Santa Cruz, CA: Fall Creek to Lime Kilns

From the dirt lot, begin descending the Bennett Creek Trail to Fall Creek. Quickly lose the sounds of cars traveling on Empire Grade and become enveloped in a thick forest of old-growth redwoods.
In just over half mile, veer left and follow Fall Creek up the ravine on a wide, well-traveled path. At the bridge, veer left again, and begin a gradual ascent up a steep, narrow ravine (zigzagging over fallen trees and twisted roots) to the Lime Kilns. Covered in hanging moss, the kilns look like short, stone-built tunnels. In the 1800s, Henry Cowell (for whom the forest is named) made a fortune quarrying limestone in this area. After exploring, retrace steps back to the Bennett Creek Trailhead.
-Mapped by Tim Shisler

Trail Facts

• Distance: 1.9

Waypoints

WPT001

Location: 37.0496674, -122.0831528

From the parking lot, begin hiking on the Bennett Creek Trail. The trail quickly drops down the hillside under a thick canopy of Redwood trees to Fall Creek.

WPT002

Location: 37.0512352, -122.0854034

Turn left @ the T-junction toward the limestone kilns. The trail parallels Fall Creek on the right and begins a slow, steady ascent up the valley.

WPT003

Location: 37.052269, -122.0884018

Veer left to stay on the main trail. Veering right, leads down a small game trail to the creek bank.

WPT004

Location: 37.0550156, -122.0919113

Gold! (Okay, not really). This section of hillside is known for its rich pyrite deposits, which glisten in the sun depending on the time of day.

WPT005

Location: 37.0566101, -122.0927429

Continue across a bridge and turn left @ the Y-junction. Merge onto the South Fork Trail.

WPT006

Location: 37.0572281, -122.0939713

Rounding the bend, the sky suddenly emerges through the thick redwood canopy and illuminates the dark forest.

WPT007

Location: 37.058712, -122.0971375

Reach the remnants of several limestone kilns, which generated major business in 19th-century Santa Cruz–and a fortune for Henry Cowell and other California entrepreneurs. After exploring this area, make a U-turn and retrace steps back to the trailhead.

Beginning of the Bennett Creek Trail

Location: 37.0496826, -122.0831528

©Tim Shisler

Bennett Creek Trail

Location: 37.050705, -122.0830231

©Tim Shisler

Trail Junction

Location: 37.0511703, -122.0852737

©Tim Shisler

Bridge

Location: 37.0565758, -122.0927353

©Tim Shisler

Forest Opening

Location: 37.0572128, -122.0939407

©Tim Shisler

Limestone Kilns

Location: 37.0587196, -122.0971298

©Tim Shisler

Three Limestone Kilns

Location: 37.0586929, -122.0970917

©Tim Shisler