Big Ben and Fall Creek

Length 8.2 mi · Climbing 1760 feet

California > San Francisco Bay Area > Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Big Ben

Background

The Fall Creek unit of Henry Cowell State Park is located in a steep canyon on the side of Ben Lomond Mountain. Throughout the park the landscape is unusually homogeneous, consisting entirely of dense second-growth redwood-dominant forests.

The lower Fall Creek Trail is a popular year-round destination for locals, and the small parking lot often fills up. Horseback riding is allowed throughout the park.

The first half of this hike is a strenuous climb through young second-growth mixed woodland, ending at the Big Ben tree. This is followed by a descent through lush second-growth redwoods along lively Fall Creek. With all the climbing, you might expect some great scenic vistas, but the route is wooded the entire way and there are no panoramic views. Throughout the hike, the woods are pleasant if not spectacular and signs of logging are frequent. The hike is most enjoyable on rainy winter days, when the lushness of the woods is enhanced. The trails stand up well to rainfall. Throughout the hike there is no traffic noise.

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Hike description

The hike starts on the Fall Creek Trail, which ascends gently alongside the rushing creek. This portion of the Fall Creek Trail is the most scenic and popular part of the hike. Most visitors only go as far as the limekilns and then turn back. In this area the trail is wide and has only a gentle grade. It runs alongside the large creek, under an exceptionally lush second-growth redwood forest. Redwood sorrel carpets the ground.

Turn left at the first intersection to climb to the limekiln site, which is interesting if not particularly scenic; the woods around the site are less attractive and lush than along Fall Creek.

Continue on the Cape Horn Trail to the Lost Empire Trail. This latter trail follows an old roadbed that initially climbs steeply along a ridge before leveling out. After passing Lost Camp, which is a historical site (with nothing to see) and not a campground, the trail narrows and becomes true singletrack, again climbing steeply along the ridge. Once the trail reaches the ridge, the forest becomes noticably more attractive. Although there are still redwood stumps, some mid-sized old-growth redwoods remain in this area, including the Big Ben tree.

The lower Fall Creek Trail

The Big Ben tree is a mid-sized redwood at the intersection of the Big Ben and Lost Empire trails. It's one of the larger trees in the park but by old-growth standards it's nothing exceptional. People often make the short hike from Empire Grade to see this tree.

The Big Ben Trail descends through very nice woodland to Fall Creek, passing by several more mid-sized old-growth trees along with some stumps. As the sound of the creek gets closer the forest gets denser.

The Fall Creek Trail descends through lush second-growth redwoods in a narrow canyon. The trail is best at the top and bottom; especially below the Barrel Mill area the scenery steadily improves, the woods becoming lusher and denser. After the Cape Horn Trail intersection are four footbridges that often wash out in the winter.

The upper Fall Creek Trail