Almaden Quicksilver Park
Hacienda Trail to Mine Hill Loop
Photos by Patrick Kneeland and a few by Dawn
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About Almaden Quicksilver County Park: Almaden Quicksilver County Park is the original site of over 135 years of mining activities where at one time more than 1,800 miners and their families lived and worked. The park has 3977 acres of mixed scenery and remnants of the mining era and operations which happened during the latter part of the 19th Century. Almaden Quicksilver Park has over 33 mles of hiking and biking trails and is also a popular neighborhood park for pet owners to walk their dogs on a leash. The trails are diverse and interesting with remnants of mining structures throughout the park. The park is primarily dominated by a blend of Oak Woodland and is also home to over 500 plants species. You may also expect to see Manzanita, Coyote Brush as well as over fifty grass species.
Hike Description: Hacienda Trail to Mine Hill Loop - The trail begins at the Hacienda Park Entrance to the park. Turn right on the Hacienda Trail and begin the hike with a steep climb up the Hacienda Trail. Make a right on the Virl O. Norton trail which will lead you to the Mockingbird Hill Park Entrance. From the Mockingbird Hill Park you will connect back to the Hacienda Trail which will connect you to the Capehorn Pass Trail. You will then connect to the the Mine Hill Trail which will lead you back to the parking lot..
Length and Elevation: This hike is approximately 3 hours long. Elevation 800 feet. Allow time for a snack stop at the Mocking Bird park where you will find picnic benches and resterooms.
Park Details and Maps |
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| Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset | |
Driving Directions to Hacienda Trailhead: From Highway 85, take the Almaden Expressway exit south 4.5 miles to Almaden road. Exit to the right on Almaden Road and drive 3 miles along Almaden Road through the town of New Almaden to the unpaved parking lot on the right. PARKING: Free. |
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