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Wildflower Walk at Almaden Quicksilver

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Wildflower Walk at Almaden QuicksilverThe Wildflower Walk at Almaden Quicksilver County Park is a special springtime event that highlights the joy of living in the Almaden Valley. Join a knowledgeable Park Interpreter on a gentle 1-mile guided hike through the park’s trails to discover the incredible variety of native wildflowers that bloom at Quicksilver Park — and learn why they matter so much to the local ecosystem.

This family-friendly outing is suitable for ages 7 and up, making it a perfect Saturday morning activity for households of all kinds. The hike is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, starting at the Mockingbird Hill entrance (19535 Mockingbird Hill Lane, San José, CA 95120). No vehicle entrance fee is required.

To register or for more information, call (408) 918-7770 or email interp@prk.sccgov.org.

Can’t make it to the guided walk? You can still experience the Wildflower Walk at Almaden Quicksilver at your own pace. Stop by the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum to pick up a paper wildflower brochure, or explore the park’s digital wildflower tour online anytime.

Almaden Valley is a great place to live! Looking to buy or sell your home? Contact The Swan!

BioBlitz at Almaden Quicksilver County Park

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Bioblitz at Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Photo by Merav Vonshak

When: Sunday, April 30, 2023, 9 – 11am

Where: Almaden Quicksilver County Park
19535 Mockingbird Hill Lane (Mockingbird Hill Lane entrance)
San Jose, CA 95120

Located in the western part of San Jose, the Almaden Quicksilver County Park is a safe haven for many species of plants and animals. Join Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful and BioBlitz.club at Almaden Quicksilver County Park in cataloging and documenting all of the living things that reside there. Experts in various fields will be available to help guide participants through all the various plants and wildlife.

Participants are asked to bring a smart phone with the iNaturalist app. Click here for more information and to reserve a spot.

*Community service hours available*

Hosted by Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, Bioblitz.club, and Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society.

Supported by Santa Clara County Parks.

Quicksilver History Hike – June 2022

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Quicksilver History HikeThe next Quicksilver History Hike will be on June 25, 2022 from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Join a Park Interpreter to explore what remains of the once-bustling mining operations in the hills above New Almaden. This moderate, 3-4 mile hike in Almaden Quicksilver County Park leaves from the Wood Road parking lot off Hicks Road in San Jose. Dress in layers with sturdy shoes, sun protection, and bring plenty of drinking water. There are no bathrooms nor drinking fountains along the hike.

Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. This hike is offered once a month. Registration for the hike opens on the 1st of the month that the hike is offered. To reserve space on the upcoming History Hike, go to the Quicksilver History Hike page of the Santa Clara County Parks website.

Questions? Call 408-918-7700 or email interp@prk.sccgov.org.

Quicksilver History Hike – April 2022

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Quicksilver History HikeThe next Quicksilver History Hike will be on April 24, 2022 from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Join a Park Interpreter to explore what remains of the once-bustling mining operations in the hills above New Almaden. This moderate, 3-4 mile hike in Almaden Quicksilver County Park leaves from the Wood Road parking lot off Hicks Road in San Jose. Dress in layers with sturdy shoes, sun protection, and bring plenty of drinking water. There are no bathrooms nor drinking fountains along the hike.

Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. This hike is offered once a month. Registration for the hike opens on the 1st of the month that the hike is offered. To reserve space on the upcoming History Hike, go to the Quicksilver History Hike page of the Santa Clara County Parks website.

Questions? Call 408-918-7700 or email interp@prk.sccgov.org.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park – October 2019 Events

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Almaden Quicksilver County ParkIf you enjoy nature and are interested in knowing first-hand the history of Almaden Valley, this is a great time to head to the Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Starting this weekend, there are some interesting events organized by the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association (NAQCPA) in partnership with the Santa Clara County Parks Department.

Here’s a synopsis of the events:

Saturday, October 12, 2019: A celebration of Pioneer Day, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, at the Casa Grande. The NAQCPA has held their annual Pioneer Day celebrations in the Almaden Quicksilver County Park for 34 years. Pioneer Day began with the purpose of sharing mining stories and meeting with former New Almaden miners who remembered the place. Today it has evolved into an event to showcase historic sites and current projects in the park.

Saturday, October 26, 2019: Quicksilver History Hike from 9:00am-12:00pm. The Quicksilver History Hike is a docent led hike of moderate intensity to historic mining sites within the park.

Sunday, October 27, 2019: Whoppers and Ghostly Tales of New Almaden at the park from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Want to learn about the ghosts of New Almaden? Come over for an evening of ghostly stories about the Almaden Quicksilver mines narrated by a docent as you tour the historic 1854 Casa Grande. Meet at the Casa Grande front entrance. Reservations online or (408) 355-2240.

For more information, visit: http://newalmaden.org/#AQS-Events

On the Wildflower Trail in Almaden

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Wildflower trail AlmadenSpring is well and truly upon us, and with it comes the enchantment and wonder of the wildflowers. After a particularly wet winter, the hills around Almaden Valley and the nature parks surrounding it are now bejewelled in a riot of colors in the form of spring wildflowers. Besides the poppies, daisies and clovers carpeting the meadows, one can also find the jewelflower, the California gilia, the California buttercup, brodiaea, baby blue eyes, woodland star and the shooting star, among other varieties dotting the hills.

For the avid nature lover and photographer in you, the following trails in the county parks surrounding Almaden Valley are bound to delight in their abundance of wildflowers.

Almaden Quicksilver County Park:
  • Senador Trail to Guadalupe
  • Trail to Mine Hill
  • Castillero Trail
Calero County Park:
  • Serpentine Loop Trail
Coyote Lake – Harvey Bear Ranch County Park:
  • Coyote Ridge Trail
  • Calaveras Trail
Santa Teresa County Park:
  • Rocky Ridge Trail
  • Stiles Trail
Grant County Park:
  • San Felipe Trail at Corral Trail
  • Halls Valley Trail
  • Brush Trail at Dutch Flat Trail

Whether you are a dedicated outdoors person or prefer to explore nature at leisure, now is the time to hit the trails. Walk or hike on these easily accessible trails and experience the many splendours of spring wildflowers in Almaden.

For more information, visit: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/Whats-Happening/Documents/sccp-wldlfr17-web.pdf

Summer 2011 Outdoor Activities at Santa Clara County Parks in Almaden Valley – UPDATED 2022

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Santa Clara County ParksIf your family loves spending time together doing outdoor activities, then you’re going to love this one.

Following is the [UPDATED 2022] Calendar of Outdoor Activities for Santa Clara County Parks.

The 2011 events include everything from history hikes, wildlife hikes, geocaching, moonlight paddles, bat sightings, and mining adventures.

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