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.

 

Almaden Quicksilver County Park

• 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 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).

 

Photos by Ronald Horii.