Almaden
Quicksilver County Park,
Santa Clara County Parks,
Santa Clara County
In brief:
7.6 mile loop through oaks and grassland at a former mercury mine site.
Getting there:
From Interstate 280 in Santa Clara County, take CA 85 south (toward Gilroy). After
about 12 miles, exit at Almaden Expressway, stay in either of the ramp's two right
lanes, make the first left, then the next right onto Almaden Expressway. Drive
about 4 miles, then turn right onto Almaden Road. Drive on Almaden about
3 miles to the Hacienda Trailhead on the right side of the road. (If you
reach the Hicks Road intersection you've gone too far.)
Trailhead details:
No entrance or parking fees. The Hacienda Trailhead is a large unpaved lot (can
get crowded with horse trailers). Two portable toilets are located near the trailer
on the north side of the lot. Maps available at the information signboard. There
are other trailheads at McAbee Road, Webb Canyon Road (both street parking only),
and Mockingbird Hill Lane. Public transportation is available: visit Transit
Info for details.
Gas, food, and lodging:
Pay phones, gas, stores, and restaurants back near CA 85. No camping.
Rules:
Some trails are multi-use, others are restricted to hikers and equestrians, and
a few are designated hiking only. Pets on leash are permitted. The park is open
from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 7.6 mile loop hike is moderate. Trailhead elevation is about 700 feet.
The park's highest elevation is about 1740 feet. The featured hike climbs in two
stages from the trailhead to about 1600 feet, with one brief moderately steep
trail. One section on the return leg descends steeply in sections. Total elevation
change for this hike is about 1200 feet.
The Official Story:
SCCP's Almaden
Quicksilver page (click Find a Park, then Almaden Quicksilver)
Park office 408-268-3883
Map & book choices/More Info:
• Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to get to the park.
• Map
from SCCP (download the Almaden Quicksilver pdf).
• 
This hike is described
and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco, by Jane Huber (yup,
that's me, the creator of this website). Order
this book from Amazon.com.
• Afoot and Afield: San Francisco Bay Area, by David Weintraub (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a great map and descriptions of an Almaden
Quicksilver hike.
• South Bay Trails, by Jean Rusmore, Betsy Crowder, and Frances
Spangle (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a simple map and trail descriptions.
• The Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Book, by Tom Taber, has a map and
park description (order
this book from Amazon.com).
• View photos at the Wildflowers
of Almaden Quicksilver County Park website.
• There are lots of photos and more park info on Ron
Horii's Almaden Quicksilver site.
• 
Geology Trails
of Northern California, by Robin C. Johnson and Dot Lofstrom (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a nice geological description of this park.
Almaden Quicksilver in a nutshell
-- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.
View
photos from this hike.
At the Hacienda Trailhead to 
Almaden
Quicksilver County Park, you're bombarded with warning signs. Don't eat the
fish (too much mercury in the water). Don't hike off trail (old mine shafts
and whatnot). Don't climb on any structures (they're old, and also may harbor
rodents with Hanta Virus!). But don't be daunted, because this is a large
and spectacular park with abundant hiking trails and a fascinating history.
Almaden Quicksilver occupies the site
of the first mining enterprise in California (check out the historical marker
across the street from the Hacienda Trailhead entrance). It became the richest
mercury mine in North America, and the most productive mine in California history. Cinnabar,
a mineral composed of sulfur and mercury, was used by the Ohlone Indians for painting
and religious ceremonies. They introduced cinnabar to early settlers, who heated
the mineral to release the mercury. You may know of mercury as the silver
stuff in thermometers, but it's also essential to the mining of gold and silver,
and historically was used in the production of hats (think "mad as a hatter"). 
Quicksilver
is another word for mercury, referring to its liquid properties (it's the only
metal that is liquid at room temperature) and shiny silver color. Mining
began here in the 1840's, and the New Almaden Mines (later, after a shift in ownership
the name was changed to the Quicksilver Mining Company) became a thriving area
with several settlements, including Englishtown and Spanishtown, a company store,
and school. By 1865 there were 700 buildings, and 1,800 people living on Mine
Hill. By 1927, with the cinnabar largely depleted, large-scale mining ceased
and a only few small operators continued to process mercury. When, in the
1970's, mercury was found to be an environmental toxin, all mining ceased. Santa
Clara County acquired the first parcel of what is now Almaden Quicksilver County
Park in 1973. More land has been added, and the Mine Hill area, previously classified
as a hazardous area and closed to the public since its acquisition in 1978, is
now cleaned up and accessible. If you want to learn more about the mining
legacy of Almaden Quicksilver, visit the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, at
21350 Almaden Road (you'll drive past it on the way to the Hacienda Trailhead).
This is a park you will probably want to visit many times.
Although it is popular, because of the (relatively) remote location, it is one
of the quieter parks in the bay area. On many trails you won't hear chainsaws
and other aural reminders of urban life. In spring, Almaden Quicksilver is famous
for grand displays of wildflowers, but the park is pretty in autumn as well, when
bigleaf maples, and black and blue oaks shed their colorful leaves. Anyone
with a curiosity about mining and local history will enjoy the remnants of the
mines. And with over 33 miles of hiking trails, you can design many different
loop hikes of varying lengths.
For this featured hike, start at the Hacienda
Trailhead. Walk around the gate and uphill on Mine Hill Trail. This trail,
a wide dirt road, was used as a road during years of the mining operations. In
fact, you may notice about 0.85 mile up this trail, two old crashed cars down
the slope on the 
east
(right) side of the trail (click
here to see a photo). A few steps up Mine Hill Trail there's an interpretive
display on the left side with some old photos and a history of the mining operations. A
few valley oak mingle with California bay and big-leaf maple near a creek on the
left. The multi-use trail makes a sharp turn right and climbs at a moderate grade,
with coast live oak, blue oak, poison oak, sagebrush, and coyote brush along the
sides. In spring, you might see bluedicks, filarees, vetch, buttercups, blue
and white lupine, and fiddlenecks. At 0.39 mile, you'll reach a signed junction,
with Hacienda Trail departing to the right, and English Camp Trail setting off
to the left. Continue straight on Mine Hill Trail.
On a clear day the views to the east (Mount Hamilton)
and back behind you to the west (the Sierra Azul) are outstanding, and the stillness
of the well-graded climb through California bay, coast live oak, toyon, California
coffeeberry, chamise, and buckeye is only broken 
by
the buzz of airplanes and bird cries. A few ravines on the left side of the
trail, dry in the summer and fall, become tiny waterfalls when the winter rains
begin in earnest. From time to time roadcuts expose sections of dirt and rock,
giving mineral hounds a close-up look at this park's geology. In spring, look
for manroot, shooting stars, monkeyflower, mule-ear sunflowers, woodland star,
milkmaids, and miner's lettuce on the left side of Mine Hill Trail. At 1.13 miles,
after climbing about 300 feet, Mine Hill Trail reaches Capehorn Pass. A picnic
table at this flat spot makes a good place to consult the map, and drink some
water. From this signed junction Hacienda Trail runs north through chaparral,
then cuts east and loops back south to meet up with Mine Hill Trail. This
is a good option if you're ready to turn back down the hill. You could also
continue on Mine Hill Trail, turning onto Castillero Trail, then picking up English
Camp Trail, for a shorter loop. Turn right, pass the picnic table, then
turn left onto Randol Trail.
To be blunt, this
is my least favorite trail at Almaden Quicksilver. There are pretty sections along
the trail, but thanks to urban sprawl a lot of noise drifts into the park from
nearby housing developments and streets on the northeast side of the mountain.
Nonetheless, Randol is part of a convenient loop, and delivers visitors to a very
scenic part of Almaden Quicksilver. The wide, nearly level multi-use fire road
heads northwest, passing some historical mining sites and drifting through a variety
of plant communities. Initially Randol Trail is lined with chamise, sagebrush,
coyote brush, and coast live oak. Look for zigadene and saxifrage in early spring
here. As the trail sweeps around the broad mouth of a canyon, there are unobstructed
views to gigantic piles of rock debris on the right. At 1.60 miles, you'll arrive
at the site of Day Tunnel. An interpretive sign explains the origin of the tunnel,
which has been sealed. A few steps later you'll arrive at a signed junction with
Day Tunnel Trail, on the left. Continue straight on Randol Trail.
Still keeping to an 
easy
grade, Randol Trail creeps along the hillside, arching around another broad canyon
and mining site. At 2.10 miles, Randol Trail breaks off to the right, while Santa
Isabel continues straight at a signed junction. Either fork is an option; Randol
is about twice as long. Continue straight on Santa Isabel Trail.
When I hiked here in March, there were great drifts
of baby blue eyes and sprinklings of shooting stars on the left. Multi-use Santa
Isabel Trail ascends slightly through the shade of a California bay grove, then
immediately drops back into coast live oaks, and grassland marked by a stand of
lovely blue oaks. At 2.51 miles, Santa Isabel ends at the other end of Randol
Trail. Bear left onto Randol.
You might see johhny-jump-ups and blue and white
lupine along the trail in spring. California bay, coast live, and blue oak are
common, but Randol Trail also passes through sunnier stretches where coyote brush
is dominant. Gradually, the vegetation shifts to chaparral, and black sage, manzanita,
and 
chamise
makes appearances. After one last pass through some shade, Randol Trail emerges
into grassland. The hillside rolls away on the right, revealing long views east.
At 3.63 miles, you'll reach a signed junction with Prospect #3 Trail. Turn
left.
The hiking-only path ascends at a sharp pace, through
grassland dotted with massive black and blue oaks. Wildflowers bask in the sunshine
here, and you might see patches of small flowered linanthus, johnny-jump-ups,
popcorn flower, filaree, and fiddleneck, as well as smatterings of blue-eyed grass,
blue and white lupine, and bluedicks. The sojourn through oak grassland ends as
the trail veers into the woods. The grade is moderate, with some steep sections,
as Prospect #3 Trail ascends through poison oak, black oak, toyon, and coast live
oak. At 4.16 miles, Prospect #3 Trail steps out into grassland, then ends at a
signed junction with Mine Hill Trail. Turn left.
This is a picturesque 
setting
with lots to admire. In spring there are colorful blasts of blooms in the grassland,
from plants such as California poppy, popcorn flower, blue and white lupine, johnny-jump-up,
and fiddleneck. Graceful oaks beckon from the fringes of the ridge. And views
unfold to the west encompassing the Sierra Azul, with Mount Umunhum's artificial
knob prominent. Mine Hill Trail gently climbs along the ridge, where trees block
views to the east. Coast live oaks are common along the multi-use trail, but blue
oaks, conspicuous in autumn and spring, can be glimpsed on the sloping hillsides
to the right. The trail curves left, avoiding a short climb along the ridge by
angling across the hillside, through the shade of California bays. When Mine Hill
Trail leaves the woods, coyote brush lines the trail, nearly obscuring a signed
junction, at 4.87 miles, with tiny Catherine Tunnel Trail, on the left. Continue
straight.
Mine Hill Trail, here nearly level, reaches a signed
junction with Castillero Trail at about 4.93 miles. The junction, called Bull
Run on the map, is a logical place for a rest stop, 
with
a few shaded picnic benches on the right. Continue straight, now on Castillero
Trail (Mine Hill Trail, which veers to the left, is an optional route).
Castillero Trail, open to hikers, equestrians, and
cyclists, winds levelly through coast live oak, a few madrone, and patches of
grassland. I happened upon a rattlesnake, stretched across the trail, on my March
2002 hike. Invasive broom appears on the sides of the trail, accompanying sagebrush,
poison oak, coyote brush, and California coffeeberry. Castillero Trail crests,
then starts an easy descent. Old mine buildings are visible downslope on the right.
The trail curves left near a tall eucalyptus tree and ramshackle old building.
At 5.68 miles, Hidalgo Cemetery Trail heads out on the right. Continue left,
downhill on Castillero Trail.
The broad trail continues to wind downhill at an
easy grade. At 6.03 miles, you'll reach the edge of English Camp, and a series
of signed junctions. Yellow Kid Tunnel Trail heads doubles back to the right,
toward Hidalgo 
Cemetery
Trail, while Castillero Trail bends left, on its way to connect with Mine Hill
Trail. Continue straight, to the right of the flagpole, downhill. A few
old buildings stand crumbling on the right, as well as uphill on the left. There
are a few picnic tables nearby, and this is a good place for a last rest before
completing the final leg of the hike. You can explore the area, but return
to the fire road heading southeast, downhill past the picnic tables, English Camp
Trail.
English Camp Trail, open to hikers and equestrians
only, descends. A grassy hillside on the left side of the trail is a sure bet
for spring flowers including blue and white lupine, shooting stars, redmaids,
California buttercups, and fiddlenecks. A few coast live oaks fail to provide
adequate shade on a hot afternoon. At 6.23 miles, a road sets out on the right
side of the trail -- this is the "coming soon" Deep Gulch Trail, which
when open, will be an excellent hot weather alternate descent back to the trailhead. Continue
straight on English Camp Trail (this junction was still not signed on my 2003
visit).
English Camp Trail, a bit steep in sections, drops down
to run above a creekbed shaded by California bay and a few maple, then descends
along the edge of a deep canyon, with coyote brush, toyon, black sage, and manzanita
bordering the path. Clematis tangles itself in trailside shrubs and trees.
Unfortunately, this trail follows a string of power lines down the hill, a less
than lovely hiking accompaniment. The mountains of the Sierra Azul stand
in a rugged cluster to the west. There is one brief but unwelcome uphill
stretch. Gradually the vegetation shifts back to chaparral, grassland and oaks,
with bluewitch nightshade, sagebrush, and monkeyflower accompanying blue and coast
live oak. At 7.26 miles, English Camp Trail ends at a signed junction with Mine
Hill Trail. Turn right and retrace your steps to the trailhead.
Total distance: 7.66 miles
Last hiked: Thursday, March
28, 2002
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
Almaden
Quicksilver County Park, you're bombarded with warning signs. Don't eat the
fish (too much mercury in the water). Don't hike off trail (old mine shafts
and whatnot). Don't climb on any structures (they're old, and also may harbor
rodents with Hanta Virus!). But don't be daunted, because this is a large
and spectacular park with abundant hiking trails and a fascinating history. 
Quicksilver
is another word for mercury, referring to its liquid properties (it's the only
metal that is liquid at room temperature) and shiny silver color. Mining
began here in the 1840's, and the New Almaden Mines (later, after a shift in ownership
the name was changed to the Quicksilver Mining Company) became a thriving area
with several settlements, including Englishtown and Spanishtown, a company store,
and school. By 1865 there were 700 buildings, and 1,800 people living on Mine
Hill. By 1927, with the cinnabar largely depleted, large-scale mining ceased
and a only few small operators continued to process mercury. When, in the
1970's, mercury was found to be an environmental toxin, all mining ceased. Santa
Clara County acquired the first parcel of what is now Almaden Quicksilver County
Park in 1973. More land has been added, and the Mine Hill area, previously classified
as a hazardous area and closed to the public since its acquisition in 1978, is
now cleaned up and accessible. If you want to learn more about the mining
legacy of Almaden Quicksilver, visit the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, at
21350 Almaden Road (you'll drive past it on the way to the Hacienda Trailhead).
east
(right) side of the trail (click
here to see a photo). A few steps up Mine Hill Trail there's an interpretive
display on the left side with some old photos and a history of the mining operations. A
few valley oak mingle with California bay and big-leaf maple near a creek on the
left. The multi-use trail makes a sharp turn right and climbs at a moderate grade,
with coast live oak, blue oak, poison oak, sagebrush, and coyote brush along the
sides. In spring, you might see bluedicks, filarees, vetch, buttercups, blue
and white lupine, and fiddlenecks. At 0.39 mile, you'll reach a signed junction,
with Hacienda Trail departing to the right, and English Camp Trail setting off
to the left. Continue straight on Mine Hill Trail. 
by
the buzz of airplanes and bird cries. A few ravines on the left side of the
trail, dry in the summer and fall, become tiny waterfalls when the winter rains
begin in earnest. From time to time roadcuts expose sections of dirt and rock,
giving mineral hounds a close-up look at this park's geology. In spring, look
for manroot, shooting stars, monkeyflower, mule-ear sunflowers, woodland star,
milkmaids, and miner's lettuce on the left side of Mine Hill Trail. At 1.13 miles,
after climbing about 300 feet, Mine Hill Trail reaches Capehorn Pass. A picnic
table at this flat spot makes a good place to consult the map, and drink some
water. From this signed junction Hacienda Trail runs north through chaparral,
then cuts east and loops back south to meet up with Mine Hill Trail. This
is a good option if you're ready to turn back down the hill. You could also
continue on Mine Hill Trail, turning onto Castillero Trail, then picking up English
Camp Trail, for a shorter loop. Turn right, pass the picnic table, then
turn left onto Randol Trail.
is my least favorite trail at Almaden Quicksilver. There are pretty sections along
the trail, but thanks to urban sprawl a lot of noise drifts into the park from
nearby housing developments and streets on the northeast side of the mountain.
Nonetheless, Randol is part of a convenient loop, and delivers visitors to a very
scenic part of Almaden Quicksilver. The wide, nearly level multi-use fire road
heads northwest, passing some historical mining sites and drifting through a variety
of plant communities. Initially Randol Trail is lined with chamise, sagebrush,
coyote brush, and coast live oak. Look for zigadene and saxifrage in early spring
here. As the trail sweeps around the broad mouth of a canyon, there are unobstructed
views to gigantic piles of rock debris on the right. At 1.60 miles, you'll arrive
at the site of Day Tunnel. An interpretive sign explains the origin of the tunnel,
which has been sealed. A few steps later you'll arrive at a signed junction with
Day Tunnel Trail, on the left. Continue straight on Randol Trail.
easy
grade, Randol Trail creeps along the hillside, arching around another broad canyon
and mining site. At 2.10 miles, Randol Trail breaks off to the right, while Santa
Isabel continues straight at a signed junction. Either fork is an option; Randol
is about twice as long. Continue straight on Santa Isabel Trail.
chamise
makes appearances. After one last pass through some shade, Randol Trail emerges
into grassland. The hillside rolls away on the right, revealing long views east.
At 3.63 miles, you'll reach a signed junction with Prospect #3 Trail. Turn
left.
setting
with lots to admire. In spring there are colorful blasts of blooms in the grassland,
from plants such as California poppy, popcorn flower, blue and white lupine, johnny-jump-up,
and fiddleneck. Graceful oaks beckon from the fringes of the ridge. And views
unfold to the west encompassing the Sierra Azul, with Mount Umunhum's artificial
knob prominent. Mine Hill Trail gently climbs along the ridge, where trees block
views to the east. Coast live oaks are common along the multi-use trail, but blue
oaks, conspicuous in autumn and spring, can be glimpsed on the sloping hillsides
to the right. The trail curves left, avoiding a short climb along the ridge by
angling across the hillside, through the shade of California bays. When Mine Hill
Trail leaves the woods, coyote brush lines the trail, nearly obscuring a signed
junction, at 4.87 miles, with tiny Catherine Tunnel Trail, on the left. Continue
straight.
with
a few shaded picnic benches on the right. Continue straight, now on Castillero
Trail (Mine Hill Trail, which veers to the left, is an optional route). 
Cemetery
Trail, while Castillero Trail bends left, on its way to connect with Mine Hill
Trail. Continue straight, to the right of the flagpole, downhill. A few
old buildings stand crumbling on the right, as well as uphill on the left. There
are a few picnic tables nearby, and this is a good place for a last rest before
completing the final leg of the hike. You can explore the area, but return
to the fire road heading southeast, downhill past the picnic tables, English Camp
Trail.