Lime Kiln Point State Park is a 42-acre day use park situated in Washington with an iconic lighthouse set on the west side of San Juan Island. The park features hiking, picnicking, orca watching, beachcombing, where an informational center has displays and activities about orcas and the area's former lime kiln industry. The viewpoint on shoreline is about a 300-yard walk from the parking lot, restrooms, and seasonal interpretive center. Orca whales are common in the waters off Lime Kiln. Seemingly, these limekilns were used to “kiln” (smelt) limestone excavated from the canyon which then became cement that ended up being used in many buildings that are standing in Monterey and San Francisco. The waterfall here itself, is the Big Sur version of a limestone waterfall since you might have seen quite a few of them further south in the state.
Activities:
Sightseeing: Sitting in the Limekiln State Park is perhaps the most compelling attraction in the reserve, which also featured impressively tall coastal redwoods, a dark-sanded beach, and a set of historic kilns that gave the park its name.
Camping: Pitch a tent or car and RV camping is not accommodated, in one of the 29 campsites located creek side, on the beachfront, and in the forest. Right in the middle of this intensely naturalistic setting, the four iron-and-stone kilns rise, scarred and imposing, like monuments to some bygone civilization. It’s a dramatic contrast that’s likely to spark even the most seasoned sightseer’s imagination.
Hiking: The Limekiln Trails are well-maintained and short with modest elevation gain and a series of creek crossings to keep things interesting. The Limekiln trail features about 3 branches each a half mile or less long and all worth exploring. It is recommended to take the Hare Creek branch first, followed by the fall branch and finally the Limekilns branch.
All of these trails are kid-friendly, but of the three, the branch to the waterfalls is the most challenging and can involve scrambling across running creeks. Expect some wet shoes.
After crossing a short distance you will see the first bridge is the first fork in the trail with the path to the limekilns and waterfall to the left and Hare Creek to the right.
The trail of track 0.3 mile through Hare Canyon is easy and dapper, sporting some of the oldest and largest redwood trees in Big Sur. The trail tracks end to end the creek in a magnificent and photogenic setting until you reach an End of Trail sign near a mini waterfall at the base of a huge rock wall. Turn and head back to the fork.
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