Entry No. 14 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: witchy
Mountain Spirit
A metaphysical rock shop tucked into the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in business over two decades — bins of raw and polished stone from around the world, shungite for "purification," meteoritic tektites, tanzanite chip necklaces, tarot cards and incense resins, all under second-growth canopy on Highway 9.
The story
Driving Highway 9 through the San Lorenzo Valley, you'll spot Mountain Spirit sitting beneath the second-growth redwood canopy in Felton. It looks like a modest mountain shop from the asphalt, but inside sits a dedicated metaphysical rock shop that the owners opened in 2010 after years of working the regional craft circuit.
The interior drops the generic gift-shop pretense for heavy mineral inventory. Wooden bins are crammed with raw and polished stone specimens from around the world—dark, carbon-dense shungite stocked for spiritual purification, glassy meteoritic tektites, and tanzanite chip necklaces, sitting alongside stacks of tarot decks and raw incense resins.
The San Lorenzo Valley has always harbored a quiet, off-grid eccentricity, and Mountain Spirit leans right into that local flavor. Located just a five-minute detour off the main stretch between Santa Cruz and Boulder Creek, it acts as a quick pit stop for serious rock hounds, casual collectors, and valley locals picking up resin or gem chips.
What it's like
Expect a compact room packed to the ceiling with wooden shelving, smelling distinctly of resin and dried herbs. You are expected to dig directly into the open bins to feel raw quartz edge or search for specific tumbled stones, so don't expect immaculate white-glove display cases. The staff keeps a low-pressure, welcoming vibe, though shop hours in the mountains can shift unexpectedly—confirm they are open before you make the drive up.
The move: Dig through the crystal bins for a stone that speaks to each of you, then walk next door to Felton Covered Bridge Park or grab coffee — it's a five-minute detour off the Santa Cruz–Boulder Creek drive, easy to fold into a mountain day trip.
- 📍 Felton
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 6299 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 95018
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Old Lime Kiln Ruins — Follow up your crystal search with a trail walk through nearby Fall Creek to inspect moss-covered 19th-century industrial stone ruins deep in the forest.
- The River Run at Brookdale Lodge — Drive four miles further north on Highway 9 to see this century-old hotel famous for the natural mountain creek running straight through its dining room.
- World of Stones and Mystics — Compare Felton's forest rock shop to downtown Santa Cruz's dense Front Street store, which packs over 900 varieties of semi-precious stones onto its shelves.
Good to know
Where is Mountain Spirit located?
It is located at 6299 Highway 9 in Felton, California, surrounded by redwoods in the San Lorenzo Valley.
What kind of items do they carry?
They stock raw and polished stones, meteoritic tektites, shungite, tanzanite chip necklaces, tarot card decks, incense resins, and metaphysical jewelry.
How long has the shop been open?
The husband-and-wife team opened the physical storefront in Felton in 2010 after years selling mystical wares.
Is this a good stop on a Santa Cruz day trip?
Yes, it is a quick five-minute detour off Highway 9 between Santa Cruz and Boulder Creek, making it an easy add-on to a redwood hike or coffee run.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · goodtimes.sc
last checked: 2026-07-20