Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Almaden Quicksilver County Park guide map
Welcome to Almaden Quicksilver County Park, which is spectacular in natural diversity and a landmark of California history. The park is the site of over 135 years of mining activities and was formerly home to more than 1,800 miners and their families. The park encompasses 4,163 acres, occupying a majority of Capitancillos Ridge. During early spring, the park offers one of the most spectacular wildflower displays in the region. Remnants of the mining era also offer an exciting look into the mining operations of the latter part of the 19th century.
*Please help maintain safety on our streets and obey all traffic and speed limit signs in and around the park.
Almaden Quicksilver has multiple entrances - Park Entrances
Park office: (408) 535-4070
Casa Grande - Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum: (408) 918-7770
Hours and fees
For up-to-date trail closures, please call the trail hotline at (408) 355-2200 and press 3.
The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset, and the trails open at sunrise. No fees are required at any entrances.
Access fee information here: Park fees
Upcoming events
Scotch Broom Removal at Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Scotch Broom Removal at Almaden Quicksilver County Park
View a full list of events at Almaden Quicksilver
Learn about our park
The park includes over 37 miles of hiking trails, including 30 miles of equestrian trails and 16.6 miles of bike trails. All trails in the park are also open to pet owners to walk their dogs on leash.
A number of picnic tables are scattered throughout the park adjacent to the trails and horse water troughs are available in a few locations. No potable water is available within the park except at the Hacienda and Mockingbird Hill entrances.
There are also remnants of mining structures throughout the park. All mines and adits have been sealed. However, the San Cristobal mine may be viewed from behind a locked gate. For your safety, please do not climb on any structures.
Custom guided nature walks, history walks, and tours of the mining museum are available upon request. Please visit our custom programs and tours webpage for more information and to submit a request.
Check our events calendar for public programs and events at Almaden Quicksilver and other Santa Clara County Parks.
The mining museum is open year round and has exhibits about the history of mercury mining in New Almaden and the mining communities who lived here. Open hours vary. Please check out the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum webpage or call (408) 918-7770 for the most up to date information.
At the Hacienda entrance, where the Hacienda Reduction Works once stood, you'll find outdoor mining exhibits. These include equipment from the New Almaden and Guadalupe Mines. Notable items are an old wooden Cornish pump, used to remove water from mine shafts, and a small rotary furnace that extracted mercury from crushed cinnabar ore.
Be sure to check our online historical collections to see photos, documents, and artifacts related to Almaden Quicksilver County Park. You can also view artifacts from Martial Cottle County Park or Joseph D. Grant County Park and can request images from us.
In compliance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ('ADA'), the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services, or activities. The Department will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disability have an equal opportunity to enjoy our programs, services, facilities, and activities. If you need assistance with an ADA request, please contact our ADA Coordinator at [email protected].
