San Mateo County Birding Guide by Sequoia Audubon Society - Printed on October 30, 2026
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This small, deep canyon in the foothills above Burlingame features mixed woodland and grassland, and is a charming spot for common land birds. The Friends of Mills Canyon refer to the park as "The Best Kept Secret in Burlingame," but also as "the most beautiful park" in that city. It has essentially one trail, the Ed Taylor loop trail, which is intersected by a park service road, and the spurs to the parking areas. The entire park can be hiked (at a birder's leisurely pace) in under two hours. It is close enough to SFO to provide an option for exercise before or after a long flight.
Mills Canyon is shaped by Mills Creek. The riparian is quite dense around this sunken creek. The northern half of the loop hike is exposed, allowing one to view treetops and grasslands. This park is not a good choice for people with mobility issues, as the trails can be narrow, and have some elevation gain. On the plus side, the canyon protects against wind, so find refuge here if you are being driven (literally) from your original birding plans. The Friends of Mills Canyon have sprinkled the trail with over a dozen tree-identifying posts.
Parking at the Adeline Drive lot gives you a middle elevation start from the south side of the canyon ledge. The Arguello parking area puts you on the higher, northern side of the canyon ledge; it was near here that a female Black-throated Blue Warbler was seen in the fall of 2007.
California Quail, Double-crested Cormorant (fly-over), Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, California Gull (fly-over), Western Gull (fly-over), Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Western Screech-Owl (uncommon but regular), White-throated Swift, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker (winter), Northern Flicker, Merlin, Black Phoebe, Hutton's Vireo, Steller's Jay, California Scrub-Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch (rare here), Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Bewick's Wren, American Robin, Western Bluebird, Varied Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (fall-spring), Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler (spring-summer), Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Purple Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill (unusual), Lesser Goldfinch.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (migrant), Olive-sided Flycatcher (migrant), Warbling Vireo (migrant)
In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.
Greater White-fronted Goose (2020, large flocks in fly-overs), Black-throated Blue Warbler, Evening Grosbeak (2011)
One of the reasons this park is not better-known is that it is tucked away among the foothill streets of Burlingame. There are 2 main entrances to the 1+ mile loop trail at Mills Canyon: Adeline Drive and 3005 Arguello Drive.
To reach Adeline Drive entrance from southbound 280: exit Trousdale Dr., left on Trousdale, right (south) on Skyline Blvd., left on Hillside Dr., left on Adeline Dr. From northbound 280: exit Trousdale Dr., right (south) on Skyline Blvd., left on Hillside Dr., left on Adeline Dr. (entrance is on immediate left).
To reach the 3005 Arguello Drive entrance from southbound 280: exit Trousdale Dr., left on Trousdale, right on Sebastian, right on Arguello (entrance is on left about mid-block). From northbound 280: exit Trousdale Dr., left (north) on Skyline, right on Trousdale, right on Sebastian, right on Arguello.
From 101 South, take the Burlingame/Broadway exit. Take a right at El Camino. Turn left on Hillside Drive. Turn right on Adeline Drive. Park on your left. From 101 North, take the Millbrae exit. Turn left on El Camino. Turn right on Hillside Drive. Turn right on Adeline Drive. Park on your left.
To Arguello Drive entrance from 101, exit Millbrae, west on Millbrae, left (south) on El Camino Real, right on Trousdale, left on Sebastian, right on Arguello Dr.
Use of the park is free.
Posted as 6:00 am to 9:00 pm at all seasons.
Ticks and poison oak are present. The stairs, in a rather charming way, are of vastly uneven heights, so it is important to watch your step.
There are benches near the two parking spots, but no comfort facilities or picnic tables. The park is in a residential area, a bit of a distance from provisions, so plan ahead.
Emergency Number for the site is 650-692-0310. The Burlingame Park Department can be reached at 650-558-7330.
Mills Canyon Park is a Hotspot in eBird, with data in forty-three time quadrants, representing fifty-nine species. This park has seen a dramatic increase in coverage over the past decade, forming a good example of how intensive examination of a small parcel of protected wildlife leads to a better understanding of the avifauna. Keep it going!
The iNaturalist place marker for Mills Canyon shows excellent coverage but very few animal or bird records. YOU know what to do, birders!
Sudden Oak Death has affected some trees in the park. The Friends of Mills Canyon recommend getting more information from California Oak Mortality Task Force.
Author: Jennifer Rycenga, Uploaded: