Want to get away? There’s no need to take a flight to some far-off destination. Just jump in a car and head west on Highway 9 to Saratoga Quarry Park, 22000 Congress Springs Road. Located just two miles from downtown Saratoga, the tranquil and picturesque 64-acre property is a natural haven from the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley.

Hours of Operation: Open every day from dawn to dusk.

Saratoga Quarry Park Map: 22000 Congress Springs Road

Saratoga Quarry Park is a portal to the past and a gateway to the Santa Cruz Mountains, as well as a place to explore, play, and learn. Explore the trails of this former quarry site to uncover a wealth of cultural and natural resources.

A Brief History of the Quarry Park Property
There were two active quarries on the site in the early 1900s. Both were converted from lime quarries into one gravel quarry after the purchase of the properties in 1908. In 1921, Santa Clara County bought the property and operated it as a rock and gravel quarry, which supplied the material for the county’s roads. The County closed the quarry in 1967.

Following the 1967 closure, County employees used the site for recreational activities with their families and friends. On their own time, they installed and maintained picnic tables, barbecue pits, and sitting areas. The site—which was restricted to the public—was used for parties, including an occasional wedding, until the late 1990s.

The City of Saratoga acquired the property in 2011 with a conservation easement and joint funding from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. The easement assures that the property will be retained as a natural scenic and open space area by restricting the property’s use. A Master Plan for the park was approved by the Saratoga City Council in 2014 and sets the stage for a unique local and regional destination that improves trail and open space connectivity.

On Saturday, October 31, 2015 the City of Saratoga unveiled the 64-acre Saratoga Quarry Park to the public. Guests were be able to hike into history as the park still shows remnants of its past as an operating quarry back in the early- to mid-1900s.

Check out photos here.

View and print the event flyer here.

Read the press release here.

For more information on the development of Quarry Park, visit the Quarry Park Master Plan page.