Quest for Quicksilver

Hiking in Almaden Quicksilver County Park

The new gold rush meets the old gold rush at Almaden Quicksilver County Park, named for the once-booming industry of mining mercury, which was essential for extracting gold. Today, the park’s riches come in the form of stunning scenery, found by hiking and biking the numerous trails winding through oak and buckeye trees and accompanied by the soothing sounds of Guadalupe Creek. Views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range, along with Silicon Valley (where unicorns are the new gold rush!), are all highlights. Enjoy the scenery and explore Almaden’s mining history (it was home to nearly 2,000 miners and their families, with remnants of ruins and structural remains still standing) on a 5-mile loop hike on the park’s western side.

Take the Senador Mine Trail upwards to its namesake historic remnant before connecting to Guadalupe Trail for a long section of flat, mostly shaded trail, with Guadalupe Creek burbling nearby. This southern side of the loop is highlighted by views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Guadalupe Reservoir is the halfway point of the hike. Climb briefly uphill alongside it before going left at the (marked) Mine Hill Trail. This section of the loop sees views of Silicon Valley, bordered by the Diablo Range, as you gently descend through a mixture of sun and shade following Mine Hill Trail back to the starting point. Good rush of Quicksilver!

From Almaden Expwy. south of Hwy. 85, take Camden Ave. west. Turn left onto McAbee Rd. and continue to the end of it, where you’ll see gates and a paved path toward the park entrance and cars parked along the street. Parking is free. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View