• MEETING PLANNERS
• 
• TOUR & TRAVEL
• 
• MEMBERS
• 
• MEDIA

• Lodging
  • 

    Lodging

    Where to stay? The choices are as varied as Monterey County's landscape. Quaint, decadent, understated, austere - which beckons you? From historic mansions...more
  • • Full Service Hotels and Resorts
    • Hotels and Motels
    • Bed & Breakfasts and Inns
    • Campgrounds and RV Parks
    • Vacation Rentals and Retreat Properties
    • Pet Friendly Hotels
• Things to Do
  • 

    Things to Do

    Monterey County is a mecca for all things active. By paddle, pedal, foot or golf cart, you're going to have ample opportunity to move and do. Only here,...more
  • • Attractions
    • Itineraries
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Animals and Wildlife
    • Parks
    • Beaches
    • Arts and Culture
    • Family Adventures
    • Golf
  • • Farmers' Markets
    • Guided Tours
    • Historic Attractions
    • Literary Sites
    • Romance
    • Shopping
    • Spas
    • Sporting Events
    • Weddings
• Events
  • 

    Events

    From world class racing to art and music festivals, top tier golf tournaments to food & wine events, there is always something fun happening in Monterey....more
  • • Music Festivals
    • Sporting Events
    • Food & Wine Events
    • Art Festivals
    • Community Events
    • Submit an Event
• Food & Wine
  • 

    Food & Wine

    Gastronomic stimulation is a hallmark of any memorable travel experience. And here again, Monterey County does not disappoint. The diversity of culinary...more
  • • Restaurants
    • Food Features
    • Wineries
    • Farm Stands
    • Farmers' Markets
    • Food and Wine Events
• Resources
  • 

    Resources

    We've got everything you need to plan a wonderfully memorable Monterey experience. Find out how to get here from wherever you are and be sure to check on...more
  • • Getting Here
    • Maps
    • Special Offers
    • Photos & Videos
    • Visitors Center
    • Webcams
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Desktop Wallpapers
    • Free Travel Guide
  • • Visitor Services
    • Transportation Services
    • Contact Us
    • Travel Alerts
• Destinations
  • 

    Destinations

    You would never tire of driving the 99 miles of Monterey County coastline in either direction. But as hard as it might be to take your eyes or mind off the...more
  • • Monterey
    • Big Sur
    • Pebble Beach
    • Carmel-by-the-Sea
    • Pacific Grove
    • Moss Landing
    • Carmel Valley
    • Seaside
    • Salinas Valley
  • • Salinas
    • Marina
    • Del Rey Oaks
    • Sand City
    • Soledad
    • Castroville
    • Parkfield
    • Spreckels

Limekiln State Park

Big Sur's Limekiln State Park, located two miles south of Lucia on Highway One, is the southernmost state park in Monterey County. The park is located in the steepest coastal canyon in the continental United States and holds some of Monterey County's oldest redwood groves.

Limekiln State Park History

In the 1870s and 1880s, workers quarried limestone here and smelted it in the wood-fired kilns that give the park its name. This produced powdered lime, a key element in cement. Many buildings still standing in Monterey and San Francisco were constructed with lime from this park. The beach at Limekiln State Park was the harbor from which the lime was shipped.

The campsite at Limekiln State Park was once owned by the Esalen Institute. The rest of the land was once privately owned. Conservationists and the state of California joined together to preserve the ancient redwood groves when a developer sought to cut them down in the 1980s.

Limekiln State Park Camping

The 33 campsites at Limekiln State Park are currently available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some campsites are along Limekiln Creek, while others are in the center of a redwood grove.

Limekiln State Park Hiking

Limekiln State Park currently offers two short trails, the Limekiln Trail and the Hare Trail. The Limekiln Trail is just over a mile, and takes visitors over the junction of Hare and Limekiln Creeks to the historic stone and steel kilns for which the park is named. The Hare Trail follows Hare Creek as it cascades downhill between towering redwoods.

Limekiln State Park Beach

Limekiln State Park is one of the only Big Sur parks with beach access. The view from the beach up toward the towering hilltops is stunning, and truly conveys the magnificence of the breathtaking Big Sur landscape.

Limekiln State Park Map

View Larger Map