Felton offers outdoor mountain living in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Felton is a rural community tucked in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Less than 10 miles north of Santa Cruz, the small mountain town has abundant nature and outdoor opportunities, while its historic downtown offers shopping and dining. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park anchors the area with redwood groves more than 1,000 years old, undulating creeks and waterways, and unique flora and wildlife unique to Santa Cruz County. “Felton is good for outdoor folks and for people who want privacy,” says Geneva Lawless, a Realtor at David Lyng Real Estate with over 20 years of experience. “There are lots of great trails, there’s Covered Bridge Park, and people love Fall Creek for the scenery.”
Camping, fishing and forest views in Felton’s 4,600-acre state park
The 4,600-acre Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is located within Felton and offers activities like camping, picnicking, hiking and mountain biking. Famous for having a grove of redwoods, which are the tallest trees in the world, the state park’s unique scenery draws many visitors. Fall Creek Unit, in the park's northern end, has over 20 miles of trails and allows fishing along the waterways. The Fall Creek Trail leads to the Old Lime Kiln Ruin and Roaring Camp’s Redwood Forest Steam Train, which dates back to 1890 and takes visitors up to Bear Mountain to see the famous forest. Felton Covered Bridge County Park has a historic covered bridge built in 1892 and a playground area.
Homes range from small cabins to custom-built deck houses
The downtown area lies on a small parcel of flat land, and houses, many of which are cottages and cabins built in the 20th century, sit close together on gridded streets. Properties farther out are tucked in the woods, with narrow, winding streets and towering redwood trees. Housing includes ranch styles, deck houses and modern cabins built on raised foundations, and lots range from several thousand square feet to multiple acres. While a few small cabins or fixer-uppers may come on the market for around $300,000, most properties sell for $600,000 to $1.7 million. Some houses are canopied by centuries-old trees and don’t get much sunlight, which can make homes especially cold in the winter season. Properties near the river usually have backup generators, as floods can cause power outages. “Wildfire is a big concern here, and you have to get fire insurance,” Lawless says.
Shopping and dining options in Felton's downtown
Felton’s downtown has a selection of restaurants, galleries and cultural venues like Felton Music Hall. Popular restaurants include the local chain Taqueria Vallarta, and Empire Grille, an American eatery serving classic comfort food. Farther down Highway 9 is Cowboy Bar & Grill, a western-themed joint with traditional fare like sandwiches and steaks. Grocery options include Safeway and Wild Roots Market. From May to October, people can also shop for fresh local produce at Felton’s farmers market on Russell Avenue. Target is about 3 miles away in Scotts Village Shopping Center.
Prospective schools in the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
The community is zoned for the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District. San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School has a B-plus grade from Niche. San Lorenzo Valley Middle School gets a B and has electives in music, digital media, graphic design and computer science. San Lorenzo Valley High School rates an A-minus, offering career and technical education courses in aquaculture, green engineering and robotics. Private schooling options include St. Lawrence Academy and Santa Cruz Waldorf School.
Route 9 and public buses connect the area to Santa Cruz
California state Route 9 passes through the area and leads into Santa Cruz. The highway connects to U.S. Route 1, also known as Pacific Coast Highway. Santa Cruz Metro provides bus service for the general area, and San Jose Mineta International Airport is about 30 miles away. Dignity Health–Dominican Hospital is less than 10 miles south in Santa Cruz.
Traditions and festivities in Felton
For over 35 years, the Felton Remembers Parade and Covered Bridge Festival has been held annually on Memorial Day weekend. It features live entertainment, local vendors, children's games and a parade. Another event is the 10K Race Through the Redwoods, which takes place in August and has been a tradition for over 55 years.
