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780 El Solyo Heights Dr.
Felton, California 95018 USA
Click on any of the three links bellow to jump to different sections of this page.
Area Maps Driving DirectionsAbout the Area
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Area Maps
Clicking on any of the map titles or images below will open a new window with a full size image of the map displayed.
The "Yellow Squares" shown on the maps outline the areas that the "Map Zooms 1-3" enlarge.
Data for the Elevation Map below, detailing the terrain around the Felton Crest Inn, was gathered from the U. S. Geological Survey, Felton Quadrangle, 7.5 Minute Series, Topographic Map.
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Driving Directions |
The inn may be approached from several directions. Please click on the link bellow that best represents the direction you will be coming from and the page will jump to the appropriate driving directions.
From the North - Driving from San Francisco on Highway 101 or 280.
From the North - Driving from San Francisco on Highway 1.
From the South - Driving from Los Angeles on Highway 101 and 1.
From the East - Driving from Santa Clara Valley and the city of San Jose.
From the West - The Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean are to the West and would make driving from that direction very difficult and wet.
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In addition to the directions found here you may also find driving directions and maps available at MapQuest.com via the two links listed bellow. Please note that these links will each open a MapQuest web page in a new browser window.
MapQuest.com "Driving Directions" to Felton Crest Inn
MapQuest.com "Map" to Felton Crest Inn
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From San Francisco on Highway 101 or 280:
| 1. |
Take the Highway 85 exit from Highway 101 or 280 and follow 85 south to Los Gatos and Highway 17 (also called Highway 880 in the Santa Clara Valley). |
| 2. |
Take the Highway 17 exit off of Highway 85 and head south on Highway 17 towards Santa Cruz. |
| 3. |
Once you have reach Scotts Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains take the Mt. Hermon Road Exit from Highway 17, which is proceeded by the Scotts Valley exit. |
| 4. |
Go 4.5 miles to the end of Mt. Hermon Road and make a right onto Graham Hill Road. |
| 5. |
You will only be on Graham Hill Road for a very short distance, and travel over a small bridge before reaching the next intersection and traffic light. At the traffic light turn right onto Highway 9. |
| 6. |
Go 1 mile on Highway 9 and make a left onto El Solyo Heights Drive, which is the first street on your left after the San Lorenzo Valley High School. There will be a First Baptist Church on your left at the corner of Highway 9 and El Solyo Heights Drive. (Sorry, the church has no steeple or other truly distinguishing features, but it does have a sign.) |
| 7. |
Go 3/4 of a mile up El Solyo Heights Drive until you see two stone and mortar obelisks/pillars flanking a turn-off on your right at a bend in the road. To the right of the obelisks is a wood sign with "Felton Crest" on it. Follow the turn-off between the obelisks. The turn-off is a very short road that dead-ends in a circular turn-around. The Inn is the second driveway on the left past the obelisks, and you will need to make a left U-turn to pull into the driveway at the circular turn-around. Look for a wood sign with small, carved bears supporting it, which reads "Welcome to Felton Crest B&B", in addition to a small sign with "Hanna" on it to the right of the Inn's driveway. |
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From San Francisco on Highway 1:
There are "two options" you can choose from to reach the Felton Crest Inn when traveling south from San Francisco on Highway 1. You can either take the scenic back roads through the Santa Cruz mountains, which you pick up just outside the coastal town of Davenport, or you can continue down to the city of Santa Cruz and take the more poplar and direct mountain roads. If you are unfamiliar with the area and/or traveling at night it is recommended that you follow the directions bellow for the "Popular Santa Cruz Route". If you are adventuresome and don't mind getting a little lost in exchange for the quiet of mountain back roads then follow the directions below for the "Mountain Back Roads Route".
"Popular Santa Cruz Route"...
| 1. |
Taking Highway 1 south to the city of Santa Cruz gives you a few different options for reaching the Felton Crest Inn. As Highway 1 enters Santa Cruz it becomes a fairly busy road called Mission, which passes near the University of California at Santa Cruz. Traveling down Mission, past the intersections of Bay Street, Laurel Street, and then Walnut Avenue, you will come to a point were Mission forks into Water Street and Highway 1. You will want to keep to the left and take the left fork, which is Highway 1. Keep your eyes open for Highway 1 direction signs. |
| 2. |
The next traffic light you quickly come to after the one at the fork will be the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 9.You can turn left onto Highway 9 and follow it to downtown Felton or take the off ramp on the right, just after the traffic light, to Graham Hill Road. Highway 9 is a narrow and winding, but scenic mountain road. Graham Hill Road is a straighter and quicker, but less scenic road. Both roads will take you to downtown Felton, where they intersect with each other. |
| 3. |
If you decide to take Graham Hill Road turn left at the bottom of the Highway 1 off ramp onto Graham Hill Road. You will pass under Highway 1 and be headed into the mountains. |
| 4. |
Once you have reached downtown Felton and the intersection of Highway 9 and Graham Hill Road, via either 9 or Graham, continue up Highway 9 for 1 mile to El Solyo Heights Drive. (If you have driven up Graham Hill Road this means you turn right onto Highway 9 from Graham.) |
| 5. |
From Highway 9 make a left turn onto El Solyo Heights Drive, which is the first street on your left after the San Lorenzo Valley High School. There will be a First Baptist Church on your left at the corner of Highway 9 and El Solyo Heights Drive. (Sorry, the church has no steeple or other truly distinguishing features, but it does have a sign.) |
| 6. |
Go 3/4 of a mile up El Solyo Heights Drive until you see two stone and mortar obelisks/pillars flanking a turn-off on your right at a bend in the road. To the right of the obelisks is a wood sign with "Felton Crest" on it. Follow the turn-off between the obelisks. The turn-off is a very short road that dead-ends in a circular turn-around. The Inn is the second driveway on the left past the obelisks, and you will need to make a left U-turn to pull into the driveway at the circular turn-around. Look for a wood sign with small, carved bears supporting it, which reads "Welcome to Felton Crest B&B", in addition to a small sign with "Hanna" on it to the right of the Inn's driveway. |
What if you miss Highway 9 or Graham Hill Road in Step 2? You have one more convenient option.
| 1. |
If you continue straight on Highway 1 you will very quickly come to another fork in the road. The right fork will take you to Highway 1 as it continues south. The left fork will be an exit onto Highway 17. Take the left fork onto Highway 17 and proceed 2.5 to 3 miles to the Mt. Hermon Road Exit. |
| 2. |
Mt. Hermon Road starts at Highway 17 and ends at Graham Hill Road, just a few hundred feet from downtown Felton. All you need to do is follow Mt. Hermon Road through Scotts Valley to its end in Felton and turn right onto Graham Hill Road, and from there, follow steps 4 through 6 above for heading 1 mile up Highway 9 from downtown Felton. |
"Mountain Back Roads Route"...
| 1. |
Approximately 1 mile south of Davenport, turn left off of Highway 1 on to Bonny Doon Road and go 3 miles. Bonny Doon Road becomes Pine Flat Road. |
| 2. |
Make a right on to Empire Grade and go 1.5 miles. |
| 3. |
Turn left on Felton Empire Road and follow it for 2.5 miles. |
| 4. |
Then turn left onto Highway 9. |
| 5. |
Go 1 mile on Highway 9 and make a left onto El Solyo Heights Drive, which is the first street on your left after the San Lorenzo Valley High School. There will be a First Baptist Church on your left at the corner of Highway 9 and El Solyo Heights Drive. (Sorry, the church has no steeple or other truly distinguishing features, but it does have a sign.) |
| 6. |
Go 3/4 of a mile up El Solyo Heights Drive until you see two stone and mortar obelisks/pillars flanking a turn-off on your right at a bend in the road. To the right of the obelisks is a wood sign with "Felton Crest" on it. Follow the turn-off between the obelisks. The turn-off is a very short road that dead-ends in a circular turn-around. The Inn is the second driveway on the left past the obelisks, and you will need to make a left U-turn to pull into the driveway at the circular turn-around. Look for a wood sign with small, carved bears supporting it, which reads "Welcome to Felton Crest B&B", in addition to a small sign with "Hanna" on it to the right of the Inn's driveway. |
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From Los Angeles on Highway 101 and 1:
| 1. |
Take Highway 101 to Salinas and change over to Highway 183 out of Salinas. |
| 2. |
Follow Highway 183 to Highway 1 and continue north on Highway 1. |
| 3. |
Take Highway 1 north to the Highway 17 exit but do not exit onto Highway 17. (If you do exit onto Highway 17 follow it north to the Mt. Hermon Road exit and follow the step 3 through 6 instructions bellow for traveling from San Jose.) After the Highway 17 exit, Highway 1 will dramatically turn right in a fish hook shaped curve that will take Highway 1 under itself and also create a merge onto Highway 17 heading south. "Be careful" and merge into the right lane of Highway 17. (If you can't merge into the right lane of Highway 17 don't worry. You will continue to follow Highway 1 as it loops around to once again head north. As follow Highway 1 around the loop, past the merge onto Highway 17 you want to change over to or remain in the right lane and turn right onto Highway 9 at the first traffic light you come to. Simply follow Highway 9 to Felton and follow the rest of these instructions.) If you do merge onto Highway 17 you will come almost immediately to a traffic light. Turn right at this traffic light onto Graham Hill Road. |
| 4. |
Follow Graham Hill Road to Highway 9 and downtown Felton and turn right on Highway 9 at the traffic light and go 1 mile. |
| 5. |
You will then turn left onto El Solyo Heights Drive, which is the first street on your left after the San Lorenzo Valley High School. There will be a First Baptist Church on your left at the corner of Highway 9 and El Solyo Heights Drive. (Sorry, the church has no steeple or other truly distinguishing features, but it does have a sign.) |
| 6. |
Go 3/4 of a mile up El Solyo Heights Drive until you see two stone and mortar obelisks/pillars flanking a turn-off on your right at a bend in the road. To the right of the obelisks is a wood sign with "Felton Crest" on it. Follow the turn-off between the obelisks. The turn-off is a very short road that dead-ends in a circular turn-around. The Inn is the second driveway on the left past the obelisks, and you will need to make a left U-turn to pull into the driveway at the circular turn-around. Look for a wood sign with small, carved bears supporting it, which reads "Welcome to Felton Crest B&B", in addition to a small sign with "Hanna" on it to the right of the Inn's driveway. |
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From San Jose:
| 1. |
Take Highway 17 (also called Highway 880 in the San Jose area) south towards Santa Cruz. |
| 2. |
Once you have reach Scotts Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains take the Mt. Hermon Road Exit from Highway 17, which is proceeded by the Scotts Valley exit. |
| 3. |
Go 4.5 miles to the end of Mt. Hermon Road and make a right onto Graham Hill Road. |
| 4. |
You will only be on Graham Hill Road for a very short distance, and travel over a small bridge before reaching the next intersection and traffic light. At the traffic light turn right onto Highway 9. |
| 5. |
Go 1 mile on Highway 9 and make a left onto El Solyo Heights Drive, which is the first street on your left after the San Lorenzo Valley High School. There will be a First Baptist Church on your left at the corner of Highway 9 and El Solyo Heights Drive. (Sorry, the church has no steeple or other truly distinguishing features, but it does have a sign.) |
| 6. |
Go 3/4 of a mile up El Solyo Heights Drive until you see two stone and mortar obelisks/pillars flanking a turn-off on your right at a bend in the road. To the right of the obelisks is a wood sign with "Felton Crest" on it. Follow the turn-off between the obelisks. The turn-off is a very short road that dead-ends in a circular turn-around. The Inn is the second driveway on the left past the obelisks, and you will need to make a left U-turn to pull into the driveway at the circular turn-around. Look for a wood sign with small, carved bears supporting it, which reads "Welcome to Felton Crest B&B", in addition to a small sign with "Hanna" on it to the right of the Inn's driveway. |
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Images © Frank S. Balthis (Redwoods Photo) and
Downtown Association of Santa Cruz (Downtown Santa Cruz Photo)
Photographs of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton and the downtown area of the City of Santa Cruz.
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About the AreaWelcome to the Santa Cruz Mountains! Rising above the Monterey Bay, these mountains contain acres of diversity with huge redwoods, lush stream canyons, beautiful waterfalls, open sunny meadows, pine and oak forests and high dry chaparrel-covered ridges.
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 Town of Felton Statistics:
Elevation: 286 feet
Population (year 2000): 1,051
Land area: 0.9 square miles
County: Santa Cruz
Zip code: 95018
Local Weather:
Rain: Jan, Feb, and March.
Some Rain in Nov, Dec, April.
Winter Temp:
35.5 - 67 F or 1.9 - 19.4 C.
Average 49.1 F or 9.5 C.
Summer Temp:
47.9 - 84.7 F or 8.8 - 29.3 C.
Average 67.4 F or 19.7 C.
The weather for Felton and the Santa Cruz area is usually sunny and warm with occasional fog in the early morning and late evening rising from the coast. Snow and freezing temperatures are virtually unheard of in the area except on the highest mountain peaks. Felton might see snow only once every twenty or more years and then it is usually only a light powder that disappears within a day. During the summer months temperatures can occasionally rise as high as 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with little humidity.
Felton Covered Bridge:
Felton is host to one of the few remaining covered bridges in the state of California. In fact, two of California's 10 remaining authentic 19th century covered bridges are located in Santa Cruz County. The covered bridge was once Felton's only road link with Santa Cruz. The current route of Highway 9 was not a road until much later. The bridge remained in use until the 1930's when a concrete span was built to carry Graham Hill road across the San Lorenzo River.
The Mighty Redwood:
The Santa Cruz area is known for its coastal redwood trees, or Sequoia Sempervirens, the tallest living species on earth, which can exceed 300 ft. in height and 20 feet in diameter. Coastal redwoods grow in a narrow strip of land that corresponds to the coastal fog belt on whose moisture they depend. Sempervirens means "ever-living", and redwoods have been around for some 135 million years. Some of the best old growth specimens can be found in the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
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Brief History of Felton:
Although a small mountain community today, Felton began its life as an industrial center circa 1843 when a lumber mill was established on the San Lorenzo River at Fall Creek. Between 1843 and the 1890's the area grew as an industrial center with the addition of lime kilns, a powder works, a paper mill, and more lumbering. Officially becoming a town in 1868, Felton continued to prosper with the introduction of railways and the transitioning of its industries from water to steam powered mills. After the 1890's, however, the industries that founded the town began to decline until by the 1920's Felton had become a residential community known for its quiet and beauty.
Santa Cruz History Links:
Curious to find out more about the Santa Cruz area and its history? Below is a list of recommended links for learning more about the area through detailed articles and photo collections.
Santa Cruz Public Library
Local History
More than 240 articles on Santa Cruz County history, many with illustrations, are available on this site.
The Web of History in the
Monterey Bay Region
This web site and its Felton page also offer historical information and photographs about Felton and the Santa Cruz area.
Felton History in Pictures
A brief written and photo collection history of Felton, found on the Felton Fire Protection District website.
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