Birding in the grassland and oak woods on the Monterey County side of Fremont Peak State Park can be good at any time of year, but spring and fall have the best weather (winter is cold, summer is hot). Spring wildflowers are a treat in April-May. As detailed below, the primary trail to Fremont Peak is a paved road (closed to vehicles) for much of the way, and birding slowly through the oaks, and then the grasslands on the south side, is a typical route. There are also much narrower trails heading east from just above the trailhead that weave through the oaks and are almost always absent of tourists. Spring migration in April and early May is particularly productive for passerine migrants, including flycatcher and warblers. There are more hiking trails through the grassland on the south side of the peak, with multiple switchbacks, that connect with a loop trail around the west side of Fremont Peak, back to the parking lot.

Resident Rock Wren and Canyon Wren in the rocky hillsides on the south side of Fremont Peak are rarely found together in Monterey County; there are also resident Rufous-crowned Sparrows in the rocky habitat near the towers and antennas. Please do not use tapes here, as these scarce local birds could be "taped out" and move away from public trails. Watch for raptors, including eagles and falcons, in spring and fall migrations. 

Fremont Peak State Park is divided between two counties: San Benito County (mostly north and east) and Monterey County (mostly south and west, but also southeast). The entrance road is entirely in San Benito County, as is the campground, the parking areas, and the ranger housing. The trailhead to Fremont Peak itself begins in San Benito County but the paved trail (a closed road) soon curves left, while a dirt hiking trail divides to the right. That right-hand trail skirts the northwest slope of Fremont Peak, but then goes into Monterey County and ends up below the south slope of Fremont Peak. The paved trail crosses into Monterey County at the next ridge and remains in Monterey County past the towers and antennas, and a big curve back to the right, that ends up near Fremont Peak itself. Smaller rugged trails reach to top from the Monterey County side. There are not any signs within Fremont Peak State Park that will help birders to know where the county lines — and the Hot Spot borders — are located. See the topo map here: the border follows the crest of the Gavilan Range here and goes right through Fremont Peak itself, making a sharp turn there to follow the crest eastwards.