Hike to the historic limekilns in one of the redwood forests of Big Sur

Hello everyone! This is a friendly reminder that any of these fun places we may visit, we are a guest at. Please treat both businesses and trails with the utmost respect. We here at Hidden California follow the 'Leave no Trace' mantra, meaning whatever you bring with you comes back with you. If you see trash on a trail, please do your part to help remove it. Remember, we are not picking up trash from another person but instead cleaning up for Mother Nature. Happy adventures!

Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920

36.014144, -121.516879

Hike: 1.5 miles out and back Level: Easy

Dog-Friendly: No Kid-Friendly: Yes

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Check out our list of all hidden gems in Big Sur!

About Big Sur’s Limkilns:

The hike to the limekilns in Big Sur is definitely one of the more interesting and unique adventures you can take while visiting. Located in the Limekiln State Park, this short and easy hike will wind you through the lush redwood trees to a piece of the area’s crumbling past.

In the late 1800’s, a company called the Rockland Lime and Lumber Company harvested limestone from a nearby slope and fed it through four iron and stone limekilns on site. The long exposure to the hot fires extracted the lime which was a key ingredient in cement.

It only took three years for the company to exhaust the limestone and redwood used to fire the kilns and now today, the kilns continue to sit abandoned in one of Big Sur’s majestic forests.

Thankfully the redwood forest recovered from the industrial use. In 1984 a private owner planned on using this area for logging but conservationists prevented it and instead it got turned into a public park!

While you’re in the area, make sure to check out the Limekiln Waterfall nearby!

Personal Experience

Any place that reminds me of a hobbit land is instantly a favorite. Every step of this trip is filled with serene beauty and the air is as fresh as it gets! Once you make it to the limekilns it feels as if you’ve entered a fantasy land. Big Sur is truly a magic place.