Santa Cruz Lime Kiln Hikes

 

Got this link, so decide to give it a try the weekend. Although we've prepared the state park annual pass, the parking lot off the Felton Empire Rd is free. (Maps) The parking lot can host around 30 cars. We arrived early so there are plenty of space. When we left around noon, it is full. People just park off the street.

Picture taken at the trail head (below). As you can see on the map, we start from the south, going north along the creek.

It's a beautiful park. Tall redwoods everywhere. Creek running alongside the trail.

There are a few river crossing that may get your shoes wet. some with wooded boards like below. So water-proof hiking shoes are recommanded.

Apparently there are multiple trails that cover the whole areas. If you don't have a map, it could be very confusing when reading the signs (like the one below).

Anyway, we took the right after the bridge (Fall Creek Trail) and came back from the left (South Fork Trail). It is a loop.

This is where the trail split. Fall Creek Trail continues north to the Barrel Mill Site while South Fork Trail takes you to the Old Lime Kiln Ruins.

We reached Barrel Mill Site (below) and continued north. But soon figure out the next stop would be the Big ben Trail and that's too far off. 

Turn back and take the South Fork Trail, we reached the ruins (below).

Back to the parking lot around noon (started around 9). Total 10.63km. Very nice scenery, soft ground. 500-feet elevation is a good exercise.