Try to split your time to allow both ridgetop raptor/scenic splendor gazing, as well as a very slow walk through the willows and riparian areas. One strategy is to work with the sun--when the canyon is cold and dark, birding activity can be slow while the ridgetop will catch the early rays. As the morning birds settle down on the ridge, the willow thickets and riparian zones warm up and get much more birdy. When the Summer heat cranks up birds are hard to find anywhere, but that might be a good time to score a soaring hawk (or condor?).

The birder can expect the regular coastal species, richest in migration. The eBird data is limited for this location, and further discoveries await the curious. The bird list shows some interesting migrants--surely there are more passing through this canyon to the coastal "vagrant traps" in coastal willow patches than are reflected in the data set!  Do some of the scarcer migrants, such as MacGillivray’s Warbler and Purple Martin, stay around to breed?  The ridge on which you might find yourself eating a sandwich and dreaming over the descending slope and surf far below is the very ridge one squints at from near Rocky Point, hoping for a glimpse of Black Swifts in season. Might they be easier to see from the ridgetop?

Glen Deven Ranch is a private preserve, owned by the Big Sur Land Trust. Entry is by permit only, though at certain times those are not that difficult to obtain. See details at https://bigsurlandtrust.org/. The ranch is perched on the ridge between the Palo Colorado and Garrapata watersheds.

The ridgetop consists of open grasslands, with introduced eucalyptus, cypress, and Monterey Pine overhead in some areas, and encroaching coastal chaparral in others. The ridge features a splendid overlook of the coast, views into the two watersheds, and a peek into the Ventana Wilderness high country (there is a nice view of the Double Cone Crest and the Window from near the residences).

The descent into Garrapata Canyon passes briefly through coastal chaparral, then winds through willow (wet in the Spring and Winter) to riparian woodland along the creek (Coastal Redwood, Alder, Sycamore).

The Preserve has two trails. The precise routes of each vary, depending on conditions at the time. Your permit instructions will indicate where you are allowed to walk on your visit. Failure to follow the rules could jeopardize further access to this beautiful location, so take heed!

The ridge trail is the easier and shorter of the two, extending about a mile west along the ridge on a ranch road to the end of the property. Those less sure of their footing or needing to avoid steep hills would be comfortable on this trail.

The creek trail drops steeply to Garrapata Creek, with a trail length of about 1.5-2 miles. During years and seasons of high water it is not safe, or allowed, to cross the creek, which shortens the out-and-back route. The trail is on a service road with decent footing, but is very steep in places.