Review Of Fern River Resort In Felton, California

Felton town offers the perfect getaway for those looking to enjoy a bit of nature in a serene redwood forest near Santa Cruz.

During my visit to Felton, I stayed at the Fern River Resort and loved it! This resort is nestled in a wooded property off Highway 9 that connects many historic logging towns and the surrounding Redwood State Parks.

The cabins at Fern River Resort come equipped with all the comforts of home and are filled with thoughtful touches for a cozy experience.

Here is my detailed review of staying at the Fern River Resort – from my personal experience!

Fern River Resort Location

The Fern River Resort is encircled by a forest and is just a short drive from Santa Cruz. This remote property is situated at the edge of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park offering easy (and free) access to many of its trails.

Within a 15-minute walk from the resort, you can reach the main visitor center at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. If you have extra time, I highly recommend checking out the popular Roaring Camp that offers guided train rides through the redwoods.

Within a 5-minute drive from the resort, you can reach many other attractions, restaurants, and stores in Felton. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, The Mystery Spot, and Santa Cruz beaches are a short drive away as well as popular day hikes like Lime Kiln Trail.

While the location offers easy access to everything you may need for a comfortable stay, the resort itself feels very remote.

About Fern River Resort

This rustic sanctuary welcomes guests seeking a quiet escape in the mountains near the Central Coast. All around the property, you can enjoy stunning views of towering redwood trees, the San Lorenzo River, and lush, well-kept gardens.

The layout of the property ensures that the guests have plenty of space and privacy. All of the cabins have their own designated parking spaces, entrances, and private decks with chairs to enjoy the garden views.

The Fern River Resort offers a designated reception area for small, intimate weddings of up to 150 guests. The receptions take place in a manicured garden with an elevated wooden gazebo at the center of it.

The Fern River Resort does not allow dogs (except for service animals).

Check Fern River Resort Rates & Availability Here!

The Cabins

There are several cabin options to choose from at Fern River Resort, for various budgets and traveling group sizes. During my latest visit, I booked the smaller, studio cabin #12.

The studio cabin comes with one queen bed that can sleep 2. In your downtime, you can sit out and relax on the tranquil wooden deck or the community area.

The spacious interior, wood-paneled walls, and tall ceilings create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. While this resort is surrounded by rustic nature, it features tasteful décor and modern flooring.

The rooms are furnished with a small table, a private bathroom, a TV, and coffee-making supplies. Other units may include a kitchenette or a fireplace. Additional items like pots, pans, a blow dryer, an iron, and a fan can be borrowed from the front office.

The main room has a heater that will keep you warm during the colder months. I stayed here in December and the bedding included several blankets as well.

The hotel provides towels for showering but guests do need to bring their own toiletries like soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

Overall, the Fern River Resort is one of the nicest vacation resorts that I’ve stayed at. With a variety of room choices that range from $100-$250 a night, staying at the Fern River Resort is a great deal!

Book Fern River Resort Here!

Food & Dining

The cabins at Fern River Resort are set up to make your stay comfortable and worry-free. Whether you choose to take advantage of the at-home eating setup or head out for meals, you have plenty of options for food & dining in the area.

For those that prefer to make their own meals, the cabins came equipped with cooking essentials including a fridge, microwave, toaster, utensils, cups plates, and bottle opener. Dish soap, sponges, and small towels for cleanup are also provided.

Some cabins come with a full kitchen for the ultimate family-style vacation. My cabin was stocked with a fridge and microwave for making basic meals.

The Safeway grocery store is just a 5-minute drive from the hotel so you can easily get groceries for your stay.

Here are a few popular restaurant choices in Felton for dining out:

• Wylder Space
• Redwood Pizzeria
• Cowboy Bar & Grill

The Amenities

The star of this property is the fantastic outdoor area equipped with a community BBQ, a badminton court, and a ping pong table.

Pretty blooming gardens fill the grassy yard year-round. Each unit has its own individual grilling stand just outside the cabin.

Several of the cabins have porches overlooking the San Lorenzo River and all guests can enjoy private access to the riverfront.

When the weather is warm, guests can lounge by the meandering river and enjoy a bit of swimming.

If you plan to work during your stay, note that reception here is very spotty. While the resort does offer free guest WiFi, it was just enough to browse the internet. Paid WiFi was an option at $5 per day.

Our cell phone barely had any reception in this region so it’s best to download movies, look up directions, and research any attractions you want to visit ahead of time.

This location also has an electric plug on the property for charging electric vehicles between the hours of 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Reserve The Fern River Resort Here!

Things To Do In Felton

There are many exciting things that you can do in and around Felton! I have been to this area several times now and these are some of the must-do activities:

Fall Creek Unit

The Lime Kiln Trail in Fall Creek Unit will take you on a journey through an ancient redwood forest to old, overgrown ruins. This is one of the most day popular hikes in Felton that offers amazing views.

The Lime Kiln Trail is 3.3 miles long and passes fern-covered creeks, wooden bridges, giant redwood groves, and unique historical sites. With serene trails and little elevation gain, this hike is a great choice for those looking to enjoy a bit of nature in Felton.

About halfway into the trail, you will come across the Old Lime Kiln Ruins. These ruins mark the location of historic lime kilns, a barrel mill, and other remains of an old industrial complex that operated in this forest between 1874-1919.

After the factory closed, the property slowly deteriorated. Now what remains of the complex is overgrown with fern, moss, and trees as nature claims back the land that was once logged.

Redwood Grove Loop

If there is one hike that you should do in Felton, it’s the Redwood Grove Loop Trail within Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park! This trail passes through a 40-acre grove with some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world.

While many of the region’s redwoods have been logged in the early settlement days, this grove has been protected and admired since the early 1800s. The Redwood Grove Loop Trail is only 0.8 miles long and flat so it’s a wonderful hiking option for families and little kids.

Some of the redwood trees in this grove are over 2000 years old and 300 feet tall. As soon as you enter the trail you will feel the temperature drop and experience the stillness of the redwoods all around.  

The Mystery Spot

The Mystery Spot is located a short drive from Felton and is one of the top things to do in the area. If you’re thinking about going – do it! It’s a unique tourist attraction that is well worth visiting.

Once you arrive at the Mystery Spot you will need to buy an entrance ticket for a guided tour of the location. The tours take place multiple times a day and you can check out the tour schedule on their website ahead of time.

Our guide kept the whole group engaged for the entire tour. The tour is interactive and many of us got pulled from the crowd to take part in the “mysteries” that can be found here.

The main attraction at this location is a slanted, gravity-defying cabin that was built on the side of a cliff.