Adventure 008, Hike 079 - Limekiln Creek

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 079 - Limekiln Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  August 31, 2012

Location: Limekiln Creek State Park

Hike Info:

Trail: Limekiln Trail

Distance: .7 mile round trip

Duration: 0:20

Elevation Rise: 141'

Description:

This trip follows the west fork of the Limekiln Creek. It is a relaxing trail as you meander up and over a few fallen trees. There are bridges to help you cross the creek. At the end of the trail you see four very large stone and steel kilns. You pause in front of them and wonder about the history of our state. In three years the limestone deposit was removed from the sides of the canyon. But from this limestone, much of early San Francisco was built.  Not only the lime but the trees were clear cut. It is a good thing that it is now a state park. There are now redwoods, sycamores, oaks and maples to be enjoyed by all who stop and walk among the trees.

From the brochure for the state park

THE LIME KILNS

Beginning in 1887, the Rockland Lime and Lumber Company extracted, processed and exported thousands of barrels of lime from Limekiln Canyon. Four stone and iron furnaces were built at the base of a large talus slope eroding from a limestone deposit. Limestone rocks were loaded into the kilns, where very hot wood fires burned for long periods to purify lime. The lime was packed into barrels, hauled by wagon to Rockland Landing on the coast and loaded onto ships that carried it to northern ports for use in concrete. After only three years, the limestone deposit was all but depleted, as was the redwood forest that had been nearly clear cut to use for lumber and fuel. Today the four kilns, some stone walls and bridge abutments are the only remains of the thriving lime industry that existed here.