Jacks Peak County Park encompasses 525 acres of Monterey Pine forest atop Jacks Peak (1068' elev), the highest elevation immediately adjacent to the Monterey Peninsula. The Hot Spot boundaries are those of the County Park plus the upper portion of Jacks Peak Road and higher portions of other access roads leading to trails into the park. The park is generally open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., but check the park website for changes; there is an entrance fee.

Once you pass the entrance gate you can either to right (west) or left (east). There are parking lots and restrooms at the end of these roads, whichever one you pick. The road to the right (west) provides access to a wide trail to the top of Jacks Peak, and a loop trail back to the parking lot with superb views of Monterey Bay. The road to the east provides access to other trails, such as Band-tail Point, and longer trails back to the western parking lot. There are miles of hiking trails, but wheelchair access is pretty much limited to the paved parking lots.

Birds of Monterey Pine forest with live oak understory and chaparral scrub are common residents here. Some examples are Band-tailed Pigeon, Hairy Woodpecker, and Pygmy Nuthatch in pines; Oak Titmouse and Acorn Woodpecker in oaks; and Wrentit and California Thrasher in chaparral. Watch for raptors overhead on up-drafts. In some winters the Park will host Red-breasted Nuthatch or Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Hermit Warbler is present in low numbers among the many wintering Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Townsend's Warblers. There have been occasional 'incursion" years in late fall and winter for scarce Red Crossbill or Evening Grosbeak, and even for much rarer Clark's Nutcracker, Williamson's Sapsucker, and Cassin's Finch.