With over 30 miles of trails, there’s lots to … We encountered a lot of bike riders, and a few runners and dog walkers. Sat 7 March 2020 ... Almaden Quicksilver County Park is located at:21785 Almaden Rd San Jose, CA 95120. Pretty steep in places. Hiked about 3 miles. Was shaded for at least 2/3 of the hike and was very enjoyable. At over 8 miles with substantial elevation gain, this is a rugged but satisfying hike into the history of the South Bay before it became famous as Silicon Valley. It's one of my favorite places, especially in the rain. Almaden Quicksilver County Park has the rolling hills and native oaks typical of Southern San Jose. It is also steeped in California history. This trail attracted more than just hikers. Neighborhood parking at the trailhead and a few porta potty‘s towards the beginning of the trail. Took us about 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete and was right on point at 8.2 miles. There are a lot of people on this hike. The Mine Hill Trail continues north to meet the northern end of the Guadalupe Trail and the New Almaden Trail crossing. Almaden Quicksilver County Park - Mine Hill Trail is a 4.3 mile (10,000-step) route located near San Jose, California, USA. Lots of ticks out. The northern part of the park has a suburban feel, while the southern part is more rugged and a … Mine Hill Trail in Almaden Quicksilver Park was slightly busy, but I believe it was due to the fact that hiking is one of the few things open right now. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. The trail is a mix of sun and shade. The most popular trails are Mine Hill Trail and New Almaden Trail. Trail was very stroller friendly. Almaden Quicksilver McAbee Mine Trail New Almaden Trail is a 9.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near San Jose, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate.
Great trail if you're looking for distance. Trails.com member Ming Y. recently completed Mine Hill Trail. Some mountain bikers. Mine Hill Trail Loop is a 7.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near San Jose, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. http://www.sccvote.org/portal/site/parks/parksarticle?path=%252Fv7%252FParks%2520and%2520Recreation%. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. There are some interesting old mines on the April Trail which is a small loop off this route and at the Cristobol Mine adjacent to Mine Hill Trail. Healthy Trails Hike in Almaden Quicksilver County Park September 11, 2011 / 1 Comment / in Recreation / by Therese Swan Join a Park Docent on a moderately challenging 4.5-mile hike along the Wood Road, Castillero, and Mine Hill Trails. ... 7.1 mi 11.4 km #4 Mine Hill Trail. This section of the trail continues east where it intersects with (and continues past) the Randol Trail. See all Almaden Quicksilver County Park trails. It starts at the Hacienda entrance in New Almaden and runs almost the entire length of the park along its main spine for 6.5 miles to the park's northern entrance at McAbee Road. Mine Hill Trail runs between the main park entrance in New Almaden and the westernmost point open to bikes, where it connects with Randol Trail.In elevation terms, it's a straight up-and-down, with an uninterrupted 1,100 ft. climb for first three miles followed by … Mine Hill Trail, here nearly level, reaches a signed junction with Castillero Trail at about 4.93 miles. Parking is in a neighborhood. This isn't a hike with scenic views. The northern part of the park has a suburban feel, while … Park hours: 8 a.m. to sunset. Campbell Hikers, a group of Promatchers and their friends, invite you to join our Hike Around the Bay meetup. All trails in the park are also open to pet owners to walk their dogs on leash. Didn’t quite make it to the old Mercury mines. The Guadalupe Trail, which starts at a junction with the Mine Hill Trail and the New Almaden Trail, heads west and drops down into the valley of Guadalupe Creek. The Hacienda Trail, in the southern half of the park Located in the high hills above suburban Almaden Valley, Almaden Quicksilver is a very scenic park with a nice blend of oak woodland and open meadows. 16.4mi — 1h 55m Great ascent at the beginning. There are some interesting old mines on the April Trail which is a small loop off this route and at the Cristobol Mine adjacent to Mine Hill Trail. Mine Hill trail Almaden Quicksilver County Park is recognized as a National Historic District because of the ruins from over 130 years of mining (1845-1976). Good workout overall. 6.2 mi 10.0 km #1 New Almaden Trail. Second half down was pretty uneven. Started the hike at about 8:30am on a hot day in July. Currently there is a trail closure of Randol Trail, which makes planning a route a little more tricky – it either ends up just as a short one, or a bit longer than anticipated! Be careful of poison ivy along the second half. No restrooms in between. I hiked counterclockwise, total of 9 miles which took me 3 hours. Historic buildings and interpretive panels tell the story of the community that once occupied these hills. ... Great day of exploring side trails at Almaden Quicksilver. It doesn't have too many bike-legal trails, and all that are bike-legal are fire roads. Contact the park: 408-268-3883
A broad, well-maintained trail that traverses Almaden Quicksilver Park. Intermediate. Find the best walking trails near you in Pacer App. On average it takes 44 minutes to complete this trail. This route actually goes down a few different trails and doesn't fully follow the mine trail so be wary of that if trying to follow sign markers. If you bring your dog, check regularly throughout hike and after for ticks. Daniel E. Porter, Intern / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 5 of 7 The Mine Hill Trail at the Almaden Quicksilver County Park in San Jose rewards hikers with views of the city. The park is the site of over 135 years of mining activities, former… The site is home to the richest mercury mine in North America, producing over 83 million pounds of mercury (quicksilver) during its operations. There are several hills to climb on this trail as well. Parked in neighborhoods near trail head no problems. See all Almaden Quicksilver County Park trails. I imagine it can get pretty hot in the afternoon during summer. Mostly fire road with some sections of single-track trail as options. Almaden Quick Silver Mine Hill Loop Trail. Trails in Almaden Quicksilver County Park - 18. The San Cristobal mine shaft gave me major spooky vibes! Nice at all times of year. Three years before gold was discovered in California, the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine was already refining cinnabar for the purpose of extracting mercury, making it the first mining operation in the state. All said and done my watch GPS told me the full trail was closer to 10 miles. Our short hair pit had about 15 total on him. The Site was known to the Ohlone for its cinnabar long before a Mexican settler became aware of the ores in 1820. Quicksilver Park contained some of the world's most productive mercury mines and processing furnaces in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Strenuous at places and steep at the end. The first half is very hot without shadows. The trail was entirely ours until 9 AM, when we started noticing incoming traffic increase. This route has an elevation gain of about 518.2 ft and is rated as medium. Go 0.5 miles on Almaden Road to Mockingbird Hill Lane, turn right and go 0.4 miles to the parking area. Trails are wide and in great condition. For most part the trails are wide and not too steep. Great views! The Ridge Trail follows old mining roads over these hills, where you can imagine New Almaden Mine’s heyday. Way too crowded though. ... Quicksilver Loop on Mine Hill Trail - … Hiking the New Almaden and Mine Hill Trail Loop by David Baselt June 29, 2011 / in Recreation / by Therese Swan One of our outdoors-loving loyal readers sent us this fantastic article on Redwood Hikes featuring the New Almaden and Mine Hill Trails in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. This park is the site of the first quicksilver (mercury) mining operation in California, and also the most productive mine in state history. Hotels near New Almaden Quicksilver Mine: (9.20 mi) Hotel Los Gatos - A Greystone Hotel (9.03 mi) Best Western Inn of Los Gatos (5.78 mi) Hayes Mansion San Jose, Curio Collection by Hilton (9.62 mi) Toll House Hotel (8.78 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose; View all hotels near New Almaden Quicksilver Mine on Tripadvisor The trails can be a bit crowded on beautiful spring weekends. Find the best walking trails near you in Pacer App. Don't forget sunscreen as there in't enough shade. Almaden Quicksilver County Park has 126 walking trails. Definitely good option if you are looking for moderately long hike. Find the best walking trails near you in Pacer App. This was just a little short hike at Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is located in south San Jose, in the town of New Almaden. It is true that it has become too popular and congested lately ~ but it's nature and we all should enjoy our beautiful state! There is one at the parking lot that was locked off-park hours The Mine Hill Trail is like the park's main highway. Elevations in the park range from around 400' at … Almaden Quicksilver is an old Mercury mine that was taken over by the county park system in the 1970's and has since been slowly restored. The Mine Hill region of the park includes English Camp, San Cristobal mine, a short section of mineshaft and the hulk of a large processing plant. Almaden … 2nd half of the trail is much more exciting than the first half. About 9 miles. Almaden Quicksilver Park is a large county park. Almaden Quicksilver County Park has 102 mountain-biking trails. You can reach the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum at (408) 918-7770. Overall, very much enjoyed this hike and would do again/recommend. New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum at Casa Grande The museum presents visitors with an interesting array of exhibits about the history of mercury mining and the lifestyles of mining communities at New Almaden. A mine diorama duplicates the interior of … Mine Hill is a 5 mile popular dirt/gravel road trail located near San Jose California. Great 8 mile trail run with challenging climbs and descents. The Ridge Trail follows old mining roads over these hills, where you can imagine New Almaden Mine’s heyday. Image from eventbrite.com. 16.4mi — 1h 55m The park may be accessed from three areas. It doesn't have too many bike-legal trails, and all that are bike-legal are fire roads. Trails.com member Russ M. recently completed Senador Mine Trail. Would agree with the rating of "hard". Almaden Valley, CA 4 2.9 mi 4.7 km #5 Hacienda Trail. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions and has a moderate overall physical rating with a 916 ft blue climb. The New Almaden Trail, which has been approaching along the hillsides from the south, crosses the Mine Hill Trail and drops down through a narrow valley to its end at the Senador Mine Trail. Dog friendly, moderately crowded, and I love how the hills are more spread out. The abandoned structures are fun to see. New Almaden, Mine Hill and Guadalupe Trail Loop is a 15.0 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near San Jose, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. For Hike Number 21, I ventured just a few miles south of Silicon Valley to Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Three years before gold was discovered in California, the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine was already refining cinnabar for the purpose of extracting mercury, making it the first mining operation in the state. Pretty exposed. Driving directions: From Highway 85 in San Jose, take the Almaden Expressway exit south 4.5 miles to Almaden Road. Absolutely gorgeous views of the Bay Are and Santa Cruz mountains. These trails range from 0.1 to 18.9 miles in length. One of the best trails I’ve done since moving to San Jose. The New Almaden Quicksilver mine in San Jose California, is the oldest and most productive Quicksilver (i.e., mercury) mine in the U.S. The Hacienda Trail, in the southern half of the park Located in the high hills above suburban Almaden Valley, Almaden Quicksilver is a very scenic park with a nice blend of oak woodland and open meadows. Elevation gain and loss are gradual so it's a good trail for mountain biking. It traverses Quicksilver Park from the McAbee entrance to the Hacienda entrance. These trails range from 0 to 12.7 miles in length. Santa Rosa, Sky Lane and Valley View Trails, Buena Vista, New Almaden, and Randol Trail, Viri O. Norton, Hacienda, English Camp and Randol Trail Loop, Hacienda, Randol, and Buena Vista Trail Loop, Buena Vista Trail to Virl O Norton Trail Loop, Webb Canyon, New Almaden and Mine Hill Loop, Webb Canyon, New Almaden, Cinnabar, Mine Hill, Randol and Prospect #3 Loop, Hacienda Trail, Church Hill, and Mine Hill Trail Loop, Bay Area Ridge Trail: Almaden Quicksilver County Park, New Almaden, Mine Hill and Guadalupe Trail Loop. Hotels near New Almaden Quicksilver Mine: (9.20 mi) Hotel Los Gatos - A Greystone Hotel (9.03 mi) Best Western Inn of Los Gatos (5.78 mi) Hayes Mansion San Jose, Curio Collection by Hilton (9.62 mi) Toll House Hotel (8.78 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites San Jose; View all hotels near New Almaden Quicksilver Mine on Tripadvisor Helps you remember life in the valley before technology. Especially wonderful in the spring! Had great views of the city. Moderate trail I ran it end to end in light rain may 2019. The Mockingbird Hill entrance is accessed off Mockingbird Hill Lane. A broad, well-maintained trail that traverses Almaden Quicksilver Park. Nice hike on old roads and single track trail. Easy. Almaden Quicksilver County Park Park Trails - Northside Senador Mine Herreschoff Furnace Remains. I hit just over 10 but that was with going off trail for about a half a mile. Near Almaden Valley, California. Intermediate. Almaden Quicksilver County Park - Hacienda Trail is a 1.8 mile (4,000-step) route located near San Jose, California, USA. Good workout! Great views of the old mining rigs. Historic buildings and interpretive panels tell the story of the community that once occupied these hills. Continue straight, now on Castillero Trail (Mine Hill Trail, which veers to the left, is an optional route). Add Your Trails. Almaden Quicksilver County Park is riddled with mine shafts and tunnels—vestiges of the lucrative “quicksilver” mines that operated here for 135 years. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. 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. Look for antique cars that have fallen off the side of the road. ... Great day of exploring side trails at Almaden Quicksilver. Has several panoramic view points. Meeting Point / Trailhead: Near Picnic Table, Hacienda Staging area, Almaden Quicksilver County Park is located at: 21785 Almaden Rd San Jose, CA 95120 Details In the Almaden Quicksilver County Park part of the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department over looks Silicon Valley with 4,163 acres, occupying a majority of Capitancillos Ridge. The trails in the park are primarily fire roads, with the exception of the 6-mile long New Almaden Trail and a few short trails such as the Prospect #3 Trail and Yellow Kid Trail. Near Almaden Valley, California. Overall nice hike. Started trail counterclockwise, moderately busy pockets of people (started 11a). 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