Limekiln Falls
Limekiln Falls is the Big Sur version of a limestone waterfall. While most of the waterfalls in the Big Sur area seem to have a bit of a rough and rugged character to them, this waterfall is graced by moss giving it a more fanned out segmented shape.  did say this falls is 100ft (I'm sure we can settle these discrepancies with the rangefinder and clinometer combo to measure the height).After getting to the car park (see directions below), you'll be greeted by a collection booth which charged us $7 to enter Limekiln State Park (as of 2003). And after finding parking, you get onto the well-maintained 2-mile return hike which involves a handful of stream crossings. Most of them should be pretty straightforward, but I did recall that the last crossing involved climbing over wet and slippery fallen tree. Also featured in the park are some of the namesake limekilns (about a mile from the trailhead branching off from the waterfall trail). Apparently, these limekilns were used to "kiln" (smelt) limestone quarried from the canyon, which ultimately becomes cement that ended up being used in many buildings that are standing in Monterey and San Francisco. Update 3/21/2010: Julie and I tried to re-visit this waterfall for better photos and to visit this park more thoroughly. Unfortunately, the park was closed due to fire damage from last year so that redo will have to wait for the next time we return to Big Sur. TRIP REPORTSGUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCESNEARBY WATERFALLSHave You Been To This Waterfall?
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| First, thanks for this cool website its nice to know about hidden gems in our backyard. We went on May 24th, 2008 and had the pleasure of seeing a running stream all the way...[more] |
| We would climb up the falls along the crevice to the left of the falls all the way up then over to the chute to the left of the falls and run down the gravel chute...[more] |
| This hike is AMAZING! I was happy going through this trail with a few friends as it was quite pretty.The road up is a long one and there were...[more] |
| Glad to know there are waterfall lovers like myself. I am enjoying the website. I thought I would post to you a picture of a waterfall in California that is...[more] |
| I was so surprised not to see the Three Sisters Waterfall in Descanso, CA (San Diego County) on your list & then remembered it's a fairly well kept secret...[more] |
| I absolutely loved the scenery of this whole hike and destination. It was very confusing to get there and we had to make a few U-Turns, but it was definitely worth...[more] |
| About a year ago, I was given a newspaper article describing these hidden falls in Orange County. The article itself did not specify the exact location, so I did some hunting online...[more] |
| Here is what I can only assume is called "Emerald Falls" just north of Filmore in Southern California. (In Los Padres National Forest) I think it is hands down...[more] |
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