North of Sacramento

A visit to Bear Valley can produce a bird list similar to that of Sand Creek Road. One big difference here, however, is the year-round water in Bear Creek. Late winter and spring can produce wonderful wildflower displays, and Walker Ridge to the west has unique serpentine-adapted flora. In summer you may see North America’s largest dragonfly along Bear Creek—the giant darner.

Birding the site: From Highway 20, the first 6.5 miles wind along Bear Creek through oak woodland on a good quality gravel road. Keep an eye out for Greater Roadrunners. For the next 8 miles, the road opens into Bear Valley proper, and the avifauna changes from woodland to grassland species. At 14.2 miles from Highway 20, turn left on Brim Road. For 2.9 miles you will climb through oak woodland and chaparral. You will top out on Walker Ridge, a site known for its serpentine soils and endemic plants. McNab cypress and leather oaks are conspicuous. The bird list is similar to typical chaparral habitats. After exploring the ridge, you can go straight ahead for another 3.5 miles to Indian Valley Reservoir.

eBird Sightings (1 of 6 hotspots for the route)

Returning to Bear Valley Road, you can backtrack to Highway 20 or go north on Bear Valley Road until it becomes Leesville Road. From Brim Road, it is 15 miles back to Highway 20 via Leesville Road. The route is paved, but slow and winding in places. It is scenic, with a mix of woodland and more open habitat. Once you reach Highway 20, it is 9 miles to Interstate 5.

Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 5 north (59 miles from Highway 50) to Williams. Exit at Highway 20 (exit 578) and head west  for 18.5 miles. Turn right on Bear Valley Road (0.1 mile past Highway 16). Alternately, for a more scenic route through the Capay Valley and Cache Creek Canyon, take Interstate 5 north from Sacramento for 21 miles, through Woodland, to the Esparto/Highway 16 exit (exit 541). Go west for 2.9 miles and make a right toward Esparto and the Capay Valley on Highway 16. Follow Highway 16 for 47 miles to Highway 20. Turn left and then make a right after 0.1 mile on Bear Valley Road.

Chris Conard and Kimya Lambert