Limekiln State Park Brochure

Home , Cone Peak, Limekiln State Park, Ventana Wilderness

Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and A“ t dawn, Big Sur’s Limekiln education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological majesty is almost painful diversity, protecting its most valued natural and State Park cultural resources, and creating opportunities to behold. That same for high-quality outdoor recreation. prehistoric look, the look of always, Nature smiling at herself in the California State Parks supports equal access. mirror of eternity. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who ” need assistance should contact the park at (805) 434-1996. If you need this publication in an –Henry Miller, Big Sur and the alternate format, contact [email protected]. Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch

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) F rom the redwoods to the sea describes their lifeways to the area’s climatic and NATURAL HISTORY the unique topography of Limekiln State environmental changes. Native groups traveled The park is located in the geologically Park. This gem of a park, 52 miles south of from the coast to the interior valleys, following young (about 2½ million years) Santa Lucia Carmel, adjoins the Ventana Wilderness area the marine and terrestrial resources that Range, which runs from Monterey southeast of the Los Padres National Forest. On the sustained them. They gathered fish, shellfish, to San Luis Obispo. Because its geography legendary Big Sur coastline where the Santa and various grasses and seeds or hunted creates numerous microclimates, the park Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific, the park’s small and large game and birds. They traded is one of the few places on earth where more than 700 acres offer peaceful solitude, a with other groups for items they could not fog-loving redwoods thrive not far from breathtaking waterfall, and seascapes of the produce themselves. drought-tolerant yucca. Young redwoods, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The incursion of the Spanish, Mexicans, oaks, sycamores, and maples flourish in Watch wildlife from the beach or along fern- and Americans brought changes that the canyons; chaparral and scrub are lined trails, and picnic among the redwoods. drastically affected the lives of the found at higher elevations. Deep within their forest sanctuary, along the people. Taken into the mission system, west fork of Limekiln Creek, tower the four the people struggled with diseases to WILDLIFE enormous kilns from which the creek takes which they had no immunity. Pestilence, Limekiln Creek’s year-round water its name. violence, and broken promises all took supply provides excellent habitat for The summer climate at this sparsely their toll; seemingly well-intentioned diverse animals, including mountain populated segment of the central coast is treaties with the Indians were not sent lions, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, and typically mild. Morning to federal offices ringtails. Offshore, sea otters play in fog in the summer for ratification. Within Peregrine kelp beds, and female gray whales with falcon usually burns off before a few generations, the calves migrate north in early spring. The midday. Temperatures native people’s traditional varied terrain is home to more than 200 bird vary from about 50 to 75 lands had been taken over species, including seabirds such as pelicans degrees. Other seasons by the settlers. and gulls and shorebirds such as willets, can vary from one At the end of the oystercatchers, and sandpipers. Some rare extreme to another on mission era, some and endangered birds, including California the same day. of the native people condors and peregrine falcons, glide above were employed in the canyons. NATIVE PEOPLE agriculture, fishing, THE LIME KILNS Archaeological evidence and other industries. suggests that the Today, descendants of Beginning in 1887, the Rockland Lime and ancestors of today’s the Salinan, Esselen, Lumber Company extracted, processed, Salinan, Esselen, and Ohlone people are and exported thousands of barrels of lime and Ohlone people working to revive their from Limekiln Canyon. Four stone and inhabited the Big Sur cultural traditions and iron furnaces were built at the base of a coast for thousands to pass them on to the large talus slope eroding from a limestone of years, adapting deposit. Limestone rocks were loaded into Limekiln Creek next generations. the kilns, where very hot wood Falls Trail — Hike along Limekiln ACCESSIBLE FEATURES fires burned for long periods to Creek to the beautiful 100-foot Accessibility is continually improving. For purify the lime. waterfall. The vision of this fan- updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. The lime was packed into shaped fall is worth getting your barrels, hauled by wagon to feet wet when crossing the creek. PLEASE REMEMBER Rockland Landing on the coast, Picnicking — A short walk from • DANGER: Coastal cliffs and the walls of and loaded onto ships that the parking lot will reveal many Limekiln Canyon are steep and unstable. carried it to northern ports for picnic spots without tables at DO NOT CLIMB. use in concrete. the beach or in the redwood • WARNING: Use extreme caution near After only three years, the groves. Please do not use the the ocean; unexpectedly high waves and limestone deposit was all but strong currents can surprise you. Historic lime kiln campsite tables. depleted, as was the redwood Fishing — Rough surf conditions • Recreational vehicles over 24 feet cannot forest that had been nearly clear-cut to use for can make fishing from the beach difficult and maneuver in the park. Maximum trailer lumber and fuel. Today the four kilns, some dangerous. Stream fishing is prohibited in length is 15 feet. stone walls, and bridge abutments are the only the park most of the year. • Parking is limited to one or two vehicles remains of the once-thriving lime industry. Anglers 16 and over must carry valid per site. See the site limit when reserving. In 1994 Save the Redwoods League and California fishing licenses. For full • Showers are only for registered campers. the American Land Conservancy sought to regulations, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov. • Dogs must be kept on a six-foot leash protect and restore this coastal redwood forest. at all times; only service animals are California Conservation Corps team members Camping permitted on trails. About a dozen developed campsites sit built trails and campgrounds so that people • Fires are permitted only in provided fire could experience and enjoy this park forever. among the trees near Limekiln Creek. rings. Do not gather dead or down wood. Several ocean-view sites on the beach Firewood is sold at the entry kiosk. DAY USE are perfect for watching sea birds before • Natural and cultural features are Hiking the sun goes down over the rolling surf. protected by state law and may not be Limekiln Hot pay showers are nearby. Make removed or altered. camping reservations well in advance at Trail — An • Please help us preserve the natural easy half-mile www.parks.ca.gov or call (800) 444-7275. features of the park by walk leads you NEARBY STATE PARKS staying on trails. across three • Hearst San Simeon • POISON OAK: scenic bridges State Historical Monument Avoid poison oak’s itchy to the enormous 26 miles south off Hwy. 1 rash by staying on trails furnaces that once Cambria 93428 (805) 927-2020 and in designated supplied lime • Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park campground areas. used for mortar 12 miles to the north on Hwy. 1 in San Francisco’s Big Sur 93920 (831) 649-2836 brick buildings. 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