Currently, there are two entrances to this hotspot.

If one enters on the west from Highway 1 a permit is required and can be requested from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District website.

The good thing about this is that one is immediately in the correct hotspot. This area is quite large and includes the trails thru the chaparral, oaks and grasslands of the lower elevation, the steep dirt road up to Inspiration Point, and all the chaparral,grasslands, oaks, and pine habitat to Animas Pond. Permits are required to go through the gate beyond the pond but one can continue using the same hotspot. The gate to enter the San Jose Creek Trail becomes a separate hotspot in redwood canyon habitat.

The second entrance on the east side requires walking through the Palo Corona RP – – Rancho Cañada and South Bank Trail hotspot. It is tempting to leave one’s eBird app running through this hotspot and on into the Front Ranch Unit. But the map has the parameters circled in red and one can see the sign on the gate that reads “Welcome to Palo Corona Regional Park – Front Ranch Unit. eBirders must now change hotspots!”
Or something like that.

California Thrashers are resident here and frequently sit on the fence on the west end by the houses. The wide grassy fields are hunting grounds for multiple species of birds of prey. Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, and Savannah Sparrow winter here, as well as one or two Loggerhead Shrike.

Grasshopper Sparrows breed here. They are not easy to see but in good years one can hear their insect-like trill starting from the grassy knoll all the way down to the west gate.