There’s something extra wild about Almaden Quicksilver County Park these days: wildflowers! They’re exploding like confetti amid the grasslands, and you can see them on this 5.7-mile balloon loop that starts from the park’s Mockingbird Hill Entrance. Beginning on the New Almaden Trail, climb under California bay and buckeye before quickly descending into a sloping canyon with purple Chinese houses, larkspur, and baby blue eyes.

The trail lopes along a pretty creek, ravines, and grasslands filled with buttercups and lupine. The narrow dirt trail is mostly shaded, with slants of sun, and every now and then you can see Mount Hamilton to the northeast. At the 2.8-mile mark, turn left onto Prospect Trail, climbing steeply for the next 0.2 mile beside fiddleneck, popcorn flower, and poppies. At the top of the hill there’s a picnic table overlooking the Santa Clara Valley, San Jose, Santa Cruz Mountains, Black Mountain, Mission Peak, Mount Hamilton, and the Diablo Range.

Bear left to join the Randol Trail, a nice and wide dirt trail with sunny stretches and shady corridors of warrior’s plume, maidenhair fern, and milk maids. After 1.2 miles, turn left to stay on the Randol Trail towards the Buena Vista Trail. At the 4.7-mile mark, turn left onto the Buena Vista Trail. After a short 0.3 mile, turn right to rejoin the New Almaden Trail for the last 0.7 mile back to the trailhead, traversing this particularly colorful stretch of wildflowers once more. 

The Mockingbird Hill Entrance is located on the southeast side of Almaden Quicksilver County Park. From CA-85, take exit 6 for Almaden Expressway south. Drive 4.4 miles south on Almaden Expressway, and then turn right onto Almaden Road. Drive 0.6 mile and then turn right onto Mockingbird Hill Lane. Drive 0.4 mile to the park entrance on the left. No fee. Dog-friendly!

{Covid-19 Update, April 2021} Please visit the Santa Clara County Park for the latest park updates and Covid-19 safety protocols. 

Story and photos by Melissa Ozbek, @melissaozbek