San Mateo County Birding Guide by Sequoia Audubon Society - Printed on October 30, 2026
Sam McDonald County Park
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Description
Sam McDonald County Park is one of the three county parks that, together with Portola Redwoods State Park, provide a tremendous amount of public land protecting the Pescadero Creek area. Sam McDonald is the northernmost of these parks, fitting snuggly in an oblong pattern along the edges of SR84, Pescadero Creek Road, and Alpine Road. It includes two favorite places among Bay Area hikers - the magnificent Heritage Grove of coast redwoods, and the Hiker's Hut. But for birders the excitement comes in the open ridge areas of the park.
Sam McDonald County Park has two major habitats. One is an extensive coast redwood forest, best seen in the Heritage Grove, but nearly always close when in the park. The other habitat consists of grassy and brushy areas along a long ridge line. These two contrasting habitats create good birding, largely because of "edge effect" (the chance to observe birds that take advantage of the proximity of two or more habitats).
There are two main parking areas. The Ranger Station parking area is located on Pescadero Creek Road, a few miles southwest of the intersection with Alpine Road. This parking area is better for birders, as it gives access to the extensive trail network. The fastest way to get to the change of habitat is to take the Towne Trail, cross Pescadero Creek Road (carefully) and walk along the Towne Fire Road, which takes you to the Horse Camp. The habitat opens up from redwood to open ridge about 1/10th of a mile prior to the horse camp. From here one can choose to continue in the open ridge habitat by taking the Towne Fire Road further to the east. This route will take you to the southeasterly side of the park, where you can explore the popular Hiker's Hut, and to the Heritage Grove, a prime stand of redwood. The Heritage Grove area is where the second parking lot is located, along Alpine Road. If you are driving here from the south, leaving one car at the Heritage Grove, and another at the Ranger Station parking area, might serve you well.
The other option at the Horse Camp, is to take the Ridge Fire Trail, which is an active road used to drive vehicles to the Horse Camp. The Ridge Fire Trail is thus a wide trail, with spectacular views and a gradual change of habitats. Eventually the Ridge Fire Trail ends at a gate. Cross Pescadero Creek Road again, and follow the Ridge Trail back to the Ranger station. Here you are back in Redwood forest: lovely but not necessarily boasting a lot of bird diversity. Stay attentive for the high-pitched Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers, while also looking for Pileated Woodpecker, a rarity known to have used this park.
Sam McDonald County Park is a special place named after a special man. Sam McDonald, an African-American born to former slaves in Louisiana in 1884, took a low-ranking job on Stanford University's groundskeeping crew in 1903. He rose through the ranks, where his skills were noticed. He eventually became the Superintendent of Athletic Grounds and Buildings. He designed and maintained numerous playing fields for Stanford athletes. In the meantime, he also became involved in law enforcement, working for the Treasury Department and Palo Alto. His love for children led him to establish a Home for Underprivileged Children. He had accumulated property in the La Honda area starting in 1917, and asked that it be made accessible to children after his passing, which happened in 1957. As a result, there are numerous youth camps in the northwest corner of Sam McDonald County Park. A more extended version of Sam McDonald's history can be found in the pdf file mentioned below.
Look For These Birds
California Quail, Wild Turkey (uncommon), Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared-Dove (mercifully uncommon here), Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron (decidedly uncommon here), Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite (uncommon here), Osprey (uncommon flyover), Northern Harrier (uncommon here), Cooper's Hawk (uncommon here), Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker (uncommon here), Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker (winter), American Kestrel, Olive-sided Flycatcher (unusual here), Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Hutton's Vireo, Cassin's Vireo (rare here), Warbling Vireo (spring-summer), California Scrub-Jay, Steller's Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse (uncommon here), Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Bushtit, Wrentit, Golden-crowned Kinglet (fairly common here), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (winter), Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick's Wren, Pacific Wren, California Thrasher (in chaparral), Western Bluebird, Hermit Thrush (winter), Swainson's Thrush (spring-summer), Varied Thrush (winter), American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill (uncommon here and irruptive), Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird (rare here), Orange-crowned Warbler (spring-summer), Nashville Warbler, Hermit Warbler (primarily spring and summer, but also very rare in most winters), Townsend's Warbler (winter), Black-throated Gray Warbler (spring-summer), MacGillivray's Warbler (spring-summer), Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak
Rarities Seen Here
In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.
Black Swift (2019), Golden Eagle (2011, 2015), Western Kingbird (2013, spring migration)
Directions
From US101 or I-280: Take SR 84 (Woodside-La Honda- San Gregorio Road) west to La Honda. Turn left 1/2 mile past village center in La Honda on the Pescadero Road. The park entrance is on Pescadero Road.
From SR 1: Take Pescadero Road turn-off. Go east on Pescadero Road about 11 miles to the park entrance.
Fees
There is a $5 admission fee per car. A County Parks Pass can be used here, too.
Hours
Sam McDonald County Park opens officially at 8:00 am. Closing times vary across the year; see the park website for more information.
Hazards
There is some poison oak, but because of the width of the fire road trails, it is not usually a major threat in this park. This is mountain lion territory, but sightings in the Pescadero Creek Watershed are rarer even than in the rest of the Bay Area hills. The biggest annoyance, especially on weekends, is the noise from motorcycles; so many trails run near, or even parallel, to the major roads in the area noise levels make birding by ear difficult. Because of the presence of the Horse Camp, the park attracts equines and their friends; the trails bear all-too-palpable reminders of the passage of horses.
Facilities
The Ranger Station has flush toilets. There are pay phones at the Ranger Station and the Horse Camp; these ancient devices can be useful here, since cell phone coverage may be spotty. There are picnic tables near the Ranger Station. Emporia and restaurants can be found in La Honda, or a bit further down the windy road in Pescadero.
Contact
13435 Pescadero Creek Road, Loma Mar 94021. Phone (650)879-0238
Avian Research Status
In less than a decade, Sam McDonald County Park grew from a new hotspot to one with sightings in all 48 time quadrants on eBird. Please continue to contribute sightings from this park, to further build this strong data base.
Always be alert for Marbled Murrelets during breeding season in any of the redwood habitat parks in the county. These sightings are especially worth reporting, since this bird is both locally endangered, and its nesting habits and risks from predators like Common Raven are still being studied.
Sequoia Audubon Society, in its ongoing partnership with the California Academy of Sciences, San Mateo County Parks, and the California Lichen Society, has held two bioblitzes at Sam McDonald. The first of these, in March of 2019, was held despite rain, but the results for the park were still impressive. They can be viewed here. The second blitz, in February 2020, was blessed with good weather and a top-notch set of blitzers. The results can be viewed here. Check out the iNaturalist "place" marker for Sam McDonald, too, for a wider array of sightings and seasons.
Aside from the aforementioned BioBlitzes in 2019 and 2020, Sequoia Audubon Society has not sponsored any field trips to this site. In light of the CZU Fire of 2020 and the compelling story of environmentalism and racial diversity that Sam McDonald represents, we will ensure that this changes going forward.
Author: Jennifer Rycenga, Uploaded: