Jack’s Peak Regional Park  (P, $,R,

)

Overlooking Monterey peninsula, a lush forest of endemic Monterey pine above chaparral-scrub slopes offers vistas of Carmel valley to the south and Monterey bay to the north. 

Location:  From the junction of Highway 1 take Highway 68 east to Olmstead Rd., just opposite the entrance to the Monterey airport.  Drive up (south) on Olmstead about 1 mile to Jacks Peak Dr., turn left and continue another mile to the park entrance.

Highlights:  Townsend’s and hermit warblers, brown creeper, pygmy nuthatch, golden-crowned kinglet, red-breasted sapsucker, fox sparrow, N. pygmy-owl.

Best season:  winter.