountains, which otherwise are quiet, become alive with many tropical bird species setting home for their breeding season. Running at the top of the mountains is Skyline Boulevard, which connects parks located in several counties, including San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara. The higher elevation of this area contains habitats which are preferred by several species which are otherwise hard to find or absent from the rest of the county.

To start the trip, drive to the Sunnyvale Mountain trailhead of Skyline Trail located near the intersection between Skyline Blvd and Black Rd and part of Sanborn Park.

Sunnyvale Mountain Trailhead. Photo by Luis Villablanca

Sunnyvale Mountain Trailhead. Photo by Luis Villablanca

Western Tanager by Luis Villablanca

Western Tanager by Luis Villablanca

After you park, get out and listen for the birds singing around you. Look up in the tall trees near the parking lot. You may be able to spot birds like Western Tanager, or Black-headed Grosbeak hanging out near the treetops. You may also hear Cassin’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Lazuli Bunting singing in the smaller trees to the left of the trail. Other more common birds like American Robin, Lesser Goldfinch, Steller’s Jay and Spotted Towhee may be seen hanging around this section of the trail. If you need help with bird songs, I provide below some links to web pages with information about several species, including some audio recordings. 

Cassin’s Vireo by Luis Villablanca

Cassin’s Vireo by Luis Villablanca

I recommend walking down the trail until the end of the meadow which runs along the right side of the trail and before crossing the intersection with the John Nicholas Trail, since there are usually very few birds past that point.

Lazuli Bunting by Luis Villablanca

Lazuli Bunting by Luis Villablanca

Seagraves Trailhead. Photo by Luis Villablanca

Seagraves Trailhead. Photo by Luis Villablanca

After this stop, you can drive to other points along the Skyline Trail, including the Seagraves, Biddles or Indian Rock trailheads. Again, I recommend getting out and listening for the birds around you or just taking a walk along the trail. The trail is shady and flat, which makes for a pleasant walk, especially on warm and sunny days.

Birds that can be heard or seen along the trail include Pileated Woodpecker, Band-tailed Pigeon, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Acorn Woodpecker and Brown Creeper. Sometimes you can also hear or see Red Crossbill and Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Black-headed Grosbeak by Luis Villablanca

Black-headed Grosbeak by Luis Villablanca

Although a bit strenuous, a hike along the Summit Rock trail loop may provide views of Hermit Warbler, which can be found around Castle Rock Park and probably nowhere else in the Bay Area. Sometimes this species can be found along Skyline Trail, so it’s worth getting out and listening for their beautiful songs.

Hermit Warbler by Luis Villablanca

Hermit Warbler by Luis Villablanca

The Summit Rock parking is closed in the spring to protect the Peregrine Falcons nesting in the area, but you can access the trail loop from the Indian Rock parking, which is located across Castle Rock Park.

Ready for More? 

Another stop which may bring some interesting birds is the Charcoal Rd area, located in Upper Stevens Creek Park. Drive until the intersection between Saratoga Gap Trail/Hickory Oaks Trail and Skyline Blvd. There are pullouts on both sides of the road where you can safely park.

Hike down the Saratoga Gap Trail until the intersection with Charcoal Rd trail listening to the birds around you. You may hear and see Purple Finch, Black-headed Grosbeak, Warbling Vireo, Hutton’s Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler and some years even Western Tanager.

Saratoga Gap Trail. Photo by Luis Villablanca

Saratoga Gap Trail. Photo by Luis Villablanca

Interactive Map

Directions: From CA-17 in Los Gatos, exit Bear Creek Rd. Continue straight onto Montevina Rd, in 0.3 miles make a left onto Black Rd. Continue for 6.7 miles and turn right into Skyline Blvd, continue for 1.8 miles until reaching the Sunnyvale Mountain Trailhead on the right side.

List of Parking Locations

Fees: None 

Public Transportation: Not available

Park Hours: Open every day of the year from 8:00 a.m. until sunset.

Facilities: There is a portable toilet located near at the Sunnyvale Mountain trailhead. Cell phone service may be limited.

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: Variable, most birding can be done in the parking lots or on very short walks.

Trail Conditions: The section of Skyline Trail close to the Sunnyvale Mountain Trailhead is flat and well maintained, so it is easy to access. Other sections of the Skyline trail are relatively flat, except for the section going to Summit Rock, which is steep in some places, including the loop.

The Saratoga Gap trail goes downhill and can be a bit steep in some sections.

Bikes: Both Skyline Trail and Saratoga Gap trail are popular among mountain bikers, so it is better to visit them early in the morning. The Sunnyvale Mountain section is not used by bikers, so you can bird there undisturbed.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed on Sanborn Park on 6-ft max. leash.  No dogs allowed on Upper Stevens Creek Park.

More Information: 

More Resources

Banner Photo Credit: Hermit Warbler by Luis Villablanca

Last Updated: 05/20/2022

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