"Almaden Quicksilver County Park is one of the jewels of the Santa Clara County Park system. In terms of size, historical significance, and natural beauty, it rivals any state park. The park sits on the southern edge of the Silicon Valley, with millions of people and thousands of businesses and industries spreading out below it to the north. It occupies most of the Los Capitancillos Ridge, running southeast from the Guadalupe Landfill to Almaden Reservoir. To the north are the upscale suburbs of the Almaden Valley. To the southeast is the historic mining town of New Almaden. To the southwest is the soaring forested wall of the Sierra Azuls, topped by Mt. Umunhum. The park takes up 4157 acres of steep hillsides, cool forests, open meadows, and deep valleys. It borders two long reservoirs and contains several small ponds. It is crisscrossed by trails, including 34.2 miles for hiking, 23 miles for equestrians, and 10 miles for bicycling." - County Park page
BEE happy!
Turkey Vulture surveys the valley
Butterfly - can you name it?
Turkeys
Turkeys
Turkeys
A Southwest airline flies over
Turkey vulture
Blue Jay
The Mockingbird Entrance
San Cristobal Mine Entrance
San Cristobal Mine
The rail leading into the San Cristobal Mine
The chute
Weed
The foundation of the then Buena Vista Hotel
View of the valley
The Guatalupe Reservoir
Roots
The old boarding school
Full moon rising
View of the Almaden Valley
Brick powder house
Quicksilver Chimney in the distance
Approaching Quicksilver Chimney on the no-entry path
Quicksilver Chimney
Quicksilver Chimney has a lot of cracks due to earthquakes