Important Announcement: The Casa Grande and the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum were closed for renovation starting in 2009. The Grand Re-Opening ceremony was held on Pioneer Day, November 13, 2010. After delays due to final inspections and fixes, it was finally open on January 14, 2011.  It is now open to the public Fridays from 12 to 4, Sat. 10 to 4, Sun. 10 to 4.

The Archives of the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum are now online.

Note that the Santa Clara County Parks website has been redesigned, so many of the old links do not work.

News and special reports:

• Powerpoint presentation (18 MB) created by Ron Horii, showing activities in all the Santa Clara County Parks.
• Almaden Times Weekly article, "Living at the mines, circa 1880-1914: Quicksilver miners worked hard, played hard"
  
• Almaden Times Weekly article, "History Repeats Itself: Two New Almaden Historic Homes Dedicated With Monuments"
  
• Pictures from Mike Boulland's and Art Boudreault's book signing at the Casa Grande on 7/12/06.
• You can vote to save the Casa Grande! See here for details.
• See the pictures from Pioneer Day in Almaden Quicksilver's Spanishtown, Saturday October 14, 2006.
• Self-running slideshows (Windows only):
  • Pioneer Day, Senador Mine Trail dedication, 10/11/03 (19.5 MB)
    
  • Pioneer Day, Casa Grande 150th anniversary and Blacksmith Shop dedication, 10/9/04 (34 MB)
    
  • California Trail Day, north New Almaden Trail, 4/23/05 (14 MB)
  • Wildflower Scavenger Hunt, Senador Mine Trail, 5/5/05 (21 MB)
    
  • Volunteers Recognition Banquet, 4/6/06 (31 MB)
    
  • Wildflower walk, Wood Road Trail, 4/30/06 (31 MB)
    
  • GPS Class, Wood Road Trail to Mine Hill, 4/30/06 (31 MB)
    
• Los Alamitos Creek/Guadalupe River Trail
• Ron Horii's Outdoor Photography Gallery (includes Almaden Quicksilver)
  
• Pictures from the Los Alamitos Creek Watershed Cleanup 5/19/07: Page 1: Preparation, Page 2: Cleanup 1, Page 3: Cleanup 2, Page 4: BBQ Lunch.
• Pictures from New Almaden Coummunity Day 9/8/07: Jump-In Parade on Bertram Road, Jump-In Parade on Almaden Road, Dedication of Pat Tillman Memorial, and the BBQ and Games at the New Almaden Community Center.
• Pictures from Pioneer Day, October 13, 2007, New Almaden Community Center, Santa Isabel Shafthouse Dedication.
• Almaden Times Weekly article on Pioneer Day, 10/13/07
  
• The County Parks' Healthy Trails program includes 2 trail routes in Almaden Quicksilver.
• NAQCPA has adopted 3 trails in Quicksilver Park: The Yellow Kid, the Great Eastern and Day Tunnel, and the Deep Gulch Trail. The trail group meets on the second Wednesday of the month and drives up to the trail for work from 9 am to 11:30 am. We need volunteers to help in the spring and summer. Contact Kitty Monahan to volunteer.
  
• San Jose Mercury News Section, Where We Live, Almaden Valley.
• Pictures of wildflowers and park views, Spring 2008:
• Part 1 Southside: Deep Gulch, Mine Hill, Wood Road Trails
• Part 2 Northside: Senador, Guadalupe, Mine Hill, New Almaden Trails
• Geocaching Class, Wood Road Trail, June 14, 2008
• New Almaden Community Day Sept. 13, 2008: Jump-In Parade, BBQ and Games.
• Pictures from Pioneer Day 10/11/08, Wood Road
• Open Road TV show on Almaden Quicksilver
  
• Ghost Tour, Santa Teresa and Almaden, 10/25/09
  
• Geocaching Class, Wood Road Trail, Jan. 17, 2009
• Almaden Resident: Casa Grande in Quicksilver Park set for $5 million building restoration, March 6, 2009.
• Pictures from the Healthy Trails Hike, Wood Road Trail, Almaden Quicksilver, 3/28/09
• Almaden Times Weekly article on New Almaden Day, 9/12/09
  
• Pioneer Day, English Camp Map House, 10/10/09
• Almaden Times Weekly article on Pioneer Day, 10/10/09
  
• Kiwanis Ghost Tour of Santa Teresa Park and New Almaden, 10/17/09
• Geocaching Class, Wood Road Trail, Jan. 16, 2010
• Almaden Quicksilver HDR Pictures 2/27/10
• New Almaden Jump-In Parade 9/11/10
• Almaden Times Weekly article on the Jump-In Parade, Sept. 12-23 issue
  
• Clean-up of Los Alamitos and Guadalupe Creek Watersheds, New Almaden to Guadalupe Dam 9/25/10
• Pioneer Day: Reopening of the Casa Grande, 11/13/10
• DAR honor renovation of Santa Clara County's Casa Grande and costuming of Feather Tippetts, 7/7/11
• In September, 2011, Ron Horii had a display of park pictures at the Santa Teresa Library.
  
• Pioneer Day: Hacienda Mining Display Outdoor Museum, 10/8/11
• New Almaden and Randol Trails (Facebook Album), 12/28/11
• Hike on the New Almaden, Buena Vista, Randol, Capehorn Pass, and Hacienda Trails 1/27/12
• New Almaden Community Day, Jump-In Parade 9/8/12
• Pioneer Day, Almaden Quicksilver 10/13/12, Incline Railroad Sign Dedication
• The Virl O. Norton Trail, the Easy Part, Almaden Quicksilver, 12/8/12 (Facebook album)
  
• Pioneer Day, Almaden Quicksilver 10/12/13, Hacienda Mining Display Outdoor Museum and Cornish Miners
• Hike on the Senador, New Almaden, Mine Hill Trails, 12/1/13 (Facebook album)
  
• Post New Year's Hike, Almaden Quicksilver, 1/3/14 (Facebook album)
  

2014 Almaden Quicksilver events:

• Saturday, February 8. Introduction to Geocaching • Almaden Quicksilver • 8:45am-12pm. Join a Docent on a beginner's geocaching adventure to find 6-7 hidden caches in the park. GPS units provided. Meet at the Wood Rd. parking lot. Bring sun protection, water, snacks and sturdy hiking shoes. Registration required online or by calling (408) 355-2240.
• Sunday, February 9. History of Almaden Air Force Station. Casa Grande/New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum • 1pm-3pm
  Come learn about the history of this fascinating site, see actual artifacts, and enjoy a slide show of amazing historic photos of the radar station when it was in operation between 1958 and 1980. Presented by Basim Jaber (Historian/Archivist and founder of the USAF 682nd Radar Squadron Veterans Association). Registration required online or by calling (408) 355-2240.
• Saturday, April 5. Wildflower Scavenger Hunt • Almaden Quicksilver • 10am-12pm. Join Friends of the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association on a wildflower scavenger hunt through various stations along the Wood Road Trail. Meet at the Wood Road Parking lot. Registration required online or by calling (408) 355-2240.
• Saturday, April 26. Power to the Petal • Almaden Quicksilver • 11am-2pm.Take a moderately strenuous 4-mile hike with a Ranger to explore the spring’sbounty of wildflowers. Meet at the Hacienda park entrance. Bring sturdy hiking shoes, sun protection, lunch, and water. (408) 268-3883.
• Sunday, April 6. History of Almaden Air Force Station Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum • 1pm-3pm Learn about the history of this fascinating site, see key artifacts, and enjoy a slide show of amazing historic photos of the radar station when it was in operation between 1958 and 1980. Presented by Basim Jaber (Historian/Archivist and founder of the USAF 682nd Radar Squadron Veterans Association). For reservations call (408) 533-8107 or by email at info@almadenafs.org
• Saturday, April 12. 19th Century in a Bottle Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum • 1pm-2:30pm Almaden author and antique bottle collector Tobin Gilman will provide an historical view of daily life and commerce in San Jose in the 1800’s, told through the prism of historic glass bottles from the area. Go back to the earliest days of San Jose as California’s first state capitol. (408) 918-7771
• Thursday April 24. Power to the Petal • Almaden Quicksilver • 11am-2pm Take a moderately strenuous 4-mile hike with a Ranger to explore the spring’s bounty of wildflowers. Meet at the Hacienda park entrance. Bring sturdy hiking shoes, sun protection, lunch, and water. (408) 268-3883
• Sunday, April 27. Healthy Trails Hike • Almaden Quicksilver • 10am-2pm Take a 4.5-mile hike through diverse habitats and enjoy spectacular views near the historic mining camps of New Almaden. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill park 9 entrance with a bag lunch. (408) 918-7772
• Sunday, May 4. Living History Day • Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum • 11am-3pm Visit Casa Grande, once the magnificent home of New Almaden mine managers. Costumed Docents and staff will guide you through Victorian period rooms and museum exhibits. Children May participate in a seasonal craft activity to take home. (408) 323-1107
• Thursday, May 8. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201
• Thursday, May 22. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201
• Sunday, May 25. Healthy Trails Hike • Almaden Quicksilver • 10am-2pm Challenge yourself on a 5.2-mile strenuous hike through diverse habitats. Enjoy remnants of the historic mining camps of New Almaden. Meet at the Hacienda park entrance with water and a bag lunch. (408) 918-7772
• Saturday, May 31. History Tour by Van • Almaden Quicksilver • 9am-1:30pm Step back in time and experience what life was like back in the mining heyday. Ride by van to various historic sites and enjoy your brown-bag lunch in the park. Tour costs $10 per person. Children must be over 6 years and 60 lbs. Meet at the Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum. Bring a bag lunch. For reservations call (408) 918-7773
• Saturday, May 31. History Tour by Van • Almaden Quicksilver • 9am-1:30pm Step back in time and experience what life was like back in the mining heyday. Ride by van to various historic sites and enjoy your brown-bag lunch in the park. Tour costs $10 per person. Children must be over 6 years and 60 lbs. Meet at the Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum. Bring a bag lunch. For reservations call (408) 918-7773
• Thursday, June 5. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201
• Sunday, June 8. History of Almaden Air Force Station Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum • 1pm-3pm Learn about the history of this fascinating site, see key artifacts, and enjoy a slide show of amazing historic photos of the radar station when it was in operation between 1958 and 1980. Presented by Basim Jaber (Historian/Archivist and founder of the USAF 682nd Radar Squadron Veterans Association). For reservations call (408) 533-8107 or by email at info@almadenafs.org
• Saturday, June 14. Play Like A Miner • Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum • 11am-2pm Join museum staff and volunteers for a fun-filled afternoon of kid-friendly activities and adventures like gold panning, treasure hunting, and ore mucking. These all reflect what life was like for a hard rock miner in New Almaden. (408) 918-7773
• Saturday, June 21. 19th Century in a Bottle Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum • 1pm-2:30pm Almaden author and antique bottle collector Tobin Gilman will provide an historical view of daily life and commerce in San Jose in the 1800’s, told through the prism of historic glass bottles from the area. Go back to the earliest days of San Jose as California’s first state capitol. (408) 918-7771
• Thursday, July 17. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance.
• Thursday, July 31. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201
• Thursday, July 31. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201
• Thursday, July 31. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201
• Sunday, August 3. History of Almaden Air Force Station Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum • 1pm-3pm Learn about the history of this fascinating site, see key artifacts, and enjoy a slide show of amazing historic photos of the radar station when it was in operation between 1958 and 1980. Presented by Basim Jaber (Historian/Archivist and founder of the USAF 682nd Radar Squadron Veterans Association). For reservations call (408) 533-8107 or by email at info@almadenafs.org
• Saturday, August 9. History Tour by Van • Almaden Quicksilver • 9am-1:30pm Step back in time and experience what life was like back in the mining heyday. Ride by van to various historic sites and enjoy your brown-bag lunch in the park. Tour costs $10 per person. Children must be over 6 years and 60 lbs. Meet at the Casa Grande/Quicksilver Mining Museum. Bring a bag lunch. For reservations call (408) 918-7773
• Thursday, August 14. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201
• Thursday, August 28. Healthy Trails Run – Finish Here • Almaden Quicksilver • 12pm-1pm Here’s your chance to try trail running and experience the beauty of the Almaden trails and surrounding valley. Trails are mainly single track with STEEP inclines/declines and are DIFFICULT! You should be in good physical shape to attempt this course. Ages 18 and up. Bring water and dress appropriately for trail running. Meet at the Mockingbird Hill entrance. Register online or call (408) 355-2201

2014 Events at Other Parks:

• Saturday, February 15. The Night Shift • Calero • 5pm-6:30pm. Take a short full moon hike and participate in activities to discover which animals come out at night and how they are adapted to night prowling. Meet by the park office off of McKean Rd. (south of reservoir entrance). Wear layered clothing and sturdy hiking shoes. (408) 268-3883.
• Saturday, March 29. Trickles to Torrents • Calero/Rancho San Vicente • 9am-1:30pm. Join a park docent for a moderate 5.5-mile loop hike to see how water from winter storms finds its way to the valley below. Meet at the Calero Park office off of McKean Rd. (south of reservoir), then carpool to the trailhead. This is a guided hike in an area not yet open for public access; group stays
  together; some steep sections; restrooms not available except at meeting location. Dress in layers with sturdy shoes, hat, and water. Registration required online or by calling (408) 355-2240.
• Sunday, April 6. Photographers Day • Calero/Rancho San Vicente • 9am-3pm. Enjoy a wealth of photo opportunities as you join a park docent for a leisurely 3.5-mile out-and-back hike through rolling serpentine grasslands with a focus on the park’s natural beauty. Meet at the Calero Park office off of McKean Rd. (south of reservoir), then carpool to the trailhead. This is a guided hike in an area not yet open for public access; group stays together; some steep sections; restrooms not available except at meeting location. Pack a lunch, water, camera, hat, layered clothing, and sturdy shoes. Registration required online or by calling (408) 355-2240.
• Saturday, April 12. Wildflower Drawing Class • Santa Teresa • 10am-11:30am. Increase your confidence in drawing and learn some skills to help you draw what you see during wildflower season. Materials are provided, but if you have a sketch pad and set of colored pencils or watercolors, bring them along. Instruction appropriate for ages 8-adult. Children under 14 must be accompanied
  by an adult. All skill levels welcome. Hat and sunscreen recommended. Rain cancels. Meet at the Fortini Trailhead. Note: There is no restroom at this location. Registration required online or by calling (408) 355-2240.
• Power to the Petal • Calero/Rancho San Vicente • 11am-2pm. Take a 4-mile hike with a Ranger to explore a bounty of wildflowers and discover why this unique environment provides critical habitat for endangered species. Meet at the Calero Park office, then carpool to the trailhead. Bring sturdy hiking shoes, sun protection, lunch and water. This is a guided hike in a closed area not
  normally open to the public; restrooms not available except at meeting location. (408) 268-3883.
• Saturday, April 19. Foothill Ramble • Calero/Rancho San Vicente • 9am-1:30pm. Take a moderate 5.5-mile loop hike with a park docent from valley floor to ridge-top to enjoy spring wildflowers in a variety of habitats. Meet at the Calero Park office off of McKean Rd. (south of reservoir), then carpool to the trailhead. This is a guided hike in an area not yet open for public access; group stays together; some steep sections; restrooms not available except at meeting location. Pack a lunch and dress in layers with sturdy shoes, hat, and water. Registration required online or by calling (408) 355-2240.

See here for past events at Almaden Quicksilver and other parks.

Copyright © New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association 

For more information, contact us. Updated 5/24/14.