Almaden Quicksilver - Mine Hill Trail
We had driven to the Mockingbird Hill Parking Lot to hike the Hacienda Trail, but the lot was full, so, instead, we drove to the Deep Gulch Trailhead. We started in the afternoon and it was a little chilly, but with the elevation gain and the full sun, it got warm fast.
The girls enjoyed a side trail that we found, but other than that, this trail was a slog. Instead of walking all the way up, we gave up and went back to the car.
Surprisingly, there were tons of people on the trail hiking and biking. We also found evidence of horses, but didn’t see any.
What I Learned:
One of the ways you can get your kids involved in hiking is to have them find “new trails”. Of course, don’t go creating new trails, but if there’s a side trail that is well worn, which doesn’t have a “trail closed” or “this is not a trail” sign, go for it. Celebrate that find/win with your kids and they’ll love hiking just a bit more.
Even with the above, obviously, the best way to get your kids into hiking is to reward them with sweets after the hike. It’s earned after all.
1.6 miles, 1 hr 10 min, 334 ft of ascent
Hike Review:
Almaden Quicksilver is a gem of a park. This trail, however, has almost no shade, dusty, and is just darned hot. The views are nice, it’s not a fun trail.
Even though it’s not fun, there are so many people that hike this trail. Thank goodness the trails are wide and easy to share with others.