In any case, the path ended at a series of four kilns whose heyday had long since passed.Īpparently, these limekilns were used to “kiln” (smelt) limestone quarried from the canyon (note the Limekiln Falls fell over a limestone wall). The nice thing about this trail was that it was much quieter compared to the Falls Trail. One of the namesake limekilns at Limekiln State Park Next, I continued for another 10-15 minutes on the Kiln Trail passing through another grove of coastal redwoods before reaching the namesake lime kilns after which the state park got its name. When I had my fill of Limekiln Falls, I then returned to the Falls and Kiln Trail junction. Limekiln Falls Trail Description – optional side excursions So I believe this was one of those falls where it would be better on a cloudy day from a photography standpoint. On a sunny afternoon, there were a lot of shadows cast on the lower parts of the Limekiln Falls, which may impact photos. Looking straight up towards the top of Limekiln Falls during our visit in April 2015 Nonetheless, the end of the official trail was also a perfectly fine spot to enjoy the falls. I recalled that back on our first visit in 2003, we had to climb a wet and slippery fallen log on the opposite side of the creek, but this obstacle wasn’t there on our 2015 visit. Julie helping Tahia negotiate deadfall and boulder obstacles at the creek crossings near the base of Limekiln Fallsįinally after about 0.5 miles from the trailhead, we reached the base of the impressive Limekiln Falls, where there was a small cascade fronting the base of the main drop.īut in order to access the base of that main drop, we needed to do a little bit of scrambling. That said, we still had to help our daughter across those sections. However, in our 2015 visit, it seemed like logs and planks were thoughtfully placed to make the crossing easier. I had recalled in our visit back in 2003 that some of the crossings might have been tricky (in terms of trying to keep our socks dry) due to a higher flowing stream. Julie and Tahia hiking along Limekiln Creek en route to the Limekiln FallsĪs we turned right to go onto the Falls Trail, the trail narrowed and became more primitive as we immediately crossed the first of three unbridged creek crossings. Meanwhile the abundant poison oak was something Julie and I had to be real cognizant of since we had brought our four-year-old daughter along on our April 2015 visit.Ĭontinuing on the well-shaded trail, we passed one or two more sturdy footbridges before reaching a signed junction.Īt this junction, the Kiln Trail continued straight while the Falls Trail descended to our right. somewhat widened with bridges across parts of Limekiln Creek) since the fire. I understand that the trail had been improved (i.e. Julie keeping Tahia close as we hiked between a grove that could contain poison oak en route to the Limekiln Falls We then meandered beneath more coastal redwoods (some showing evidence of a fire that had been through here) while flanked by poison oak. This was where the trail then branched off from the Hare Creek Trail (we took the fork labeled “Kiln Trail” and “Falls Trail”). Hiking beyond the Limekiln Campgroundįrom there, we walked towards the end of the short lot then passed through a campground nestled beneath towering coastal redwoods while flanked by Limekiln Creek.īeyond the campground, we crossed the first sturdy footbridge. Our Limekiln Falls excursion began from a well-established parking lot behind a payment kiosk (see directions below). Limekiln Falls Trail Description – hiking to the waterfall That said, when it had low flow (like in our April 2015 visit see photo above), the falls had a split appearance that kind of reminded me of Burgess Falls in Tennessee. When Limekiln Falls had good flow (as pictured at the top of this page), Julie and I were treated to an impressive display of a large limestone wall draped with water as it nourished the moss growing from it with its moisture. We had visited Limekiln Falls in both high flow and in the early Spring during the fourth year of a multi-year drought. Limekiln Falls in low flow in the Spring of a drought year in April 2015 I’m guessing that its height was on the order of 75-100ft (though our Ann Marie Brown book said it was on the high end of that range). In addition to its limestone characteristic, Julie and I were quite impressed by its size. However, it also featured impressively tall coastal redwoods, a dark-sanded beach, and a set of historic kilns that gave the park its name.Īs for the waterfall itself, we thought of it as the Big Sur version of a limestone waterfall since we had seen quite a few of them further south in Southern California. Sitting in the Limekiln State Park, we thought this waterfall was perhaps the most compelling attraction in the reserve. Limekiln Falls (I’ve also seen it spelled Lime Kiln Falls) was a pretty neat diversion along the rugged Big Sur coast.
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