Felton

San Lorenzo Valley redwood town with a covered bridge, steam railroad, and easy access to Henry Cowell.

Felton is the southern gateway to the San Lorenzo Valley, where Highway 9 leaves Santa Cruz and slips into the redwoods. It is small, unpolished, and more useful than showy: a place for river walks, forest trails, and a steam train ride rather than a checklist of urban sights.

The big draw is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, whose old-growth grove gives you the redwood experience without the long drive north. Across town, the Felton Covered Bridge is a handsome 19th-century survivor over the San Lorenzo River, while Roaring Camp Railroads runs narrow-gauge steam trains through the forest.

Felton also makes sense as part of a wider valley day: Ben Lomond is just up the road, Santa Cruz beaches are close in the other direction, and the back roads into the Santa Cruz Mountains are slow but lovely. Come for trees and a slower mood, not nightlife or polish.

Guide

Getting There

Felton is reached by car on Highway 9 from Santa Cruz or from the San Lorenzo Valley towns to the north. The road is scenic but narrow in places, and weekend beach traffic can slow the approach from Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Metro buses run through the valley, but a car is far more useful if you want to combine Felton with Henry Cowell, Ben Lomond, and the mountain roads.

Guide

Things to Do

Felton's best sights are clustered around the redwoods and the San Lorenzo River. Start with Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, then add the Felton Covered Bridge and a ride on Roaring Camp Railroads if the train schedule works.

For a quieter afternoon, the Fall Creek unit north of town has shaded trails and old lime-kiln remains. The Bigfoot Discovery Museum is tiny and odd, but it fits the valley's eccentric side.