(Continued from Alum Rock Park page.)
Wildlife is also common on the upper trails. The black -tailed deer here seem docile and calm. Blue jays are abundant, as are ground squirrels. There are also rare sightings of bobcats, mountain lions, and the western screech owl.
Whatever you do, don't go off the main trails. Poison oak is littered throughout the hillside, along with star thistle. Black sage and hummingbird sage also are common.
History
Established in 1872, Alum Rock is the oldest municipal park in California. Its history gives the park an almost mystical quality. Mineral baths from the early 20th century, when the park was a nationally renowned spa, still run with milky-white water that smells of sulfur, though they're closed to the public now. Grottos dot the park along the canyon floor.
Before the park's creation, the valley was home to the Ohlone Indians. The park gets it name from the large rock on the valley floor. First thought to be made of Alum, a chemical compound consisting of aluminum and potassium, the large rock is now known to be manganese. Still, Manganese Rock Park doesn't have the same ring to it.
The park maintained its many man-made attractions until the 1970's, when overuse from the fast-growing Santa Clara Valley forced the spa to close, focusing instead on the park's natural qualities.
—Ryan Willard
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