Entry No. 35 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: mine

Enriquita Mine

Established in the 1850s, the Enriquita Mine was a productive cinnabar mine that supplied mercury to the California Gold Rush. Today, the site is preserved within Almaden Quicksilver County Park, where the historic shafts have been sealed for safety. Hikers can explore the area via the Enriquita Trail to see rusted remnants of old mining equipment amidst scenic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The move: Take a scenic hike along the Enriquita Trail to enjoy the wildflowers, view the Guadalupe Reservoir, and photograph the rusted historic mining machinery left at the old mine site.

📍 Before you go The mine site is located within a public county park and is accessible via hiking trails, but the dangerous underground shafts and workings are sealed and strictly off-limits.

• 📍 Los Gatos
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: hikingproject.com · parks.sccgov.org

last checked: 2026-07-20