Entry No. 49 — the San Francisco 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 massive, moss-covered stone structures are the remains of a major late-19th-century lime-processing operation. Operated by the IXL Lime Company from 1874 to 1919, the kilns burned local limestone using redwood timber as fuel to produce the lime mortar that helped rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. Today, three large granite kilns, a stone-walled storage depot, and remnants of the old barrel mill stand slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding forest.

The move: Embark on a scenic, shaded 3.3-mile round-trip hike along the fern-lined Fall Creek Trail, stopping to photograph the towering, moss-draped stone kilns and enjoy a quiet picnic under the redwoods.

📍 Before you go The ruins are located along a well-maintained public hiking trail in the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which is open daily from dawn to dusk with no entry fee for this specific unit.

• 📍 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: modernhiker.com · californiawanderland.com

last checked: 2026-07-20