San Jose, CA
Hikers: Cathy, Laura, Noreen
Distance: 9.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,527 ft.
"From 1890 to 1932 the park was a nationally known health spa with 27 mineral springs, an indoor swimming pool, tea garden, restaurant, and dance pavilion. At the time you could ride from downtown San Jose to the park on the Alum Rock Steam Railroad, a ride that cost a quarter. Today, remnants of the railroad bridges can be seen, some of the stone grottos that contain mineral springs are still accessible, but now the charms of the park focus on nature, wildlife, and hiking." - source
Nothing ever stops Noreen. Laura & I, we walked down stream and found a more passable section - meaning, we did not have to get wet.
Someone left a bouquet of flowers by the creek.
Never came across a stop sign on a trail before.
(There is a road up ahead you have to cross.)
This critter was quite chatty to say the least.
Eagle Rock
Well, what do you know! Palm trees.
We passed this little guy having his lunch.
The leaf made for a shady canopy over the spider's hole. Intentional?
Field of poison hemlock.
Poison Oak
Historic Alum Rock Bridge -1913.
Gazebo - also built in 1913.
That's the trail we came in on.
Rock Lettuce.
There are several of these stone bridges along the creek, all just a bit different than the last.
One of several mineral springs in the park.
Steller's Jay
Yep. That there is a rattler. He was not spotted on a trail, he was crossing our path in the picnic area of the park.
Log cabin - 1913
Trails:
I'm not naming the trails for this hike, for we never really knew what trails we were on. The signage in the park is poor, and the trail names we did know, did not match up to the park map. Speaking of maps, you may want to print a park map and a hiking/trail map from home. None of the kiosks had maps when we were there. We were able to obtain one from the visitor's center - which may or may not be open. Click the link below for the park website, to download and print the maps.
This park has a fair amount of wildlife - aside from the pictures above, we also saw a deer, quail, mallards, a hawk, a runner coming down the hill mentioned she had just seen a mountain lion - we were not so fortunate to have come across its path. It is also known to have bobcats as well.
