Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Almaden Quicksilver County Park covers most of Capitancillos Ridge and preserves one of the most important chapters in California's mining history. For more than 135 years the land was a busy mercury mine, home to more than 1,800 miners and their families. Today the old mining areas sit among natural landscapes that fill with wildflowers in early spring.

More than 37 miles of trails cross the park, including 30 miles open to horses and 16.6 miles open to bikes, and leashed dogs are allowed on every trail. Picnic tables sit beside the trails, and horse troughs are placed at a few spots, but drinking water is available only at the Hacienda and Mockingbird Hill entrances. Mining structures still stand along the way. All mines and adits (horizontal shafts) have been sealed; the San Cristobal mine can be seen from behind a locked gate, and visitors are asked not to climb on any structures.

At the Hacienda entrance, on the site of the old Hacienda Reduction Works, outdoor exhibits display equipment from the New Almaden and Guadalupe mines. They include a wooden Cornish pump that drew water out of the shafts and a small rotary furnace that extracted mercury from crushed cinnabar ore. The Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum at Casa Grande, 21350 Almaden Road, is open year-round with varying hours and covers mercury mining in New Almaden and the people of its mining towns. Guided nature walks, history walks, and museum tours can be requested.

The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, and trails open at sunrise. Entry is free, and the Hacienda, Mockingbird Hill, and Wood Road entrances all have free parking and restrooms.