Russian Gulch State Park
Also known as Russian Gulch SP
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(707) 937-0497
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 1,297 acres, Russian Gulch State Park lies in Mendocino County, about 8 miles south of Fort Bragg.
Visitors come for snorkeling and diving, surfing, horseback riding, historic sites, and boating. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites, tent sites, group camping, and showers).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day use | Daily | 6 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Day Use: 6:00am to Sunset
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Day Use | $10 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Vehicle Day Use: $10.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions · leash up to 6 feet
Not allowed in or on: fern canyon trail or trails east of highway 1; any other trails in the park.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed in campground, beach, and trails west of Highway 1. Dogs not allowed on Fern Canyon Trail or trails east of Highway 1. • Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet. Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed on any other trails in the park. At night, pets must be in a tent or vehicle.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
- Dead and downed wood may not be gathered or removed. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground.
- Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet. They are allowed at the picnic area, beach, in the campground, and on paved park roads and the Headlands Trail. Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed on any other trails in the park. At night, pets must be in a tent or vehicle.
Several accessible facilities at Russian Gulch include a group recreation hall, 0.9 miles of the Fern Canyon Trail, and one campsite. Assistance may be needed with restroom, shower, and other facilities. A beach wheelchair is available for use by calling (707) 937-5721 to reserve it at least seven days in advance. Accessibility at the park is continually improving. For updates on accessibility in any California state park, click the Accessible Features link at the top of this page.
Read more from the park
CAMPING
Russian Gulch has 26 standard campsites, four equestrian campsites with corrals, and one group site. Reservations are strongly recommended in the summer. The campground is currently closed for the winter. Reservations can be made from May through Labor Day. Reservations for campsites are available up to six months in advance by calling 1-800-444-7275 or by clicking the reservations link at the top of this page.
HORSE CAMPING AND RIDING
From the recreation hall, drive east to the parking lot at the end of the campground. From there it’s an enchanting 2-mile stroll along Russian Gulch Creek to a fork in the trail. If you continue on the left fork, you’ll arrive at a 36-foot waterfall worthy of a tropical paradise in only 0.7 miles. If you take the right fork, the Falls Loop Trail, you’ll go up and over a ridge and arrive at the same destination in 1.6 miles. The reward for the longer route is a greater variety of habitats and, in spring, a sprinkling of pink rhododendrons.
Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Group Campsites, Hike-and-Bike Campsites, RV Access
Max trailer: 24 feet
Max camper/motorhome: 24 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BoatingHistoric sites and toursPicnickingFishingSnorkeling and scubaWildlife viewing and birdingSurfingGeocachingHikingHorseback ridingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Russian Gulch State Park includes the heavily forested Russian Gulch Creek Canyon and some interesting features along its coastal headlands. It is located two miles north of Mendocino on Highway 1. Phone (707) 937-5804 for more information.
Camping
Campsite 21 is generally accessible. Assistance may be needed with water and facilities. Adjacent restroom is generally accessible and may permit front transfers. Shower offers lower shower heads, but may require assistance reaching controls from folding bench.
Trails
The Fern Canyon Trail begins at the end of the Russian Gulch Campground Road. Accessible parking is available at the trailhead. The trail meanders along Russian Gulch Creek for .9 miles through dense north coast redwood forest and riparian environments. Seasonally, visitors may see Salmon and Steelhead migrating upstream to spawn. At 3 points along the way, users will cross 4’ wide rock armored crossings that allow water from above slope seeps to cross the trail. The trail is typically 8’ wide except at these crossings. .
Read more from the park
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Fern Canyon Trail 2% Average 2% Average 8 FT Average Soil
5% Maximum 7% Maximum 4 FT Minimum
Beach/Shore Access
A beach wheelchair is available for use at California State Park beaches in the Mendocino Coast area. Email Mendocino.specialevents@parks.ca.gov or call (707) 937-5804 at least 7 days in advance to reserve, or check in at the entrance station at MacKerricher State Park or Van Damme State Park for first-come, first-serve availability.
Other Information
A recreation hall with kitchen, fireplace and restrooms may be used by groups and is accessible. Interior space is wheelchair accessible. Restrooms are generally accessible.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 8985 North Highway 1
Mendocino, CA 95460 - Nearest town
- Fort Bragg — about 8 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.3307, -123.8058
- Phone
- (707) 937-0497
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is 2 miles north of the town of Mendocino on Highway 1. Turn west onto Brest Rd, then turn south onto Point Cabrillo Rd. Proceed south to the park entrance.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology