Quicksilver - Trail, Almaden, California

Quicksilver - Trail, Almaden, California

DESCRIPTION

Fire roads are legal, Single track is *ILLEGAL* but wicked cool. Don't ask me how i know ;-)

USER REVIEWS

Showing 11-20 of 34  
[Nov 27, 2004]
Martin R.
Weekend Warrior

This is a very nice trail to ride if you just want a quick run (about 2 to 3 hours) and can get your heart pounding on the first 4 mile stretch up to Bull Run. There are no technical stuff on this trail, just long fireroads under shaded trees. Great views from the top and enjoy the downhill run to the guadalupe reservoir.

Customer Service

Mine Hill Trail - Capehorn Pass - Bull Run - Mine Hill Trail - Randol Trail - Capehorn Pass - Back to trailhead.

Similar Products Used:

Skeggs/Grizzly Flat/Russian Ridge

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
3
[Sep 08, 2004]
Anonymous
Weekend Warrior

i rode this trail before the two new openings, so perhaps it's better. but it was about as ho-hum as they come. lots of long, exposed fire roads. about the only thing less exciting than this place is a flat road. i suppose it's good if it's convenient, but definitely not worth a drive.

Customer Service

up and around clockwise at bull run.

Similar Products Used:

Skegg's

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
3
[Sep 07, 2004]
Anonymous
Downhiller

Im am only 14 and since i cant drive yet and my dad can only drive me places to ride on the weekends, I was thinking about making some sick downhill trail there. Let me know at norcallax52@yahoo.com

Customer Service

Make one

Similar Products Used:

Santa terreasa park

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
3
[Aug 01, 2004]
BigLarry
Cross Country Rider

UPDATE: Two new biking entraces were opened this Spring 2004 at Woods Rd (off Hicks Rd) and Mockingbird (off Almaden Rd) that allow connecting to Woods Trail to Mt. Umunhum and Lexington in Los Gatos entirely through parks. More details below. Quicksilver is a great work out ride with a nice long intermediate steep ride to the top of Bull Run (1650' high) via Cape Horn (1100'), starting from Hacienda (550'). Go left at about 2 miles up and continue clockwise to come back to Cape Horn maybe 10 miles later. I made the mistake of going counterclockwise the first trip by taking the second semi-downhill left at Cape Horn by the picknic table. It's a great rolling 8 miles or so, but a near vertical climb direct in the killer sun at Guadalupe Dam. The climb in the other direction is more gradual and in the shade of nice trees and views of San Jose. There's no legal single track, and I wouldn't try because there's lots of Rangers and Hikers in this popular park. I saw three rangers staking out all trail exits trying to "capture" an illegal single track rider one day. I find lots of different paths and there's interesting mine and ghost town exhibits for those new to this park. Some are at Englishtown, between Cape Horn and Bull Run. At Englishtown, you can see April camp (down a little trail) if you branch to the right, and Mexican Camp (up above Englishtown) if you branch to the left. Recently, a new trail was added that branches off above Englishtown at the mining exhibit which connects over to Hicks Rd and Woods Trail. Woods Trail is a fire road that continues all the way over to Lexington Lake on Hwy 17. On Woods trail, you can get close to Mt. Umunhum (with the little square radar building visible everyhwere in San Jose) but only about 500' underneath or to the side due to restricitons.] Also opened recently is the Mockingbird Entrance. This connects also to Cape Horn. The fire road is VERY steep and unridable uphill. I now take the paved Almaden Rd to Hacienda Entrace going out from San Jose, but come back via Mockingbird to practice steep downhills in slippery sand and rock. Great views of San Jose are found on this and other fire roads at Quicksilver. It's a fun good workout park.

Customer Service

Hacienda Entrance (550') off Old Almaden Rd. to Cape Horn (1100') to Englishtown (1350'). Go left and see the town if you haven't before. Come a few hundred yards back to the Englishtown intersection but this time go right to climb up to Bull Run in the shade. (Going left also gets there, but steeper and in the sun.) Take the April Trail loop (legal for bikes) to see an old mine there. At Bull Run, turn right and go down a steep switchback down the side of the hill overlooking Guadalupe Dam and Hicks Rd on the other side. At the bottom, turn right and prepare for seems like a forever long 4.5 miles of rolling hills back to Cape Horn. Go back to Hacienda if that's where you parked, or try going up the fourth remianing branch at Cape Horn to Mockingbird if you biked into Hacienda.

Similar Products Used:

Santa Teresa (Steep and/or very technical rocky SingleTrack) Woods Trail (Connects to QuickSilver now at the top of Hicks Rd at the intersection with Mt. Umunhum Rd. Goes all the way to Los Gatos through Sierra Azul Open Space Reservere if you want to cross lots of big mountains.)

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
3
[Apr 19, 2004]
Bill B
Cross Country Rider

Get out here and ride you skinny panzies!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 18, 2004]
Bill B
Cross Country Rider

Well here it is the begining of the riding season and I don't see any of you panzy ass guys out here? What gives? You wouldn't last in my unit! I have been up on this trail in the rain and the wind with mud sloshing around. Hell What ya all waiting for???? The Flowers to bloom? I hope to see some you guys and girls up here. The Ranger and I are getting to know each other pretty well. Only one request, Don't wear Lycra! Just cum up and have a good time. The trail is optimal right now and has been improved all the way to the new side off of Hicks Rd. Back in the day, My Navy Seal Team I would have biked all the way to the top with no problems. But now that I have multiple injuries from sorties over in Veitnam things are a little more of a challenge. Anyway have a good start of the season and I hope to see you all up there soon!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 30, 2003]
Paul D
Weekend Warrior

I live close by so I get plenty of opportunity to ride this. As others have said, at the junction (pinic table) take the one o'clock position and continue up to Bull Run, especially on a hot day. This ride is not technically demanding but is a good workout with a 2.5 mile climb a the start and the total loop being 10 miles. The road does vary. First part is the climb, followed by some nice descent with some hairpin turns. The views are great and lots of wildlife. The park also has a great deal of history and you can see entrances to the old mines. The last part of the loop is short rolling hills. You have to be careful as this park is getting more and more traffic all the time. On the descent out of the park, it can be a fast downhill but watch out for loose gravel. Took a bad spill here and had to be taken out on a backboard. The are working on connecting Quicksilver with Serra Azul Open Space/Kennedy Limekin. At the top by Bull Run and the Old refinery, there is a trail known as Woods Rd. They have just built a parking lot and a new park entrance at the top of Hicks Rd. Have not ridden but is basically an 11 mile trail to Lexington. Part of it intersects with the top of Kennedy and is suppose to be a lot of climbing. Parking lot is suppose to open on the Quicksilver side in the spring. Serra Azul is now open.

Customer Service

After climbing to the picnic tables, take the road to the far left and continue climbing. Follow the signs to Old English Camp/Bull Run. Continue in a clockwise direction. At the Randol trail, you have to turn left and start back towards the entrance.

Similar Products Used:

Santa Theresa

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 16, 1999]
Anonymous

I gave it a 5 'cause i know where the good stuff is, and it is GOOD, maybe the best i've ever ridden. If you ride the above route i'd only give it a 2 star rating.

Customer Service

Mutilple way to go. The legal way is to start at the Hacienda entrance and CLIMB on English Camp Trail. It's brutal, about 2 miles on steep fire roads gaining about 2500 ft. Take Mine Hill road to the "Day Tunnel" one of the first mines built in the 1930's. Explore teh San Cristobal Mine.

Similar Products Used:

Coe, Gap, Stiles, Skaggs,

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Dec 22, 1999]
Anonymous

Tons of shots of the ghost town, grave yard, purple forest, etc.

Customer Service

for pictures go to www.v2inc.com/indexmb.html. Click on Quicksilver for lots of pixs!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Jan 24, 2000]
Anonymous

This trail is fairly easy and wide with minimal legal single track. Some great views of San Jose and Morgan Hill to the south. Cool ghost town and abandoned mines.
2 stars for the ride.
5 stars for scenery.

Customer Service

The only legal entrance is the Hacienda entrance off Almaden Rd. Trail map with history of the Quicksilver mines available at the entrance.

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
Showing 11-20 of 34  
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