Ben Lomond is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, set deep in the San Lorenzo Valley of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Named for the mountain that rises to its west, the community stretches along the wooded corridor of Highway 9, the scenic two-lane route that links the Silicon Valley with the city of Santa Cruz. The CDP also takes in the smaller settlements of Glen Arbor and Brackney, and shares the valley's close-knit, small-town character with neighboring Felton, Brookdale and Boulder Creek. The community's defining feature is its redwood and mixed-evergreen forest setting. Towering second-growth redwoods and Douglas fir frame its roads and homes, and the San Lorenzo River watershed runs through the surrounding hills. Much of the housing consists of cabins and custom homes set back among the trees on larger, often steep or creekside lots. This landscape has long attracted people seeking a rural, mountain lifestyle within reach of Bay Area employment, a commute made possible by Highway 9's role as the valley's main street and its connection to both the coast and the South Bay. Life in Ben Lomond is quiet and outdoors-oriented. Residents are minutes from the trails of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and the open meadows of Quail Hollow Ranch, and the valley's creeks and swimming holes are a fixture of local summers. The town itself holds a scattering of restaurants, coffee shops and small businesses, with larger services available in Felton, Scotts Valley or Santa Cruz. Students attend the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, with elementary classes in Ben Lomond and the middle and high schools nearby in Felton. Ben Lomond appeals to those who prioritize privacy, nature and a slower pace, and who accept the trade-offs of mountain living — narrow roads, fire-season awareness and a longer drive for many amenities.