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Banner Photo: Wrentit by Vivek Khanzode
Almaden Quicksilver County Park - Wood Road Entrance
The Wood Road Trail (opposite Mount Umunhum Road) of the historic Almaden Quicksilver County Park begins in the dense oak woodland of the Santa Cruz Mountains, with a gradual ascent to scrub and chaparral habitat and beautiful views of Mt. Umunhum to the west. We will be looking for warblers such as Black-throated Gray, Wilson's, and Orange-crowned, as well as oak-woodland and chaparral birds like Spotted Towhee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House wren, and California Thrasher. Purple Finch and Lazuli bunting are also possible.
Trip Difficulty: 4 miles (option to go to Hidalgo Cemetery or English Camp). Wide, service trails; moderately strenuous birding hike.
Other Trip Notes: Please note that Hicks Road is narrow and windy and heavily used by bicyclists from both east and west approaches.
Leaders: Sheila Raymond 408-887-4854, Andy Melnick 650-823-4117, Edward Rooks (408) 318-2485 and Joyce Zhang (650) 656-5830
Beginner Friendly, Family Friendly Ages 14 and up
Meet: Wood Road trailhead parking lot entrance to Almaden Quicksilver County Park.
Directions: From CA-85 in San Jose, exit Camden Ave. Continue south on Camden Ave for approximately 1.7 miles, then turn right onto Hicks Road and continue for another 6 miles. At the intersection of Mt Umunhum Rd and Hicks Rd, which is a 4-way stop sign, turn left onto Wood Rd into the parking area. Latitude/Longitude: 37.175410, -121.862181.
Parking Type and Fees: No entry fee; the parking lot is gravel; the trail itself is not ADA compliant.
Facilities: There are no facilities at the trailhead, however a vault toilet is available across Hicks Road at the Sierra Azul parking lot at Jacques Ridge (beginning of Mt Umunhum Road).There is no cell phone service at the trailhead; in the park cell phone service is spotty.
Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvas.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.