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Description
Mahon Park is a nice spot for a birding walk, if you happen to be in the area. One of the advantageous things about the park, is that many of its trails are elevated along ravine slopes, giving you good views high into the trees nearby.
Mahon Park has most of the species you would expect to find in a North Vancouver forest and park area, including Black-capped Chickadee Pacific Wren, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, American Robin, Anna's Hummingbird, Bushtit, Varied Thrush, Pine Siskin, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Spotted Towhee.
Its streams occasionally have Great Blue Heron, Mallard, American Dipper, and Belted Kingfisher. Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, and Barred Owl are fairly common sights / sounds as well.
Spring is the best time to visit, with waves of warblers, Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Swainson's Thrush, Western Flycatcher and White-crowned Sparrow.
Details
Access
You can access the trails of Mahon Park from several spots on both the east and west sides of the park. The trailhead between 17th and 18th Streets on Jones Avenue is a good starting location (street parking). You could also begin at the southern end off of West 13th (street parking). Just past Westview Elementary on West 17th is a good "halfway" entrance (street parking).
The parking lot next to the gravel field at Jones and 19th is a good spot as well when there are no sports games on. There are public washrooms here and you can also access the trails by heading west at the end of the parking lot.
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , ParkConditions
HillyCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
NoGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
SpringRoute
Narrow trailDifficulty walking trail
Average walkAccessible by
FootBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
The park is officially dog on-leash, though many of the locals walk their dogs off-leash.
There is a terrific coffee shop/bakery called Nomad nearby at Bewicke Ave. and 15th Street West. They don't provide disposable coffee cups, so bring your own if you plan to get it to go. There is lots of indoor and outdoor seating and it has a wonderful, warm atmosphere.