Entry No. 35 — the Monterey file — filed under: ruins

Old Lime Kiln Ruins

Tucked away in the redwood forest of the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, these moss-covered stone structures are the remains of a major 19th-century industrial lime-burning operation. Built in the mid-1870s by the IXL Lime Company, the kilns processed limestone to produce mortar and plaster, much of which was used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. Today, the massive granite-block kilns stand abandoned and are slowly being reclaimed by the forest, with ferns and trees growing directly out of their stone walls.

The move: Hike the scenic, shaded 3-mile round-trip trail along the bubbling Fall Creek, then stop to photograph the towering, moss-draped stone kilns and read the interpretive historical plaques together.

📍 Before you go Located within the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, the ruins are legally accessible via a well-maintained public hiking trail.

• 📍 Felton
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Fall Creek Trail, Felton, CA 95018, USA

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

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: parks.ca.gov · mountainparks.org

last checked: 2026-07-20