by Hoyt Nelson
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2014
The hike at the Fall Creek section of Cowell Redwoods is only about 5 miles round trip and is fairly flat and shaded. It follows the beautiful Fall Creek for most of the way and has a stop after 
1.5 miles at an area with 12 foot high abandoned lime kilns. We will lunch a mile later amid the scattered machinery of an old barrel factory. It’s a bit far to drive for some, but believe me, it’s worth it.
Directions:
- Take a Right onto Mt. Hermon Rd off Hwy 17 just a couple of miles North of Santa Cruz
- Drive about 5 miles through Felton,
- Continuing across Hwy 9 up the hill for less than a mile
- to a signed dirt parking lot on the Right.
There is also a winery across the road just before the lot for free tasting afterward. If anybody still has energy, we can stop at one of the best Japanese gardens in the state, Hakone Gardens (free parking if we take the short trail up the hill, but $7 entrance), on the way back in Saratoga. There are several great restaurants nearby to round the day off.
There is neither water nor bathrooms along the hike, but there are at the winery. Bring layered clothes for changeable weather, a lunch with drinks at the old barrel mill, and possibly something to share. Due to the distance, carpooling is highly recommended. At the least, we should meet at my house in Campbell and consolidate vehicles there. I plan to leave my place in Campbell at 9:30 AM and I can take 5 more people.
For more info. or to sign up, contact me, Hoyt, at fallcreek@niseiskiclub.org.
