Wood Road Trail

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The Wood Road Trail goes from the edge of the Santa Cruz Mountains, to the Mine Hill Furnace ruins deep in Quicksilver Park. When the cinnabar (mercury ore) mines in Quicksilver Park were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Mine Hill Furnace processed the cinnabar, to extract its mercury. Wood to fire the Mine Hill Furnace and Hacienda Furnace, was cut in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the Wood Road Trail trailhead. The wood was then transported to the furnaces along the old Wood Road. Wood Road Trail follows the old Wood Road.

Wood Road Trail starts at the Hicks entrance to Quicksilver Park. This entrance is off of Hicks Road, on the northeastern edge of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The trail starts by gradually climbing through wooded terrain to the top of a ridge - Jaques Ridge. The surrounding terrain is rather rugged with steep hillsides falling away from the trail. Jaques Ridge runs parallel to the main ridge that traverses Quicksilver Park - Capitancillos Ridge. Breaks in the trees provide magnificent views of the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains.

At the top of Jaques Ridge, the trail veers left and descends into the valley between Jaques Ridge and Capitancillos Ridge. As it descends it leaves the woods and crosses grassy terrain. Although this is a valley, it is also the divide between two creek watersheds. Thus, steep hillsides fall away from the trail on both sides of the trail, making for dramatic scenery - views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Quicksilver Park hills.

After crossing the valley, Wood Road Trail gradually climbs Capitancillos Ridge, to the Mine Hill Furnace ruins. This section of the trail goes through grass and brush terrain, with stands of trees dotting the hills. It runs along a hill side, a side of Mine Hill, the tallest point of the Capitancillos Ridge. Wood Road Trail ends at the Mine Hill Furnace ruins and Castillero Trail.

Grass, brush, and wooded hills. Deer.