2.1 hr
Overview
A steady climb to the slopes of Mount Umunhum takes you through a beautiful landscape once actively mined for quicksilver. The Ridge Trail follows old mining roads over these hills, where you can imagine New Almaden Mine's heyday. Historic buildings and interpretive panels tell the story of the community that once occupied these hills. Superb views look out over the Santa Clara Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains. Much of this route is exposed and can be hot in summer; plan accordingly.<br><br>Elevation Gain/Loss 1,160 feet/345 feet one-way<br><br>This trail description is excerpted from the 2019 Guidebook. For details on all trails, trailheads and more <a href="https://www.wildernesspress.com/product.php?productid=16685&cat=0&page=1&utm_source=BARTsite&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=BayAreaRidgeTrail">buy the book</a> from Wilderness Press.
Trail Stats
7.6 km
145 m
479 m
135 m
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Photos
The entrance to the Main Tunnel of the New Almaden Mine was down there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was a cinnaber (mercury ore) mine.
The entrance to the Main Tunnel of the New Almaden Mine was down there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was a cinnaber (mercury ore) mine.
Site of the Yellow Kid Tunnel entrance to the New Almaden Mine, a cinnabar (mercury ore) mine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Site of the Yellow Kid Tunnel entrance to the New Almaden Mine, a cinnabar (mercury ore) mine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Ruins of the Mine Hill Rotary Furnace - used to extract mercury from cinnabar in the early 20th century.
Ruins of the Mine Hill Rotary Furnace - used to extract mercury from cinnabar in the early 20th century.
The Castillero Trail offers an interesting perspective into the ruins of the old mine office.
The Castillero Trail offers an interesting perspective into the ruins of the old mine office.
New Year's Day brings sunshine and group-wide smiles to the Great Eastern Trail Connector.
New Year's Day brings sunshine and group-wide smiles to the Great Eastern Trail Connector.
Capehorn Pass Trail climbs steeply to meet Hacienda Trail.
Capehorn Pass Trail climbs steeply to meet Hacienda Trail.
January is a great time to experience the Virl O. Norton Trail.
January is a great time to experience the Virl O. Norton Trail.
Looking out towards the hills south of San Jose, California.
Looking out towards the hills south of San Jose, California.
The countryside south of San Jose looks absolutely gorgeous from the Virl O. Norton Trail.
The countryside south of San Jose looks absolutely gorgeous from the Virl O. Norton Trail.
The Santa Cruz Mountains poke through the clouds on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The Santa Cruz Mountains poke through the clouds on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The Wood Road Trail meanders through the Quicksilver Hills with the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance.
The Wood Road Trail meanders through the Quicksilver Hills with the Santa Cruz Mountains in the distance.
The Santa Cruz Mountains stand in fleeting sunlight on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The Santa Cruz Mountains stand in fleeting sunlight on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The Santa Cruz Mountains are shrouded in clouds on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The Santa Cruz Mountains are shrouded in clouds on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The Quicksilver Hills and Santa Cruz Mountains hide their peaks in the clouds on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The Quicksilver Hills and Santa Cruz Mountains hide their peaks in the clouds on a stormy winter day along the Wood Road Trail.
The old English Camp, pictured here, was a town of about 1000 people inhabited by miners and their families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when nearby mines were active.
The old English Camp, pictured here, was a town of about 1000 people inhabited by miners and their families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when nearby mines were active.