San Jose
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Description: Almaden Quicksilver contains 15 miles of dirt roads in a historical mercury mining region. Some remnants of the over 100 year mining history are visible and one mine entrance has been restored. Almaden is not a difficult area to ride with all trails being fire roads, a low technical difficulty rating, and most grades at 7-8%. It is a great beginner/intermediate riding area. However, there are 2.5 mile sustained climbs and the Virl Norton trail, if you chose to ride it, is particularly steep at a sustained 18% grade, so be prepared to do some work at this park. There are three entrances open to bicycles and our recommended rides use all three. The 1000 Footer starts and ends at the parking lot on the “backside” on Hicks Rd. The Medium Ride starts at the Hacienda Entrance on Almaden Rd. The Big Ride starts at the entrance on Mockingbird Hill Rd. The park is adjacent to Sierra Azul on the west side at the Wood Road Trail. Longer rides can be started in Almaden Quicksilver and extended into Sierra Azul. A separate entry for the Mt Umunhum climbing challenge is our recommended ride encompassing both parks.
In the Wet Season: Rangers aggressively close all the trails to bikes. The Randal Trail is often seasonally closed.
Directions: Each recommended route starts at a different entrance to the park. Parking is usually available at all entrances. Take Almaden Expressway south from SR 87. Right turn on Almaden Rd. Right at Mockingbird Hill Rd., parking lot at end of road for the Big Ride. A link to the parking location for the Big Ride in Google Maps is here. A second entrance, and the start of the Medium Ride is 3 miles further south on Almaden Road at the south end of the New Almaden district where the Hacienda parking lot is on right. A link to the parking location for the Medium Ride in Google Maps is here. Third entrance on Hicks Rd., where the 1000 Footer starts, can be approached by either continuing south on Almaden Rd./Alamitos Rd. from the Hacienda Entrance, or from Camden Ave. A link to the parking location for the 1000 Footer in Google Maps is here. Each recommended route starts at a different entrance. Restrooms at all lots.