Hiking in Almaden - Santa Teresa County Park

Welcome to the first in an occasional series of articles about local hiking trails by an Almaden parent and hiking fan.  Quicksilver Park is the most visible and popular hiking spot in Almaden but comparatively few know about a small, picturesque entrance to Santa Teresa County Park hidden at the east end of Fortini Road.  Two trails diverge from this entrance, the Stile Ranch and Fortini Trails. They form a 2.6 mile loop that connects with other trails deeper into the park. 

Despite their proximity to each other, these two trails could not be more different in makeup.  The Fortini Trail leisurely rolls south through lush landscape as it takes you to and along a stream.  Bear left at the short connector trail and you find yourself intersecting the Stile Ranch trail that takes you back to the trailhead.  From here, the trail becomes more narrow as lush meadows turn to a rocky terrain that is equally beautiful in its own way.  Fantastically colored organisms can be seen growing on the rocks and in the spring, wildflowers leap from every crack and crevice.  As you crest the final hill, low rock walls built who knows how long ago form the foreground of a beautiful panorama of south Almaden and the hillsides that cradle it.  

The trail is open to horses, leashed dogs and mountain bikes.  Cyclists do tend to whiz down the Fortini Trail so stay alert for the sound of their approach.  No water or restrooms are available at the trailhead or on either trail. Please let the Editor know of any other trails you'd like reviewed.

Link to the map:  http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/Ride%20Here/Documents/Santa-Teresa-map.pdf

THIS WEEK IN A NUTSHELL:

Summer is right around the corner- 7 weeks away (for SJUSD)! Have you picked summer camps for your kids yet?  See the Acorn's Nutty Fun! page for a list Summer Camps in our area, and don't forget to use the Almaden Acorn special discount for Galileo camps (2013ACORN)! 

Events & Activities:

4/15-4/21    10AM-5PM      Party for the Planet      Happy Hollow     Week long recycling promotion

4/15-5/5      2PM     Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical   Bay Area Children's Theater   Berkeley  

4/17-19       7PM     Beauty and the Beast     Leland High School Drama Spring Musical     

4/18        4PM     Wild Things    Los Gatos Library 

4/19        3PM     Blue Balliet   Hicklebee's Book Store    Willow Glen

4/19-20    12PM-7PM     RoboGames     San Mateo Fairgrounds

4/19-28     A Chorus Line     Children's Musical Theater     Montgomery Theater
4/19-20     James and the Giant Peach    Peninsula Youth Theater

4/20        8AM-2PM      Guadalupe Gardens Spring Events 

4/20       11AM-4PM     Celebrate Earth and Arbor Day    San Jose History Park

4/20       11AM            Pageant Grounds and Arbor Day Celebration     Los Gatos

4/20        12PM-4PM     Science Saturday    YSI Vasona Lake County Park 

4/20        9AM-1:30PM     Wildflower Birds & Butterflies    Calero/ San Vincente  
4/20        10AM-12PM     Kids Club: Mother's Day Memory Frame       Michael's  

4/20        10AM-1PM     Deer Hollow Farm Tour      Mountain View    

4/20        10:30 AM        Music & Movement     Almaden Library   Preschoolers 

4/20        1-5PM        Pioneer High School Art Show 

4/20        5:30-8PM     Play Your Way     An Autism Event     Children's Discovery Museum

4/21        2-3:30PM     Stephan Pastis     Hicklebees     Willow Glen    

4/23        3-4:30PM     Stuart Gibbs     Hicklebees     Willow Glen  

Coming Soon:         

4/25        Toddler on the Farm Series     Hidden Villa     3 part series on Thursdays, 4/25, 5/2,5/9

4/30         Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival Food Vendor Application Deadline
5/5           Kids Rock! Concert     Los Gatos Parent Nursery School   Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn 

5/18         Girls On the Run 5K at Vasona Lake Park   Registration Open