Gorgeous rolling hills, 35 miles of trail and remnants of a past immortalized in a Pulitzer Prize-winning book: that's Almaden Quicksilver County Park.
Twelve miles south of San Jose, in the foothills of the Sierra Azul range, rests 4,000 acres of land that once played a definitive role in California history. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is riddled with mine shafts and tunnels—vestiges of the lucrative “quicksilver” mines that operated here for 135 years. Only one of these tunnels is accessible today, and only for a few hundred spooky feet, but there’s plenty more to see.
If you’re looking to visit Almaden Quicksilver Park, here are some awesome trails.
At its peak, the area around the New Almaden mines was home to more than 1,800 miners and their families, and the park is littered with fascinating remnants of their lives and the mining operations that supported them.
Historic relics of the Gold Rush-era boom in mercury, or quicksilver, can be found throughout the park: An old brick chimney looms over the parking lot; a massive rotary furnace hunches beside a tree used to hang criminals; and a crumbling trestle balances over a mine shaft. Most of the tunnels have been sealed, but the entrance to the San Cristobal mine can still be safely explored.
A hike through Almaden Quicksilver is not only a great workout—it’s a uniquely tangible history lesson. The area's history was immortalized in Wallace Stegner's 1972 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Angle of Repose.
The park has multiple access points to trails that cover almost 35 miles through pastoral scenery, including some 25 equestrian-friendly miles and 10 miles open to mountain biking. Dogs on leash are welcome and poop bags are provided, but don’t forget to check your furry friend for ticks at the end of the day. Expect rolling hills, big skies and oak forest.
Prepare for plenty of sunshine, bring water, and grab one of the informational booklets at the parking lot trailheads, which provide trail guides and a fascinating guided walking tour of the historical sites.
GOOD FOR: History buffs, hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and anyone who likes wide-open spaces.
MIND THE TOXINS: Hiking in the park is perfectly safe, but local fish in the Guadalupe and Almaden reservoirs are toxic due to the land’s high mercury content. Also, the abandoned structures are off-limits because of the possibility of hantavirus. Stay behind the fences.
LOCALLY FAMOUS FOR: Wildflowers. Messes of them on the hillsides from March to May. Learn more about the Almaden wildflowers.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'LL: Also find time to visit the excellent Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum at historic Casa Grande near the entrance of the park. Click here for Mining Museum at Casa Grande hours and directions.
—Juliette Spirson
Learn more on the official Almaden Quicksilver County Park website, or by calling 408.268.3883. Find Almaden Quicksilver County Park on Google Maps.
Directions: Park entrances include Hacienda, Mockingbird Hill, McAbee and Hicks/Wood Road.
Hacienda Entrance: 21785 Almaden Rd, San Jose, CA. Located at the south end of New Almaden, this is the primary entrance to the park. To get there, exit the Almaden Expressway and go 3 miles along Almaden Road, through historic New Almaden and the museum at Casa Grande, to the unpaved parking lot on your right.
Mockingbird Hill Entrance: Heading south on Highway 85, take the Almaden Expressway exit 4.5 miles to Almaden Road. Proceed to Mockingbird Hill Lane, where you make a right into the parking area straight ahead.
McAbee Entrance: From Highway 85, take the Camden exit south to McAbee Road. Turn right and follow McAbee a short ways to Whispering Pines Drive; the entrance will be in front of you. Park along Whispering Pines (neighborhood).
Hicks/Wood Road Entrance: Found off of—you guessed it—Wood Road, this entry point is accessible from Highway 85's southern Camden Avenue exit. Make a right on Hicks Road and proceed for 6 miles to the Wood and Hicks Roads intersection. The parking lot is found on the left.
Deep Gulch Trail
3.2 miles out and back; 840 ft climbing; moderate to strenuous
A steep but short climb from the Hacienda entrance leading to picturesque English Camp.
Mockingbird Loop Trail
3.7 miles; 600 ft climbing; moderate
Starting at the Mockingbird Hill parking lot, this loop incorporates Hacienda and Randol Trails to make a nice (if steep in parts) circle on the north side of the park.
Click here for a map and guide detailing the historical trails in the park.
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