Limekiln

Limekiln State Park encompasses 711 acres along the Big Sur coast in Monterey County, established in 1994 to protect one of the region's most unique and scenic canyons. Located 2 miles south of Lucia on Highway 1, the park occupies what has been called the steepest coastal canyon in the continental United States. The park features four historic lime kilns from an 1887-1890 lime-calcining operation, spectacular 100-foot Limekiln Falls, ancient coast redwood groves representing some of Monterey County's oldest remaining old-growth, and a beautiful beach providing direct access to the Pacific Ocean. The combination of industrial history, towering waterfalls, majestic redwoods, and dramatic coastline within a compact area creates exceptional visitor experiences. Three hiking trails—Limekiln Trail, Falls Trail, and Hare Creek Trail—explore different aspects of the park's natural and cultural heritage. Currently open for day use only, the park allows visitors to experience two iconic California ecosystems—coast redwoods and rocky shoreline—within easy walking distance, demonstrating Big Sur's extraordinary landscape diversity.

Limekiln State Park's steep canyon and diverse habitats from ocean to forested slopes support varied wildlife communities. Black-tailed deer browse in forest clearings and along creek corridors, particularly visible during dawn and dusk. Black bears occasionally wander through the park foraging for berries and other food sources. Mountain lions inhabit the rugged Big Sur backcountry, though sightings are rare. Smaller mammals include gray foxes, raccoons, skunks, and various rodent species. The ancient redwood forest provides habitat for northern spotted owls, a threatened species requiring large territories of old-growth forest. Marbled murrelets, small seabirds that nest on broad branches of old-growth redwoods, may utilize the park's oldest trees. Steller's jays, varied thrushes, winter wrens, and Pacific wrens inhabit the forest understory. Limekiln Creek supports aquatic salamanders and possibly steelhead trout in lower reaches. The beach and nearshore waters host California sea lions, harbor seals hauling out on rocks, and sea otters foraging in kelp beds. Brown pelicans patrol the surf line while cormorants dive for fish. Rocky intertidal zones support diverse invertebrate communities including anemones, sea stars, urchins, and crabs.

The park's flora centers on its coast redwood groves, featuring trees that have recovered remarkably since the area was essentially logged to ground level approximately 100 years ago to fuel the lime kilns. Current stands include very large trees demonstrating coast redwoods' extraordinary growth rates and resilience. Some groves contain the oldest and largest coast redwoods remaining in Big Sur, having escaped earlier logging. Beneath the redwood canopy, shade-tolerant species include Douglas fir, western hemlock, tan oak, and California bay. The understory features sword fern, redwood sorrel, various berry species, and mosses carpeting logs and rocks. Along Limekiln Creek and Hare Creek, riparian vegetation includes bigleaf maple, red alder, California bay, and willows creating lush corridors contrasting with drier slopes. The park's steep topography creates varied microclimates supporting different plant communities, from moist redwood groves in protected canyons to drier mixed evergreen forest on exposed ridges. Coastal influences including fog drip extend redwood distribution nearly to the ocean. The vegetation demonstrates remarkable recovery from industrial logging, with century-old second-growth forests again resembling old-growth in structure and function.

Limekiln State Park occupies an exceptionally steep coastal canyon carved through the Santa Lucia Range, part of the Coast Ranges extending along central California. The park's name derives from limestone deposits that attracted the Rockland Lime and Lumber Company in the 1880s. These limestone outcrops formed from ancient marine sediments deposited when the area was beneath the ocean, later uplifted by tectonic forces along the San Andreas Fault system. The limestone's marine origin is evident in fossil content. The four stone and iron lime kilns, constructed 1887-1890, utilized limestone quarried from nearby scree slopes. The kilns heated limestone to extreme temperatures, driving off carbon dioxide and producing quicklime used in cement for construction in San Francisco and Monterey. The steep canyon reflects rapid uplift combined with intensive stream erosion by Limekiln Creek, which has cut deeply through uplifted marine sediments and metamorphic rocks. Limekiln Falls cascades 100 feet over resistant rock layers. The geology creates the dramatic topography that concentrates moisture in canyon bottoms, supporting redwood growth nearly to sea level while surrounding slopes remain drier.

Limekiln experiences a Mediterranean coastal climate with mild, wet winters and cool, foggy summers characteristic of the Big Sur coast. Summer fog is essential for coast redwoods, with trees capturing moisture through fog drip that supplements water availability during the dry season. Annual precipitation averages 40-50 inches, falling almost entirely between October and April, with some winters exceeding 60 inches. Winter temperatures remain mild, typically 45-55°F, while summer temperatures rarely exceed 70°F in forested areas, though exposed slopes can be warmer. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean moderates temperature extremes, creating stable conditions favorable for redwoods. Limekiln Creek flows year-round in normal precipitation years, with winter flows increasing dramatically following storms. The 100-foot waterfall is most impressive during winter and spring when creek flows are highest. Summer fog frequency varies annually, with some summers bringing persistent marine layer while others remain sunnier. The mild climate allows year-round visitation, though winter storms can temporarily impact access via Highway 1. The combination of substantial winter rainfall, summer fog, and mild temperatures creates ideal conditions for coast redwoods.

The Big Sur region has been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples including the Esselen and Salinan, who utilized the area's diverse resources from marine foods to acorns, game, and plant materials. The rugged terrain provided some protection from Spanish mission influence, though indigenous populations declined dramatically due to disease and disruption. The area remained sparsely settled during Mexican and early American periods due to extreme isolation. The Rockland Lime and Lumber Company established operations at Limekiln from 1887 to 1890, constructing four iron and stone kilns to process limestone quarried from nearby slopes. Workers heated limestone to extreme temperatures using redwood as fuel, producing quicklime shipped via cable to Rockland Cove where a dog-hole port allowed loading onto ships. The lime provided essential cement ingredients for construction in growing California cities. After three years, the company had exhausted easily accessible limestone and consumed most nearby redwood, abandoning the site. The forest recovered over subsequent decades. In 1984, planned logging of the west fork of Limekiln Creek triggered conservation objections, ultimately resulting in land acquisition for park protection.

Limekiln State Park resulted from conservation activism in the 1980s when private landowners planned logging of Limekiln Creek's west fork, threatening to destroy recovering redwood forests. Conservationists successfully advocated for protecting the land as a public park, leading to property transfer to California State Parks. The park opened to the public in September 1995 after facility development. The Esalen Institute had operated the family-owned campground before the state acquisition, maintaining limited facilities while preserving the area's natural character. State park development added improved camping facilities, trails, and interpretive features highlighting both natural and industrial history. The four historic lime kilns became centerpiece attractions, with the Limekiln Trail providing access across three bridges. The Chalk Fire of September-October 2008 heavily damaged the park, burning 25.4 square miles in the region and forcing park closure. Extensive rehabilitation was required before the park reopened on July 2, 2010. More recently, early 2024 storm events caused significant damage to campground infrastructure and trails, leading to ongoing closures of camping facilities and some trails while day-use areas remain open.

The park offers three primary trails exploring different features. The Limekiln Trail, a half-mile route, leads across three bridges to the four historic iron and stone lime kilns dating to 1887-1890, providing insight into Big Sur's industrial history when limestone quarrying and lime production supported California's growth. The kilns remain remarkably intact, allowing visitors to examine 19th-century industrial architecture. Currently, the Limekiln Trail to Pitkins Curve Trail and ocean view overlook remains open. The Falls Trail, slightly over half a mile but the most challenging route, leads to spectacular 100-foot Limekiln Falls cascading through a narrow gorge. Visitors must cross Limekiln Creek to reach the falls, which are most impressive during winter and spring when flows are highest. The Hare Creek Trail, a gentle half-mile walk, leads into the heart of ancient redwood groves featuring some of Big Sur's oldest and largest coast redwoods. This trail demonstrates how quickly redwoods can grow, with century-old second-growth now containing very large trees. Currently, Hare Creek and Falls Trails remain closed due to storm damage. The beach provides direct ocean access for tidepooling, beachcombing, and coastal views. The park's compact size allows experiencing multiple attractions in a single visit.

Limekiln State Park is located on Highway 1 approximately 2 miles south of Lucia and 55 miles south of Carmel in the heart of Big Sur. Access via Highway 1 provides spectacular coastal scenery but can be slow due to winding roads and occasional closures from storms or landslides affecting this unstable coastal highway. As of December 2025, the park is open for day use only, with the campground closed due to safety and infrastructure issues from early 2024 storm events. Day-use facilities include parking areas, restrooms, and trail access. The Limekiln Trail to Pitkins Curve Trail and ocean overlook is currently open, while Hare Creek and Falls Trails remain closed pending repairs. Before the closures, the campground offered sites beneath redwoods and along the creek, with some sites suitable for RVs up to 24 feet. Visitor services in Big Sur are limited, with the nearest significant services in Cambria to the south or Carmel/Monterey to the north. Visitors should check current conditions before traveling, as facilities and trail access continue evolving as storm damage is addressed. The park's location on scenic Highway 1 makes it a popular stop for travelers exploring the Big Sur coast.

Limekiln State Park protects important examples of recovering coast redwood forest demonstrating these trees' remarkable resilience following extensive logging. The century-old second-growth forests now provide habitat approaching old-growth conditions, supporting species requiring complex forest structure. Protection of the entire Limekiln Creek watershed maintains stream flows essential for aquatic species and ensures water quality. The historic lime kilns document 19th-century industrial use and environmental recovery, demonstrating that even heavily exploited areas can regenerate when given protection. Contemporary challenges include managing recreational impacts on sensitive redwood forest soils and creek systems, controlling erosion on steep slopes, and preventing introduction of sudden oak death and other pathogens threatening associated tree species. The Chalk Fire demonstrated fire risks even in typically moist coastal forests during extreme conditions, likely to increase with climate change. Storm damage from atmospheric rivers highlights infrastructure vulnerability in steep terrain prone to landsliding and flooding. Climate change threatens redwoods through altered precipitation patterns, reduced summer fog, and increased temperatures affecting tree physiology. The park demonstrates both the resilience of California's ecosystems and their vulnerability to intensifying human impacts and climate change, making protection and adaptive management increasingly critical for preserving these magnificent forests.