Healthy Trails Guidebook - County of Santa Clara

Almaden Quicksilver County Park
Hacienda/Capehorn Pass/
Mine Hill/Virl Norton Trails
Trail length: 4.5 miles (loop)
Degree of difficulty: Moderate (550 ft. elevation change)
Mockingbird Hill Lane at Almaden Road, San Jose 95120
(408) 268-3883 (Calero Park Office) • No parking fee
Photo: Ron Horii
Park Notes
• Former site of extensive cinnabar/
mercury mining activity in 18th
and 19th centuries, with remnants
of mining era remaining
throughout park
• Extensive trail system through
Hacienda Trail
shaded oak, mixed woodland and grassland areas
• Nearby Casa Grande and New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum
feature newly furnished period rooms and mining exhibits (21350 Almaden
Rd., (408) 323-1107)
Trail Info & Highlights
• Travel through chaparral, oak and California bay woodland habitats with
beautiful views of Almaden Valley
• Series of steep inclines and declines with 30% shade cover
• Picnic tables, restrooms, water, hitching post, horse trailer parking at trailhead
• Abundant wildlife and spring wildflowers
• Benches along trail; picnic table at Cape Horn Pass
• Virl Norton Trail (portion of Bay Area Ridge Trail) is open to bikes/horses,
but most of featured trail route is hiking and equestrian only; bikers may
substitute alternate route to count for Healty Trails Challenge
Trail Directions
• From parking lot, enter Hacienda Trail at right of trailhead signboard
• Proceed uphill 0.9 miles to Cape Horn Pass Trail; turn right and proceed 0.2 miles
• Turn left downhill on Mine Hill Trail and proceed 0.7 miles to Hacienda Trail
• Turn left on Hacienda Trail; go 1.5 miles to Virl Norton Trail and turn right
• Proceed 1.2 miles on Virl Norton Trail back to trailhead
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