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Almaden Quicksilver Loop

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Intermediate Intermediate
 3.9 (70)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …Bay Area
  4. …San Jose
  5. Almaden Quicksilver County Park
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“This loop makes for a good workout with great views. ”

Eric Hong
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10.8

Miles

17.3

KM

0%

Singletrack

1,574' 480 m

High

499' 152 m

Low

1,414' 431 m

Up

1,413' 431 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

19%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Family Friendly The wide fire road and pretty scenery of the park is family friendly. Be sure to pick the right route and distance to fit the age of the riders.

Randol Trail is often closed in wet winters. You can check the status of the trails by calling the Santa Clara County Hotline 1-408-355-2200 and then press 7 and then 5.

Overview

There is nothing technical about this loop except the three-mile climb from the parking area at Hacienda to Bull Run and a short but steep climb on Randol Trail. It is a good workout with some OK downhill on dirt park roads. Most of the route is scenic.

Need to Know

Be sure to bring enough water for the ride, especially during hot summer days. You need to bring at least 1.5 liters or even 2 liters of water in order to finish the ride without dehydration.

Description

This loop can be ridden in either direction but this is the preferred direction for most riders. It gets the big climb out of the way early and offers a scenic flow from the high point at Bull Run to the beginning of the Randol Trail near the reservoir.

Another possible alternative and slightly longer route is through the Castillero Trail south of the Mine Hill Rd. That's about one more mile through the loop. That will also lead you to the highest peak in the park on the Castillero Trail slightly south of the Bull Run. It is marked with a fire hose stand.

Often deer are near the trail and sometimes bobcats, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and turkeys. Mountain lions won't bother people, and the rattlesnakes are mellow unless pissed off.

There are some interesting old mines on the April Trail which is a small loop off this route and at the Cristobol Mine adjacent to Mine Hill Trail.

The trails can be a bit crowded on beautiful spring weekends.

History & Background

This loop is through the historic New Almaden mines. This was California's first mine run by Europeans and the mercury smelted here was shipped around the world. It was also used in the California gold fields and after in gold mining in Alaska, Mexico, South America, and Indonesia.

Contacts

Local Club: Silicon Valley Mountain Bikers

Jan 23, 2024: Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve – Multi-use Trail Alternative 3 Verbally Approved 

Land Manager: Santa Clara County Parks

Shared By:

Eric Hong with improvements by Oded Zur and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 70 votes

#1

in Almaden Quicksilver County Park

#273

Overall
  3.9 from 70 votes
5 Star
27%
4 Star
44%
3 Star
20%
2 Star
9%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Almaden Quicksilver Co…

#34

in California

#273

Overall
156 Views Last Month
24,048 Since Dec 8, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
3%
11%
74%
3%
9%
0%
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Photos

Bobcat on the Mine Hill Trail. with permission from Alexander Avtanski
Aug 19, 2016 near Cambria…, CA
At the Bull Run.
May 11, 2016 near Lexingt…, CA
Mine Hill Road descends to the Randal Rail going counter-clock-wise overlooking the Guadalupe Reservoir and Silicon Valley.
May 11, 2016 near Lexingt…, CA
Views from the Randol Trail.
Aug 19, 2016 near Seven T…, CA
Looking west at the Mine Hill Trail where it turns to Equestrian/Hike-only. with permission from Alexander Avtanski
Aug 19, 2016 near Cambria…, CA
Bench overlooking Guadalupe reservoir at the end of Mine Hill and Randol trails.
May 11, 2018 near Almaden…, CA

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Minor Issues 95 days ago
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