Although Loma Prieta, the highest point (3,791 ft) in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is in Santa Clara County, much of the access route, and some birding areas on the way, lie within Santa Cruz County. Wind or fog often prevail here. But the rewards of a sunny day include unsurpassed views of the entire curvature of Monterey Bay, San Francisco Bay, and most of Santa Clara Valley. The area provides a chance for several species of birds that are rare in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Birding is best from late April to June. Interesting birds occur at any season, but the area can be quiet in fall and winter. Dawn provides the liveliest birding, but dusk is the prime time for Common Poorwill. Warm days in spring and summer can be buggy, with pesky insects flying near your face, but usually not biting.
Directions. From Santa Cruz, take Hwy 17 north for 12.5 miles to the Summit Rd exit. Go right (east) 4 miles on Summit Rd, which becomes Highland Way at its intersection with Old San Jose Rd, and continue straight another 1.6 miles to its intersection with Mount Bache Rd. To reach this junction from Soquel, go up Old San Jose Rd for 12 miles to its intersection with Summit Rd/Highland Way; then go right (east) 1.6 miles on Highland Way to Mount Bache Rd. In either case, once at the intersection go 1.0 mile to the end of Mount Bache Rd and bear right onto Loma Prieta Way. Continue uphill for 2.2 miles on Loma Prieta Way. Pullouts along the way offer good birding, especially beyond 1.6 miles from Highland Way.
3.2 miles up from Highland Way, the road reaches the crest of the summit ridge, with the antenna-clad crown of Loma Prieta forward on the left and the Soquel Creek watershed and distant Pajaro Valley in view on the right. Stop here and check for many of the area’s specialties. Here the south side of the ridge is in Santa Cruz County, and the north side is in Santa Clara. Birders formerly knew this spot as “the end of the pavement,” but the paved road now goes on another half mile. After 0.7 mile more, the road forks. The ridgeline road continues on the right (southeast) as Summit Rd / Mount Madonna Rd (see description below), but the road to the left is private and there is no access for birders.
Birds. Of particular interest in spring and summer are Purple Martin, Black-chinned and Sage sparrows and Common Poorwill (resident year-round but most easily found during these seasons, or during unusual winter warm spells). These species occur in small numbers along the summit ridge and at Loma Prieta peak, but none is common, and some years one or all may be hard to find. In late April and May, look for migrant Hermit and Townsend’s warblers, Western Tanager, Black Swift, and flocks of Vaux’s Swifts. Rarities have occurred, such as Lewis’s Woodpecker, Swainson’s Hawk, Clark’s Nutcracker, Gray Flycatcher and Indigo Bunting. Year-round residents include Anna’s Hummingbird, California Thrasher, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, and Lesser Goldfinch. Other nesting species are Olive-sided and Ash-throated flycatchers, Western Wood-Pewee, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-rumped Warbler (in firs and large pines), House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Lawrence’s Goldfinch (irregular). Many of these species, as well as Red-breasted Nuthatch, may be found near a turnout on Loma Prieta Ave, 2.2 miles up from Highland Way.