Hellyer County Park is one of Santa Clara County’s parks, just off Highway 101 in San Jose. Wikipedia says the 178-acre park is home to the Hellyer Park Velodrome and Cottonwood Lake, with picnicking, hiking, fishing, biking and a playground. The paved Coyote Creek Parkway runs about 15 miles south from the park to Anderson Lake County Park, and the Coyote Creek Trail continues north under San Jose city parks.
Winter goose watch
This is the season for the park’s best show. The Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance’s self-guided trip covers November through January. It says the highlight is scanning the hundreds of Canada geese on the lake and lawns for a Cackling, Greater White-fronted, or even a rare Snow or Ross’s goose. The guide’s author recommends starting in the late morning. She has noticed the geese arriving around 10 a.m. in small groups of 10 to 20, so the lake can go from empty to crowded during one walk.
The guide suggests a 1-mile clockwise loop on the paved Cottonwood Lake Loop Trail, which has no elevation gain. Look for American coots, which have lobed rather than webbed feet, and ducks such as Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads and Canvasbacks. In the trees, watch for Yellow-rumped Warblers, Western Bluebirds and Red-breasted Sapsuckers. It adds that tule elk sometimes graze on the ridge to the east.
Know before you go
The Bird Alliance guide suggests parking in the playground lot near the lake, notes that the park charges parking fees and calls the route accessible on paved trails. It also notes that lost fishing line and hooks around the lake can hurt birds. Check Santa Clara County Parks for current fees and trail closures.
For another county park, see our Ed R. Levin County Park guide.