Description
Almaden Quicksilver has a rugged, rough and ready atmosphere. The nearly 4,000 acre park is comprised of steep slopes covered in chaparral, a grassy ridge, and oak woodlands. Rattlesnakes are common, and bobcats, deer, and coyote roam the park. Native Americans revered the area for its abundance of cinnabar; imigrants found that the copper-colored rocks released mercury when processed. The mine at what is now Almaden Quicksilver was the nation's most profitable, but operations ceased completely in 1976, and the property was acquired by Santa Clara County. Years of cleanup have been completed, mine shafts sealed, and areas formerly off limits are now open to hikers, equestrians, and cyclists. Arrive at noon on a summer day and you'll bake in the hot sun. There are pockets of shade in the park, but most of the landscape is exposed. Late winter and spring are recommended. With so many fire roads as trails, most of the park is virtually immune to storm damage. Wildflowers and fresh leaves on deciduous oaks are gorgeous in early spring.
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