A great variety of trails
Written: Mar 21 '09
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Pros: great views, long and short trails, horse trails
Cons: no bike trails, trails could be better maintained
The Bottom Line: Great place for all to see what Almaden Valley was like before the Silicon.
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| dmsilva1's Full Review: Almaden Quicksilver County Park |
Quicksilver is a great getaway in the backyard of Silicon Valley. If you are a resident you should at least visit once to see the views, and you will likely return again.
The park features a variety of paths of different lengths which allow you to take a short 45 minute hike, or a day long excursion. The paths vary in difficulty too, but expect them all to have at least one steep climb. The trails offer great excercise and most will reward you with a great view of San Jose, or at least Almaden Valley, at the top.
The beauty of Quicksilver is natural itself. Don't expect fancy landscaping. The park is maintained, but it is not weeded, and there is no effort to sculpt the landscape, or special gardens. The trees are mostly oak, with a sprinkling of dogwoods and other varieties. Mustard grass and California poppies are plentiful along with a few other flowering plants. I doubt it will take your breath away, but if you like nature it will definitely calm you.
The trails are in decent condition. Expect some uneven spots, and some that are strewn with rocks and dips. During spring there are also some muddy spots you will need to avoid. None of it is dangerous, but if you are looking for a perfect trail then this isn't it.
Because of the condition of the trails and the some steep grades families with small children should be cautious. I've taken my small ones on the trail with a jogging stroller without a problem, but my regular stroller would never make it. Also the trail doesn't have borders so if you have a child that likes to wonder off you could get frustrated.
Warning: There is poison oak present. This is not a problem if you keep to the trail, but don't go off trail looking for berries:).
Mountain lions are in the mountain range; however, it is extremely rare to see one in Quicksilver- its been about 10 years since the last encounter.
The trail head at Mockingbird also has a entry for horses. Although, there is usually evidence that a horse has visited the trail recently, don't expect, or worry about, them after work or on the weekends. I have hiked in Quicksilver for 30 years, more frequently in recent years, and have only see horses a few times.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: Anytime
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Hiking & Trails
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Epinions.com ID:
dmsilva1
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Member: David Silva
Location: San Jose, CA
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Born and raised in Silicon Valley. I'm in high tech, but my passion is soccer.
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