This Hotspot is a 4 mile stretch of Carmel Valley Road that crosses a watershed divide -- at  milepost 30 at 2400' elevation -- from the Santa Lucia Range watershed to the west and the Arroyo Seco watershed to the east. In general, the western watershed is wetter, with oak woodlands and chaparral, and the eastern watershed is drier, with more arid grasslands, fewer oaks, and much chaparral. There is a small dirt pull-out at the pass (on the south side) which has a fine view eastwards towards the Arroyo Seco River.

This Hotspot is a merger of 4 smaller "stationary" style hotspots. They are, west to east: one at a farm at Espinosa Canyon (milepost 28) with a bit of riparian habitat; another at a small farm pond at about milepost 29 (no good pull-out to view pond, so park above or below and walk to view the small pond, when it has water); one at the pass itself (about milepost 30, not actual milepost present); and one to the east about 2mile downhill (milepost 32), after you've driven past two hairpin turns, where there is a nice pull-out, across from a vineyard, at a sharp 90-degree turn. This is now in open country with scattered oaks, but some of them will be laden with mistletoe.

Depending on the season, the Hotspot has widespread oak woodland bird (e.g., mileposts 28-29) west of the watershed pass, and drier grassy ranch habitat towards the east. Yellow-billed Magpies occur on both sides of the pass (although not as commonly as in the past), as do Lark Sparrows, Bullock's Oriole, and Lesser Goldfinch in summer. The eastern hairpin turn has been a pretty good spot for Lawrence's Goldfinch in spring over the years. 

The tiny pond (milepost 29) has attracted migrant ducks and waders in migration, including various teal, Wood Duck, and even a Solitary Sandpiper. The summit itself, and the 90-degree turn at milepost 32, are good viewing spots for raptors, including Accipiters, Golden Eagle, and at least one record of Swainson's Hawk (in spring migration). At milepost 32 (the 90-degree turn), and below as one towards Arroyo Seco, watch for large oaks with mistletoe that may attract Phainopela from spring into fall.