These roads climb for 15 miles from the Pajaro Valley (via Corralitos) to the summit area near Loma Prieta. They pass through the headwaters canyons of Corralitos and Soquel creeks, which have extensive redwood and mixed evergreen forest, live oak woodland, knobcone pine forest, and chaparral. Scenic vistas greet the birder along Highland Way. This route repays a visit at any season but is liveliest during spring migration and the breeding season. The best strategy is to stop at intervals and bird along the road on foot. Weekend visits will generally have the least traffic, although it is not too bad on weekdays after the morning commute.
Directions. From Hwy 1 take the Freedom Blvd exit and go 4.9 miles on it to Corralitos Rd. Turn left on Corralitos Rd and go 1.7 miles to its junction with Browns Valley Rd at the Corralitos Market. Reset your odometer here to 0.0 and continue north through the intersection onto what is now Eureka Canyon Rd, stopping at likely areas to bird from the roadside.
Birds. The variety of forest and chaparral provides a wide cross-section of birds typical of these habitats. Local specialties include American Dipper and Pileated Woodpecker. Among uncommon nesters are Cassin’s Vireo, Western Tanager, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. These roads are also good for owls, especially the upper few miles of Eureka Canyon Rd; owling is best in the wee hours or well before dawn, when traffic is least.
Heading up Eureka Canyon Rd, look for nesting American Dipper along Corralitos Creek from 3.6 to 4.6 miles above Corralitos, especially from late winter to early summer. A pair often nests under the bridge at 4.4 miles. Please watch from the roadside and do not venture under the bridge. The road from 5.8 to 6.6 miles has an interesting mix of habitats, including a large open area, rare in this forested canyon. Beyond 8.0 miles the road nears the headwaters of Corralitos Creek and emerges from the dense conifer forest into chaparral and live oak forest. Visit this area for spring migrants and hummingbirds.
At its junction with Buzzard Lagoon Rd (8.8 miles; see description below), Eureka Canyon Rd ends and Highland Way begins, dropping into the headwaters of Soquel Creek. The first 0.25 mile of Highland Way has nesting Western Tanager, Cassin’s Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler and both Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks. Red-breasted Nuthatch frequents the knobcone pines here. The road continues on along Soquel Creek (look for Winter Wren) through forest dominated by tan oak and at 10.8 miles passes the main entrance to the Soquel Demonstration State Forest (described next). It then climbs toward Summit Rd, passing alternately through chaparral and mixed forest or oak woodland. Stops along the way here can be very birdy (and scenic, too), especially in spring migration. Watch for swifts, warblers, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, and unusual migrant hummingbirds (such as Calliope visiting wildflowers). Highland Way eventually joins with roads leading to the Loma Prieta area, and the Skyland Ridge area (both described above).