FELTON >> The Garden of Eden swimming hole in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park may be suffering under the weight of its own popularity.

Visitors flock to its sandy riverbanks and cool water along the San Lorenzo River because it offers some respite from the summer heat. But residents say the parking situation has become dangerous and trash sometimes piles up along the trail.

Visitors also have been injured, falling onto exposed or shallow rocks at the swimming hole. A man fell about 40 feet onto rocks and was knocked unconscious Wednesday, according to Cal Fire. A 22-year-old woman also suffered a head injury after a fall there Friday.

Because its dirt parking lot overflows daily and drivers instead park on narrow parts of Highway 9, traffic frequently ties up. There also have been more than a few close calls of drivers nearly hitting people as they cross the highway.

“I almost hit two kids who darted out in front of my car. It scared the crap out of me,” said Brigit Zent, a Felton resident. “I think they should just cut down on the parking there. It’s out of hand, out of control.”

Ken Surber, a 54-year-old from Felton, said “Seven days a week it’s busy” this summer. “I’ve seen people running in and out of the roadway. I’ve seen pedestrians trying to direct traffic. It’s a circus.”

More people have visited the Garden of Eden this summer because of pictures and mentions on Yelp.com and on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook, according to visitors, residents and State Parks rangers. State Parks Public Safety Superintendent Bill Wolcott also noted that the river has run higher from more rain this year, leaving more places to soak in deeper water.

Caltrans spokeswoman Susana Cruz said it is legal to park along Highway 9 on the right side of the white line where “no parking” signs are absent. However, Cruz said, Caltrans has received complaints about people parking on the white line and parking in unsafe places. The California Highway Patrol enforces laws on the highway. She advised drivers to slow down.

“You have to use caution and exercise patience,” Cruz said of drivers. Pedestrians, she said, have the right of way.

Although the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission received a $249,000 state grant in June for more crosswalks, lighting and other improvements along Highway 9, staff in the office of Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson said Wednesday it’s not likely that the highway will be changed at that spot. Use of grant money remains in planning and there’s no appropriate place to put a crosswalk near the Garden of Eden turnout, said Robin Musitelli, an analyst in McPherson’s office.

In part because of more people at the Garden of Eden this summer, trash problems also have mounted.

Visitors and State Parks rangers have reported piles of food wrappers, bottles and other garbage left by visitors who don’t want to carry it on the 15-minute hike from the river to the road.

State Parks Public Safety Superintendent Bill Wolcott said Wednesday that although there are no trash cans on the trail, rangers periodically collect garbage and work with Roaring Camp Railroad leaders to haul it out because part of the trail runs along the train tracks. Signs also remind visitors to “pack out” trash.

“It’s more or less a back country area,” Wolcott said.

Wednesday afternoon at the swimming hole, a few dozen people in their 20s splashed in the water and chatted with friends on the tranquil river bank.

A pair from San Jose, 18-year-old Esther Ho and 20-year-old Jared Jacoby, carried floating toys down the trail to the river. Jacoby said they last visited on a weekend and there were up to 100 people at the swimming hole. They returned on a weekday to try to beat the crowds.

She said the weekend crowd was fun, however. “They were all friendly,” Ho said.

How did she hear about the spot? “Social media. Seeing other friends post about it.”