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A trail off Mine Hill Trail that goes to the Mine Hill Rotary Furnace and English Camp, and then rejoins Mine Hill Trail


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Map Key

1.3

Miles

2.0

KM

Point to Point

1,649' 503 m

High

1,334' 406 m

Low

60' 18 m

Up

316' 96 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildlife

Family Friendly Interesting historical sites, picnic areas, and a wide, easy, well maintained trail make this a great option for everyone.

Description

The Castillero Trail splits from Mine Hill Trail just after a little picnic area with a horse trough. Stay to the right at this fork in the trail to take the Castillero Trail. The Castillero Trail is an open, wide trail with views of the pristine Santa Cruz Mountains on the right. This section follows along a hillside that drops off to the right, and continues up on the left. After going past a short wooded section, the old Mine Hill Rotary Furnace ruins come into view.

Just before reaching the old Mine Hill Rotary Furnace ruins, the hill to the left of the trail is Mine Hill. Here, a short spur trail off Castillero Trail doubles back and climbs Mine Hill, if you'd like to make your journey a bit more strenuous.

Continuing on past the Mine Hill Rotary Furnace ruins, the Castillero Trail veers left. It passes the Hidalgo Cemetery Trail on the right, as it goes around Mine Hill that is to the left of the trail. The vegetation becomes thicker as it winds on and meets up with the Yellow Kid Trail after a short ways.

To the right, at the Castillero Trail/Yellow Kid Trail junction is the site of the old English Camp. When these mines were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Cornish miners and their families lived here, in a town of about 1000 people.

Flora & Fauna

Grass and wooded hills. Deer.

Contacts

Land Manager: Santa Clara County Parks

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#30716

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#3,438

in California

#30,716

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24 Views Last Month
409 Since Jan 1, 2017
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Photos

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.
Jan 1, 2017 near Almaden…, CA
The Santa Cruz Mountains with Mt. Umunhum, 3,489 ft., at the far left, its summit in the clouds.  Seen looking southwest on Castillero Trail on a bright, crisp December afternoon.
Dec 19, 2021 near Almaden…, CA
View looking northwest up the peninsula from Castillero Trail.
Dec 18, 2016 near Almaden…, CA
The Castillero Trail offers an interesting perspective into the ruins of the old mine office.
Jan 1, 2017 near Almaden…, CA
On Castillero Trail, approaching the ruins. Mine Hill Rotary Furnace used to extract mercury from cinnabar in the early 20th century
Dec 18, 2016 near Almaden…, CA
Mine Hill Trail winds through hilly wooded terrain in east Quicksilver Park.
Dec 23, 2016 near Almaden…, CA

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