Limekiln

Our Mission Limekiln State Park The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. A“ t dawn, Big Sur’s majesty is almost painful to behold. That same prehistoric look, the look of always, Nature smiling at herself in the California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (805) 434-1996. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369. (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov SaveTheRedwoods.org/csp This park is operated in partnership with Parks Management Company: www.campone.com Limekiln State Park 63025 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920 (805) 434-1996 © 1998 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) mirror of eternity. ” –Henry Miller, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch F rom the redwoods to the sea describes the unique topography of Limekiln State Park. This gem of a park, 52 miles south of Carmel, adjoins the Ventana Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest. On the legendary Big Sur coastline where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific, the park’s more than 700 acres offer peaceful solitude, a breathtaking waterfall, and seascapes of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Watch wildlife from the beach or along fernlined trails, and picnic among the redwoods. Deep within their forest sanctuary, along the west fork of Limekiln Creek, tower the four enormous kilns from which the creek takes its name. The summer climate at this sparsely populated segment of the central coast is typically mild. Morning fog in the summer usually burns off before midday. Temperatures vary from about 50 to 75 degrees. Other seasons can vary from one extreme to another on the same day. NATIVE PEOPLE Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancestors of today’s Salinan, Esselen, and Ohlone people inhabited the Big Sur coast for thousands of years, adapting NATURAL HISTORY their lifeways to the area’s climatic and environmental changes. Native groups traveled The park is located in the geologically from the coast to the interior valleys, following young (about 2½ million years) Santa Lucia the marine and terrestrial resources that Range, which runs from Monterey southeast sustained them. They gathered fish, shellfish, to San Luis Obispo. Because its geography and various grasses and seeds or hunted creates numerous microclimates, the park small and large game and birds. They traded is one of the few places on earth where with other groups for items they could not fog-loving redwoods thrive not far from produce themselves. drought-tolerant yucca. Young redwoods, The incursion of the Spanish, Mexicans, oaks, sycamores, and maples flourish in and Americans brought changes that the canyons; chaparral and scrub are drastically affected the lives of the found at higher elevations. people. Taken into the mission system, WILDLIFE the people struggled with diseases to Limekiln Creek’s year-round water which they had no immunity. Pestilence, supply provides excellent habitat for violence, and broken promises all took diverse animals, including mountain their toll; seemingly well-intentioned lions, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, and treaties with the Indians were not sent ringtails. Offshore, sea otters play in to federal offices Peregrine kelp beds, and female gray whales with for ratification. Within falcon calves migrate north in early spring. The a few generations, the varied terrain is home to more than 200 bird native people’s traditional species, including seabirds such as pelicans lands had been taken over and gulls and shorebirds such as willets, by the settlers. oystercatchers, and sandpipers. Some rare At the end of the and endangered birds, including California mission era, some condors and peregrine falcons, glide above of the native people the canyons. were employed in agriculture, fishing, THE LIME KILNS and other industries. Beginning in 1887, the Rockland Lime and Today, descendants of Lumber Company extracted, processed, the Salinan, Esselen, and exported thousands of barrels of lime and Ohlone people are from Limekiln Canyon. Four stone and working to revive their iron furnaces were built at the base of a cultural traditions and large talus slope eroding from a limestone to pass them on to the deposit. Limestone rocks were loaded into Limekiln Creek next generations. the kilns, where very hot wood Falls Trail — Hike along Limekiln fires burned for long periods to Creek to the beautiful 100-foot purify the lime. waterfall. The vision of this fanThe lime was packed into shaped fall is worth getting your barrels, hauled by wagon to feet wet when crossing the creek. Rockland Landing on the coast, Picnicking — A short walk from and loaded onto ships that the parking lot will reveal many carried it to northern ports for picnic spots without tables at use in concrete. the beach or in the redwood After only three years, the groves. Please do not use the limestone deposit was all but Historic lime kiln campsite tables. depleted, as was the redwood Fishing — Rough surf conditions forest that had been nearly clear-cut to use for can make fishing from the beach difficult and lumber and fuel. Today the four kilns, some dangerous. Stream fishing is prohibited in stone walls, and bridge abutments are the only the park most of the year. remains of the once-thriving lime industry. Anglers 16 and over must carry valid In 1994 Save the Redwoods League and California fishing licenses. For full the American Land Conservancy sought to regulations, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov. protect and restore this coastal redwood forest. Camping California Conservation Corps team members About a dozen developed campsites sit built trails and campgrounds so that people among the trees near Limekiln Creek. could experience and enjoy this park forever. Several ocean-view sites on the beach DAY USE are perfect for watching sea birds before the sun goes down over the rolling surf. Hiking Hot pay showers are nearby. Make Limekiln camping reservations well in advance at Trail — An www.parks.ca.gov or call (800) 444-7275. easy half-mile walk leads you NEARBY STATE PARKS across three • Hearst San Simeon scenic bridges State Historical Monument to the enormous 26 miles south off Hwy. 1 furnaces that once Cambria 93428 (805) 927-2020 supplied lime • Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park used for mortar 12 miles to the north on Hwy. 1 in San Francisco’s Big Sur 93920 (831) 649-2836 brick buildings. Limekiln Falls ACCESSIBLE features Accessibility is continually improving. For updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. PLEASE REMEMBER • DANGER: Coastal cliffs and the walls of Limekiln Canyon are steep and unstable. DO NOT CLIMB. • WARNING: Use extreme caution near the ocean; unexpectedly high waves and strong currents can surprise you. • Recreational vehicles over 24 feet cannot maneuver in the park. Maximum trailer length is 15 feet. • Parking is limited to one or two vehicles per site. See the site limit when reserving. • Showers are only for registered campers. • Dogs must be kept on a six-foot leash at all times; only service animals are permitted on trails. • Fires are permitted only in provided fire rings. Do not gather dead or down wood. Firewood is sold at the entry kiosk. • Natural and cultural features are protected by state law and may not be removed or altered. • Please help us preserve the natural features of the park by staying on trails. • POISON OAK: Avoid poison oak’s itchy rash by staying on trails and in designated campground areas. Poison Oak 0’ Limekiln LIMEKILN State Park rn ia Co as ta ek 680 lT ra 60 40 Lim il 20 ek il 60 15 14 13 0’ 0’ 40 0’ n Trail Ocean Campsites 1 Lim e ln il re Hare C Ha P to Lucia (2 miles) Carmel (52 miles) ek Park Entrance Camp Host Maintenance Yard 6 7 10 9 8 E Beach Area 0 50 0 100 L I MEKI LN C AMPG RO U N D A REA nt (Gate locked at night) 1 LIMEKILN 150 Ft 25 50 M S TAT E 200 ’ 40 0’ 60 0’ 1 beach access 5 re C any on C re ek Park Entrance Staff Residence 12 11 2 4 Tr a ki P Day Use Camp Host 3 0’ ek 24 26 25 27 Redwood Campsites 29 0’ 20 C re 23 0’ 16 F 20 e lifo Li Cr Cr 19 18 17 28 m ee il n E. F ek i ln ek Li m k Limekiln Falls or ail 100’ eek nc Ca m il Cr iln ra e- Li Tra 0’ s Cu rv rk k ee Pitkin Fo iln all W es t ek sT r Lim k S T AT E W I L D E R N E S S to Limekiln Trail H are Can y on 21 Cr e 22 ek Roa d 680 0’ 60 Historic Lime Kilns Beach Area P Rockland Landing 0 200 400 50 100 to Gorda (10 miles), Cambria (43 miles) 600 Feet 150 200 Meters ek Cr e E. F 17 Vicente Flat (NF) Espinoza (NF) to Morro Bay, Los Angeles 0 0 0.25 0.5 Mile 0.5 1 Kilometer Kirk Creek (NF) Paso Robles Cambria 1 46 © 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2016) Morro Bay Legend 34 Campsites Paved Road Gate Campground Paved Road Trail Lime Kilns Bridge Building Fla Vicente see detail map above n t Trail Cre n yo ek 13 4E 4E T k Cree L i me ki l n Fork il ra 198 Campground Campground: Primitive (NF) National Forest Parking Picnic Area Restrooms Showers Waterfall sR a Ri e City lin 6 ne 4 E1 dg a e C 10 20 30 Km Highway L IM E K IL N S TAT E W IL DE R N E S S H ar 20 Mi R Sa Trail West 0 FOREST S TAT E PA R K 1 PA D R E S Hearst San Simeon SP 10 t Fort Hunter 101 io Liggett nt R G18 R Hearst San Simeon SHM Ocean 0 N AT I O N A L k Gorda Pacific LOS iln L ime k e or Pe k il Tra idg e R Sto LIMEKILN Lime Kilns ea ni o Goat (NF) S to n OCEAN eP a k Rd 4843ft 1476m PACIFIC Con ne 5155ft 1571m Na ci Limekiln SP Co Cone Peak Twin Peak Be to n e An m i 0 Monterey SHP 101 Pinnacles Point Lobos Carmel NM SNR Garrapata SP Andrew Molera G16 SP Los Padres King Pfeiffer Big NF rk Sur SP gC i Julia Pfeiffer B Lucia G14 Burns SP S an o 1 5 n PA R K to San Francisco 1 Sa see detail map at right Monterey