Fall Creek – Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Awesome, breathtaking, must see to believe, and I’m just talking about the parking lot.
Loved seeing the HUGE redwoods especially the hollow one with hole for a wood stove chimney (former home of explorer Jim Bridger?). The San Lorenzo River looked lovely, and the humongous yellow banana slugs were extremely cool to see for this Hawai’i boy. Ya gotta go visit if you’re in the area!

Pretty nice place to go for a hike, free of gift shops, and its very rewarding to get up to the Lime Kilns.

Beautiful place to hike, several trails, plenty of shade. Nice scenery and creek. I saw a lot of deer.

I love this place! My boyfriend and I went at around 11:30 on a Thursday, and the parking lot had many open spaces. It was our first time so we picked a random trail that branched off to the trail with the kilns, and back to the parking lot. The trees, creeks, and overall view is beautiful! don’t expect to climb the mountain and see an overall «view» — the view is the entire walk! The terrain was moderately easy, with a steady incline at times. We can’t wait to go back and explore more trails :)

Beautiful waterfalls abound on this hike. It’s not too strenuous — but not too easy either. It’s a great moderate walk with multiple trail options. You’ll likely see several banana slugs, too! Free parking that usually has an open space.

Nice park, free parking, not too annoying to get too (e.g., miles of single lane roads like some parks).
Forest trails following creek with bridges.
About 20 miles of trails.
Some of the trails get confusing without signs. 6 – 8 miles in, my trail was interrupted by a giant fallen tree and I couldn’t find where the trail resumed, after detouring around it.

A nice trail with good ground– not too many bumps & roots sticking out. Very good for trail running. I went to the shorter limestone kiln trail (see pics) which is 1.2 miles of creek side hiking. Learning the history of San Lorenzo Valley & seeing the artifacts brought the place even more alive. I felt like there was more sense & existence of the past there. There were many large kilns about three times my height and it was fenced so no one drops in or walks through. I saw /​heard /​smelled some guys sneaking in haha this place is shaded by a deep forest of tall redwoods & there are more trails to try out.

Who doesn’t love redwoods with creeks running through? The parking lot is always really full, so get there early or late. The trails are fairly well marked (though a few times we weren’t sure if we were still on a trail, and too many loose branches were blocking paths) and very green all year round!

Wow! What a great place to hike. Right after we started our hike, the trail divided. To the right was San Lorenzo High School. We took the left trail to Fall Creek. A few minutes later, after crossing the creek over a bridge, the trail divided in two. There was a sign that said «trail» with no other information. This time the creek divided and so did the trail. We followed the creek and trail to the right. In retrospect, if we would had gone left we would have taken the shortcut to the Lime Kilns. It was a good thing we went right which was the longer way to the Kilns because this place was fabulous. Right before we made the loop we asked two people who were resting next to the creek for directions to the Lime Kiln. The guy had a map and told us to take the loop just above where we were to the left. We did and a few minutes later we came to a small hole dug under a tree with sign that read «Powder Magazine». We decided to rest a short distance from the Kilns. A few minutes later we heard people talking on the trail above us. When they approached our location I heard some loud noises like that of breaking branches and a woman screaming in panic. As we looked across from our location we saw what appeared to be a horse and its rider tumbling over the cliff. I could not believe that this was happening. My son and I ran to assist the fallen rider but we could not reach him safely due to the steep terrain and the vegetation by the creek. But we had a good view of the rider that fell, his horse and his companion above who had already dismounted her horse and was looking down towards them. They were the same couple that had helped us minutes earlier with directions to this location. To our amazement both had survived that awful fall of about 50 feet down over rocks and vegetation without major injuries. I told my son to stay behind while the lady and I helped the guy get his horse safely back to the trail. This is something awful that happened but it was a good thing I was there to lend a hand. This is a beautiful hike but please be careful when walking or riding a horse on higher ground near the Kilns.

Went on a 7 mile hike here with my boyfriend today. Very nice park!
The parking lot is pretty close to Felton but pretty simple. Its a sunny dirt lot, but it was almost full by 9 am (this was on Labor Day though). Also parking was free! However, there are no bathrooms or other facilities here and the trail sign isn’t visible until you are right up to the trail.
The area is pretty nice. Even in the summer and with this drought there is still running creeks and green plants everywhere. Our hike took is through some good elevation change and we went some of the old machinery used for mining lime. Also had to duck under a handful of trees.
Pay attention to the maps as the trails aren’t well marked. If we didn’t have directions with us, we probably would have made a wrong turn somewhere.
Will definitely be returning sometime soon.

This park is so big, I was only there for about a half an hour so I don’t even know if I have a right to write this review but here it goes… First off the parking lot I used which was on Felton Empire Road was pretty small and almost full when I was there. When you start walking it goes down hill and then levels off. We walked for about 25 minutes. The entire time I could hear the rushing water of the creek so we walked till we could actually see it. On the way someone pointed out a banana slug to us and then on the way back I spotted one. When you’re by yourself at this park, it really makes you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere with zero civilization and if you waited long enough you would encounter Bigfoot. Overall the park was nice but if you’re only visiting the Santa Cruz area I recommend the main Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park rather than the Fall Creek side.

Really pretty hike along a creek to the Lyme mine. Short and pretty easy. Good for kids and photos

Really enjoyed this park. Was in the SC area and decided to meet up w/​an experienced hiker friend to go with (i’m just an amateur hiker). I’m so glad i brought someone though. We started a bit late (10:45am or so) and I was hoping to hike for 3 hrs max, but my hiker friend is abit more ambtious and we ended up hiking for just over 4 hours, about 11 miles in total. During our hike in the forest, we only ran into 2 parties but as we got close to the end of the trail there were 2 – 3 more parties. When we got back to the cars, my smoothie (or anything perishable) went bad. The temperature was 94*F. (parked in the shade). It remained 94−95* for almost my entire drive home, up the peninsula… with the shade in the park thank god i didn’t get a migraine. But if i return, i’ll def consider coming by 9am the latest.

Such a beautiful walk through the redwoods. I highly recommend for anyone here on vacation or even living in the area. It’s a perfect walk for the family or wonderful jog.

This is a lesser known gem near Santa Cruz. The tourists go to the main part of Henry Cowell, which is 90% parking lot and campsites. The locals go here.
Here’s the thing to be warned about Fall Creek:
— The landscape gets less interesting the higher up you go in elevation and you’ll never find good views. It’s mixed forest, fallen rotting logs, and mosquitos up there.
— The higher up you go in elevation, the more nonexistent the trail markings get.
The point is, don’t go up that f-​ing hill.
Otherwise, this park is awesome and is especially a great option if you’re looking for something short and easy, or if you’re looking for a classic, ferngully-​ish redwood forest to take out-​of-​town visitors who aren’t big hikers, or are too old or too young and can’t do anything strenuous. The trail to the lime kilns is easy and contains stunning, super lush, redwoody scenery. The lime kilns are huge and well-​preserved and cool.

Beautiful place to hike and enjoy God’s creation. Paved walk ways make it easy for anyone to enjoy.

A beautiful hike that is worth the stop if you are on the way in or out of Santa Cruz. The lush greens and tall redwood trees alongside the running creek provides a wonderful surrounding that makes you feel like you are hundreds of miles away from civilization. If you are looking to get lost in nature (literally and metaphorically speaking), this vast piece of land is the place to go. The trees provided a cool canopy so even if you go on warmer days, you could take a hike here and not feel like you’re overheating. Best of all, the trails are not crowded at all and even during the weekend when I had gone, my group passed less than 8 – 9 other groups during our few hours hike. If you are looking for a peaceful hike without much interruptions or distractions, make your way here and let loose in nature!
I will surely be back to further explore this place! :)

Went hiking here on a beautiful warm weekend. Thankfully the trees provided much needed shade. Overall the trail is great, not difficult at all in terms of elevation. There’s a nice creek that runs throughout the park. I would definitely return here for a day hike because the park has great scenery. I’d recommend going here if you’re in the Santa Cruz area and want to connect with nature. Admission and parking are free.

Came here on a Friday morning w/​my hiking group and boy let me give you a word of advice ! Unlike many other hiking places, such as Mission Peak or the Andrew Molera State Park, this park is quite laid back !
For instance, you don’t really need a hat nor as much water since the trails are beautifully lined with rows and rows of large redwood trees ! In fact, you might want to bring a jacket because it does get rather cool in there. But before you continue reading this rather long review, I’d just like to add that this review is specifically addressed to the Garden of Eden! Also, parking is $ 10 and it comes w/​a free map! Or you could park on the side of park and walk into the park; probably 0.5 mile walk.
I’d like to advise you, that when the signs tell you to stay on the main path, please do ! My friends and I accidentally took a detoured path while looking for the Garden of Eden and my foot ended up caving in on a decaying tree !!! Though for what it’s worth, I ended up finding a banana slug on my way down: P
Anyways, since this was our first time at this park we ended up getting lost for about an hour. It wasn’t until we asked the nice locals for directions and literally walked on the railroad tracks did we finally reach the garden! On another note, we didn’t see any train run by but a previous review said that once in awhile they do run the trains by so just be alert; if anything there should be enough room on the side of the tracks for you to stand aside.
If you keep going down the railroad tracks you will eventually reach the Garden of Eden. And please keep in mind that there are many misleading paths to it, but in reality they are just quite dangerous detoured paths. The correct path to the Garden of Eden has multiple signs in front of it that warn you to not bring alcohol, pets, and dive in the river. Though since there are not many patrols wandering around, all of these warnings are ignored. The Garden of Eden has a nice length of sand, a deep pool to swim in, and a cliff to jump down from to keep you company. Though like the name itself, this place does have nudity. Luckily my friends and I only ran into 1 young nude man (well-​endowed might I add) on our way there.
Please note that there are also a few broken glasses that we found so if you would like to just climb the rocks (super fun if you like to climb and are quite adventurous) and occasionally wade in the water I suggest you also bring a pair of boat shoes! Not the flip flops since those don’t give as good grip and can be lost in the current.
I’m definitely coming back next summer to jump off that cliff and swim for sure :)
On another note, there’s little to no service here so unfortunately I could not check in to this place on Unilocal ! boohoo !

This land is your land, this land is my land, From California to the New York Island. From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me – Woody Guthrie «This Land Is Your Land»
This history of redwood preservation is a colorful one starting with a British magazine and with a visit to a Redwood Grove where photographs not taken were as important as the ones that were. What is really fascinating too, about the establishment of Henry Cowell, is that it was Henry’s son Harry, wanting to honor the Father who briefly disowned him for a marrying against Henry’s wishes, who was most responsible for the creation of this park yet it is the senior Cowell who will be long remembered.
In fact, Henry doesn’t seem to be much of a redwood preservationist. Henry Cowell took over a successful lime kiln business at the turn of the century and under his guidance much of the lime used in the cement necessary to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake was produced at the Fall Creek works. Fall Creek redwoods were logged in order to construct redwood barrels for storing lime and for logs to fire the limekilns. The route I did I believe is the best way to experience this park. Your mileage may vary but if solitude is part of the attraction of escaping into the forest, I think you will prefer the way I experienced the park.
The trailhead starts in the small parking lot off of Felton Empire Rd. At 10:00AM, I got one of the last remaining spots so come early. I don’t believe there is a bathroom but from the parking lot is a dead end trail with a small grove of trees that works fine ;) At least from the male perspective…
Starting on the main trail, I took Bennett Creek over to the High School trail. The High School trail has a quite lovely and flat (except at the entrance where I slid down a sharp embankment) 2^nd Growth Redwood Grove that is so filled with trees and sunlight it really is the way to start this hike. I went in about a mile or so thinking it just dead ended (at least per the trail map). Later, I saw a sign that suggested the High School trail hooks up with the Ridge Trail on the other side but I did not go that way. Instead I walked back out of this forest and connected with the Ridge Trail at it’s start.
The Ridge Trail, and the when I hooked up with the Truck trail, is three miles or so of gradual, and sometimes not so gradual, incline. It is a beautiful hike with varying colors and fauna that I barely noticed the uphill. Plus, the benefit of my trail is your contact with others is limited. I saw a runner and a family wandering the grove on the High School trail; on the Ridge Trail I saw a hiker and her dog. That’s it for the first 4 – 5 miles of this hike. Except for the occasional sound of the Roaring Camps train, you’d never know you were just a few minutes from «civilization». At the end of the incline, you hit the unmarked Big Ben Tree trail. There is colored string at the entrance but if you are distracted by the trees you will pass it like I did. Here is where I saw my next trail compadres, a lovely Japanese couple with matching hiking sticks chatting affectionately enjoying the beautiful day. «That’s it,» I thought wistfully as I walked past them. «That’s what I want for the second half of my life. The rest is just window dressing.»
As the incline becomes a decline on the Truck trail, you know you have gone too far. But there are some more lovely groves to gaze at, so I didn’t turn around just yet to find the Big Ben Tree trail. I stayed on the Truck trail going downhill for about 5 minutes and then made my way back up hill to the crest. And that is where I found the colored rope signifying the start of the Big Ben Tree Trail. And what a knee bending downhill this is! Be careful or you will slip. But look! More wonderful second growth redwoods! I stopped and started several times on this downhill just to marvel at the beauty. This part of the Big Ben Tree trail hooks up with the Fall Creek and that is when I turned back towards the entrance. You could also add more mileage by going towards Trail End too. Also, skip the section of Big Ben that goes to, well, Big Ben and the lime kilns. Not really worth dealing with the crowds and my three miles on Fall Creek main trail plus North Fork section had more than enough people on it anyway.
But what a beautiful section of trail! Redwoods, creek, butterflies, ferns, it doesn’t get any better than this. It is rough in certain areas, you have to dodge trees too and I did twist my ankle twice, but that just added to the attraction of this hike for me :) The Fall Creek trail via North Forks gets you back to the small parking lot and the total round trip for this hike, with High School branch off and overshoot of the Big Ben trail was about 9 miles. I started at 10am and ended about 1:45pm.
Highly Recommended!!!