Eaton Park, San Carlos

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Eaton Park entrance, end of Eaton Avenue, San Carlos, August 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Description

Area Habitats
Oak Woodland, Mixed Oak Woodland, Mixed Woodland

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San Carlos has two contiguous parks, Eaton and Big Canyon, that feature large tracts of open space. The main trail spans both parks, connecting at Brittan Avenue. The two parks are treated separately here, because there are some differences in habitat, and each park can provide a pleasant two hours of birding. But for a longer hike, it is productive to consider the two parks as one.

The main trail for Eaton Park starts at the end of Eaton Avenue, and features a steep climb to begin. One is quickly in an interesting mix of oak woodlands, with excellent views of the urban sections of San Mateo county, Bair Island, Bedwell Bayfront Park, and even across the bay to Mt. Diablo and Coyote Hills. Further along the trail crosses some seasonal stream beds, and at its height opens up to some grasslands, eucalyptus, and conifers. At about the one-mile mark, at an unmarked junction, take a right. The trail descends to Brittan Avenue here, where one can cross over to Big Canyon Park, or reverse directions and return to Eaton Avenue. Also, along the trail, there are numerous side trails; most of these connect to other local residential streets, and some also go along waterways (active only during rainy season).

Bird-wise, this park offers access to some of the oak obligate species, such as Oak Titmouse, Nuttall's Woodpecker, and Hutton's Vireo (this last species is more obliging and confiding here than in much of its habitat). While its elevation is only around 600 feet, its proximity to the level bayfront and its wide expanses provide good conditions for viewing hawks. It is not a place that has attracted great numbers of rarities in the past, but, then, it has also not been frequently birded (as of 2009 there were no postings concerning the park in the archives of peninsula-birding, for example). Bird regularly here, and you could put this park on the local map!

Look For These Birds

California Quail, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Anna's Hummingbird, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, White-throated Swift, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Hutton's Vireo, Cassin's Vireo (uncommon, in migration), Warbling Vireo, California Scrub Jay, Steller's Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Bewick's Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wrentit, Cedar Waxwing, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, California Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Hooded Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch

Rarities Seen Here

In this guide, "rarities" are defined as those species given an County Abundance Code of 4, 5, or 6.

Be the first to find one!

Directions

From Interstate 280 in San Mateo County, exit Edgewood Road. Drive about 2.5 miles east on Edgewood Road, to the junction with Alameda de las Pulgas. Turn left and drive about 0.1 mile to the stop sign at Eaton Avenue. Turn left, follow Eaton to its end, and park on the street.

Interactive Map

Fees

Use of the park is free.

Hours

Sunrise to sunset.

Hazards

The main trail appears to double as a seminar in poison oak. It is growing everywhere in profusion, and at a variety of heights. Luckily, the trail's width means you can conduct your studies from a safe distance.

It is likely that there are mountain lions and rattlesnakes here, but the oak woodland means that this is not their prime territory, compared to the more open expanses of nearby Pulgas Ridge and Edgewood preserves.

The noise from traffic on local streets can interfere with hearing bird sounds.

Facilities

There are no facilities at the park, aside from the occasional bench along the trail.

Accessibility

  Accessibility information is currently not available for this location.

Contact

San Carlos Parks and Recreation 650-802-4382

Links

• City of San Carlos' official page for Eaton Park.
• Bay Area Hiker's page covers both Eaton and Big Canyon, with a balanced but appreciative assessment of the parks and trails.
• A highly detailed guide to the Eaton-Big Canyon Trail, including a plant list.
• The City of San Carlos has also supplied an incomplete but still helpful fauna list for this trail.
• The map of all the parks in San Carlos is useful for understanding the geography of the mid-county area.
• Excellent pdf map of trail and surrounding city streets, from Sierra Club
• The City of San Carlos has designed an excellent trail guide brochure for Eaton and Big Canyon Parks. It is available virtually at this website.

Avian Research Status

This site is a relatively new hotspot in eBird, with data in seventeen of forty-eight quadrants. The eBird hotspot information page is here. To avoid confusion with the famed Eaton Canyon Park in Los Angeles county, our hotspot is named Eaton Park (SM Co.). Be the person who makes this park famous!

The iNaturalist place marker is here.

Sequoia Audubon Society has led one field trip to Eaton/Big Canyon Parks, in 2016.

Additional Photos

Live Oaks, Eaton Park, San Carlos, August 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

The eastern potrions of the main trail provide spectacular views of San Mateo's Bayside, south to Stanford University, and across the bay to Mt. Diablo, Eaton Park, San Carlos, August 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Small Western Fence Lizard, Eaton Park, San Carlos, August 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Bewick's Wren, Eaton Park, San Carlos, August 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

Dark-eyed Junco, Eaton Park, San Carlos, August 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)

The growth pattern of trees along the main trail creates a sense of wonderland at time! Eaton Park, San Carlos, August 2009 (Jennifer Rycenga)