The oldest, biggest—and steepest—park in San Jose. Hike miles of trails and climb high to Eagle Rock for an incredible view of the Santa Clara Valley. Site of many mineral springs… and earthquakes.
The oldest municipal park in California, Alum Rock was founded in 1872 and became a nationally-known health spa, with 27 mineral springs, mineral baths, an indoor swimming pool, a tea garden, a restaurant, and a dance pavilion. The stone baths and a gazebo sheltering a fountain are all that remain of its former splendor, but it still offers 700 acres of natural, rugged beauty and a visitor center that provides educational displays, including live residents Owliver the owl and gopher snakes Boris and Natasha; a model of the park; stuffed birds and animals; an acorn grinding stone; and the remains of a 2,000-ton “meteorite” found in 1800. The meteorite is a hunk of manganese that provided 39 tons of high-grade ore for the war effort of 1918. The Center sells reprinted historic brochures and postcards which portray the park’s vivid history.
Located in a canyon in the Diablo Range foothills on the east side of San Jose, the 720 acre (2.9 km²) park offers 13 miles (21 km) of trails, varying from fairly level along Penitencia Creek to sharp switchbacks climbing to the ridges to the South Rim Trail and the North Rim Trail. The narrow floor of the canyon includes a visitor center, picnic areas, a playground, and sand volleyball pits.
http://www.nnvesj.org/Archives/ARPHistory.htm
16240 Alum Rock Ave.
Park entrance on Penitencia Creek Road
San Jose, CA 95127
(408) 259-5477
Google Earth Placemark: File:AlumRockPark.kml
Alum Park is open all year. Hours are 8:00 a.m. until one-half hour after sunset.
Parking: Fees are collected on weekends and holidays, and daily from mid-june through Labor Day [subject to change]. Parking is $6.00 per car.
