This is the "general" Hotspot for use of those driving through Fort Hunter Liggett but not stopping to survey any specific locations, or for historical checklists without specific locations, or surveys of Fort Hunter Liggett, by permission or permit, to areas not generally open to the public. The public access points to Fort Hunter Liggett are Jolon Road, on the east side (sometimes there is manned gate there), and Nacimiento-Fergusson Road on the west side. Typically, a visitor would drive through the Fort on these two roads to get to, or coming from, Highway 1 on the coast.

Nacimiento-Fergusson Road is current closed at the border of Fort Hunter Liggett and Los Padres National Forest, and there is no access to or from the coast. This is due to fires and floods; no re-opening time has yet been posted.

There are five more specific Hotspots, and if you spend time birding one or more of these, please use that specific Hotspots and stay within its defined boundaries.  Three of the specific Hotspots are lakes or ponds, as bodies of water are scarce here: Mission Road pond, Del Venturi pond, and Lower Stony Reservoir. There have been times when Fort Hunter Liggett is having Army training, and even those driving on paved public roads are not permitted to stop and view any of these wetlands. Another specific Hotspot is the riparian corridor along the San Antonio River as the major bridge crossing (it is usually okay to stop there, but, or course, not on the bridge). The final specific Hotspot is Mission San Antonio de Padua, generally open to the public daily, and the "cantonment" area, which is fenced and entry is primarily for Army and Army-related civilian use. There public hotels within the cantonment as well.

The typical visit -- a drive through Fort Hunter Liggett enroute to or from the coast -- is via paved road through extensive oak savanna. The habitat is well-preserved within the Fort, and holds some of the highest concentrations of oak savanna birds: Yellow-billed Magpie, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse, and Western Bluebird. Summer breeders include Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Bullock's Oriole. One may encounter Golden Eagle or Lawrence's Goldfinch, and there are specific sites in the oak savanna where Chipping Sparrow breeds (e.g., about a mile west of the San Antonio River crossing on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road). However, be aware that when Army manuevours are underway, you may not be able to stop and pull-off the road, and may be ticketed if you do so.