Entry No. 39 — the Santa Cruz 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 ruins are the remnants of a massive 19th-century lime-burning operation. Established in the 1870s by the IXL Lime Company, the facility heated quarried limestone to produce lime used in mortar and plaster, heavily supplying the rebuilding of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. Today, hikers can explore three towering, granite-block kilns, an old powder house, and a nearby barrel mill site, all slowly being reclaimed by ferns and redwoods.

The move: Embark on a scenic, shaded hike along the fern-lined Fall Creek Trail, stopping to photograph the towering, moss-draped stone structures and read the interpretive historical displays together.

📍 Before you go The ruins are located within the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and are legally accessible to the public via well-maintained hiking trails.

• 📍 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: mountainparks.org · modernhiker.com · parks.ca.gov

last checked: 2026-07-20