The Soquel Demonstration State Forest (SDSF) covers 2,681 acres located in the upper watershed of Soquel Creek. The California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection manages it for forestry education and research and to demonstrate innovative forest management practices, such as watershed protection and restoration, and sustainable timber harvesting. The SDSF is very popular with mountain bikers and equestrians.
For birders, the SDSF offers many miles of dirt roads and trails that lead to forest habitats and their birds; but it takes some hiking to reach the most interesting areas of the property, and so few birders have spent much time there. The SDSF habitats, common in the local mountains, strike many birders as less than thrilling. But in 2001 intensive surveys produced many rarities, including Least Flycatcher, Black-throated Green Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Northern Goshawk, and Calliope Hummingbird! The lesson: even forests offer excitement if we bird them patiently and diligently.
Directions. Currently the only direct public access to the SDSF is from Highland Way, at the Forest’s east end. From Hwy 17 go east on Summit Rd, which after 4 miles becomes Highland Way at its junction with Old San Jose Rd. Continue on Highland Way for 5.5 miles as it descends to Soquel Creek (birding along Highland Way is described above). Now watch for the entrance on the right (south) near a small green SDSF sign, where a bridge crosses the creek. Park along Highland Way or, if the chain at the bridge is down, drive into a parking area. Alternatively, take Old San Jose Rd north from Soquel for 12 miles and turn right onto Highland Way, following it down to the SDSF entrance. Trails in the SDSF are well-signed.
Birds. The Highland Way entry leads to the beginning of Hihn’s Mill Rd, which continues west across the SDSF for 5.7 miles though redwood and mixed evergreen forest, and eventually to deciduous riparian forest. Hihn’s Mill Rd can be quite birdy on a spring morning, except for areas heavy with tan-oak. Species typical of redwood and mixed forest predominate. Look for nesting Western Tanager, Cassin’s Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks. At 2.3 miles Sulphur Springs Trail goes uphill to the right, climbing for 1.5 mile to a major ridge. After some redwood forest, it passes through mixed evergreen forest that can be lively with breeding and wintering birds, and spring migrants. The very top of Sulphur Springs Rd, where it meets Ridge Trail, is an especially good birding site. Work along the Ridge Trail in either direction, alert, for example, for Pileated Woodpecker. Rare Purple Martins nest nearby and might be seen overhead anywhere along here (although views through the trees are limited). Go east on the Ridge Trail to connect to Aptos Creek Fire Road atop Santa Rosalia Mountain in the upper part of Forest of Nisene Marks SP (see next description).
Hihn’s Mill Rd meets the West Branch of Soquel Creek about 4 miles from the parking area. The rest of the road is consistently interesting and pretty, has had a number of vagrants, and includes a small old-growth stand near Badger Springs Picnic Area. The road eventually crosses Soquel Creek at a very good birdy place. American Dipper and Common Merganser both nest in the area; a pair (or family) of dippers often dwells just downstream from the bridge. The riparian and adjacent forest hosts Swainson’s Thrush, Wilson’s Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Song Sparrow, and Northern Pygmy-Owl. Nesting Red-breasted Sapsuckers recently colonized this area