3.4 hr
Overview
The Limekiln Trail starts from Alma Bridge Road at the northeast end of Lexington Reservoir where a creek empties into Lexington Reservoir. From the trailhead, the Limekiln Trail enters the woods on a hillside, with this creek to the left, below Limekiln Trail. <br><br>The trail is flat for about the first 0.65 miles. Then both the creek and the trail veer right. The trail begins to gradually climb the wooded hillside to the right, as it moves away from the creek. About two miles from the trailhead, Limekiln Trail reaches the top of the hillside, a ridge top, where it crosses Priest Rock Trail. This ridge separates the valley of the creek that Limekiln Trail just left, from another creek valley on the other side of the ridge.<br><br>The Limekiln Trail emerges from the woods, crosses the Priest Rock Trail and the ridge top, and then descends gradually for a short distance, to run along the other side of the ridge. This side of the ridge is a steep brush-covered hillside with a creek in the valley far below, to the right of the trail. Views to the right, of the ridges across the creek below, can be seen in this open section of the trail. <br><br>As the trail runs along this hillside, it gradually climbs (as the ridge top also goes higher). The trail crosses streams that run to the creek in the valley below. Short sections of the trail are wooded around these stream crossings.<br><br>After crossing a stream about 3.6 miles from the trailhead, this stream bends such that the trail begins to follow alongside this stream that is now to the left of the trail. The trail is close enough to this stream such that it is in the wooded area that surrounds the stream.<br><br>After a little over a mile, the ridge that Limekiln Trail is on and the ridge to the right that forms the other side of the creek valley below, both end and meet as they intersect a high ridge where the stream to the left of the trail starts. Limekiln Trail climbs to the top of this high ridge and ends at a trail junction with Kennedy Trail and
Trail Stats
8.2 km
709 m
867 m
207 m
—
Photos
High on the Limekiln Trail, enjoy these views looking across the valley to the source of a creek.
High on the Limekiln Trail, enjoy these views looking across the valley to the source of a creek.
This spot on the Limekiln Trail marks the approaching Kennedy Trail and Woods Trail junction high in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
This spot on the Limekiln Trail marks the approaching Kennedy Trail and Woods Trail junction high in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The Limekiln Trail winds along a steep, rugged hillside with a creek at the bottom.
The Limekiln Trail winds along a steep, rugged hillside with a creek at the bottom.
Water cascades along the Limekiln Trail after drenching winter rains.
Water cascades along the Limekiln Trail after drenching winter rains.
View of the Lexington Quarry on the way up the Limekiln Trail.
View of the Lexington Quarry on the way up the Limekiln Trail.
High on the Priest Rock Trail and Limekiln Trail, beautiful maroon blooms grow on weeds in early spring.
High on the Priest Rock Trail and Limekiln Trail, beautiful maroon blooms grow on weeds in early spring.
The Limekiln Trail crosses this small creek, which can flood with wintertime rains.
The Limekiln Trail crosses this small creek, which can flood with wintertime rains.
A waterfall splits as it tumbles down a rock face along the Limekiln Trail on its way to Lexington Reservoir.
A waterfall splits as it tumbles down a rock face along the Limekiln Trail on its way to Lexington Reservoir.
A creek along the Limekiln Trail rushes to Lexington Reservoir after winter rains.
A creek along the Limekiln Trail rushes to Lexington Reservoir after winter rains.
Is this manzanita in tree form? It was found high on the Limekiln Trail.
Is this manzanita in tree form? It was found high on the Limekiln Trail.