Birding By Car Stop 4

A mountain bluebird perched in a grassland.

NPS/Corey Lycopolus

Quick Facts

Amenities

31 listed

Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Backcountry Permits, Benches/Seating, Bicycle - Rack, Braille, Cellular Signal, Electric Car Charging Station, Entrance Passes for Sale, Fire Extinguisher, First Aid Kit Available, Food/Drink - Snacks, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Junior Ranger Activity, Junior Ranger Booklet Available, Large Print, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Permits Issued, Pets Allowed, Picnic Table, Recycling, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Wheelchair Accessible

At the entrance station, we are surrounded by montane grasslands. Across the road is a small, forested lava dome called Cerro La Jara. If you're looking for a short hike with lots of wildlife watching opportunities, there's a wonderful 1.4-mile loop trail around the lava dome. In the summer, these grasslands explode with wildflowers of all types. In the winter, they get covered up by several feet of snow.

Watch for these bird species at this location:

• Winter: Mountain bluebird
• Spring: Barn swallow
• Summer: American kestrel
• Fall: American crow