Waterfall Lodge and Retreat

Waterfall Lodge and Retreat is a Ben Lomond wedding venue set on 80 acres in the redwood forest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, operating as a retreat and event destination with on-site overnight accommodations. The property features 32 cabins, a lodge built from reclaimed 19th-century barn wood and on-site milled redwood, a sunny meadow, travertine stone grounds, a year-round waterfall, and a ceremony site among the redwoods. Couples bring in their own caterers, florists, DJs, and other vendors, while the venue provides tables, chairs, furniture rentals, yard games, a fire pit, and guest shuttling. Originally founded by a group of Stanford professors in the 1960s for non-profit work, Waterfall Lodge and Retreat is today considered a jewel of the Santa Cruz mountains. Located at 325 Hidden Falls Trail in Ben Lomond, California, 20 minutes from Santa Cruz, 35 minutes from San Jose Airport, and 90 minutes from San Francisco. Couples and photographers consistently praise the redwood setting, clean and cozy cabins, responsive communication during planning, and the on-site team's helpfulness with shuttling and coordination. Several reviewers noted the remote location adds logistical complexity and recommend hiring a full planner. One reviewer flagged that cabin rooms lack vanity tables or adequate space for getting ready.