The primary attraction of this State Park is its scenery. Miles of trails follow the ocean front bluffs providing spectacular views of the pounding ocean to the west and the Mendocino Headlands to the south. The paved parking area west of the picnic ground provides access to these trails. The trail, which begins at the campground billboard, passes by a giant blowhole called the Devil’s Punch Bowl. During the spring and early summer the park’s woods and meadows produce a variety of different wildflowers including wild iris that are native to this area.
Inland there is a beautiful three mile long trail to Russian gulch Falls. The last miles or so of the trail is rather steep, so it is not for everyone. Finally, do not miss the picnic area at Russian Gulch. This is a very special place and I have made an effort to describe it in some detail below.
Positives- Simply one of the most beautiful spots in Northern California. The campground is well maintained and quiet.
Negatives- This campground is usually full during the summer; thus, reservations are necessary during the campground’s busy season.
How to get there- The campground entrance is on the left on Highway 1 about one mile north of the town of Mendocino. After passing the pay booth keep to the left and follow the road for about one third of a mile to the campground. Although this road is paved, it is narrow and steep. More importantly, two vehicles cannot pass on this section of the road. For this reason, I recommend that you send someone down the hill to make sure the road is clear before proceeding to the campground.
Local Attractions- The town of Mendocino and the Mendocino Headlands are located one mile south of the Russian Gulch State Park.
Activities- snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, biking, jogging, abalone diving
The Marin-Sonoma-Mendocino Coast
This section of the book describes the campgrounds, and selective points of interest, which lie along the Northern California Coast in Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino counties. This area of the California’s coast is served by Highway 1 which begins at its junction with Highway 101 in Mill Valley, about ten miles north of The Golden Gate Bridge, and continues to Rock Port about 22 miles north of Fort Bragg. Three miles north of Rockport, Highway 1 leaves the coast and turns east to cross the Coast Range before joining Highway 101 again at Leggett.
From the South the easiest way to reach the campgrounds along the Marin and Sonoma coastline is to leave Highway 101 at Petaluma and proceed west on Bodega Avenue to Valley Ford Road. Continue west on Valley Road until it joins Highway 1 a few miles south east of Bodega Bay.
It is a good 5-6 hour drive from Bodega Bay to the town of Mendocino; thus, for those who wish to visit the Mendocino coast from the south, it is much faster to continue north on Highway 101 to its junction with Highway 128 at Cloverdale. Proceed west on Highway 128, through the quaint town of Boonville, until it joins Highway 1, about 10 miles south of Mendocino. Highway 128 passes through the Anderson valley whose vineyards produce some of the highest quality wines in California, or the world for that matter.
To reach the area from the north, follow Highway 101 south from Eureka to Leggett. At Leggett take Highway 1 west to Westport and proceed south along the coast to Fort Bragg and all points south. Highway 1 is paved and 2 lane all the way as is Highway 128. The 28 miles between Leggett and Westport are slow going because the road is steep and winding. Similarly, the segment of Highway 1 between Jenner and Fort Ross is very steep and makes many hairpin turns as it winds its way along cliffs that are 500 or more feet above the rugged Pacific Ocean shoreline. Nonetheless, all parts of Highway 101 are well maintained and should not pose a problem even for the largest RV at any time of year.
One also can reach this part of the Northern California coast by taking Highway 20 from Willits to Fort Bragg; this is a good road but not very scenic. The road from Ukiah to Mendocino is also a possibility; however, this is a long boring trip and should be avoided unless there is a good reason not to do so.
The campgrounds in Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties, in general, are not as scenic as those to the north. Furthermore, because of their close proximity to the bay area they tend to be very crowded in the summer and even on weekends in the winter. From the Bay Area it will take three to four hours to reach to the Sonoma-Mendocino coast, but you will find the time and effort spent getting there well worthwhile. This area of the California Coast is spectacularly beautiful and far less crowded than the more popular tourist attractions to the south in Carmel and Big Sur. The one exception is the town of Mendocino, which, on a 3-day weekend, should be avoided because of crowds. I also avoid Mendocino because its restaurants are overrated and unjustifiably expensive. If you want a good meal in this area at a fair price try the restaurant at the Brewery in Fort Bragg.
There are many things to do and much to see as you make your way along Highway 1. Most of these attractions will be obvious; however, a few of my favorite spots can easily be missed. The 9 hole executive golf course at The Little River Inn at Little River, a few miles south of Mendocino, is worth playing. The fourth hole is one of the longest and toughest par 5s I have played and the ninth hole, overlooking the ocean, is spectacular. They will not let you drive your golf cart onto the fairways at Little River, so plan to walk this steep course.
The picnic area at the Russian Gulch State Park is one of our favorite spots in California and is an absolute must for anyone visiting this area. Except for its campground, which is full most of the summer, this beautiful Oceanside Park is never crowded. This is quite surprising since it is only about a mile north of Mendocino. In any case, even on holiday weekends, when the small town of Mendocino is literally “crawling with tourists”, this magnificent state park and its beautiful picnic area will have few visitors.
For those who enjoy ocean fishing, the party boats out of Fort Bragg invariably limit out for rockfish. They also catch their fair share of salmon in the late fall and spring. This area of the ocean can be pretty rough, even on an apparently calm day, so anyone who is subject to seasickness should think twice before signing up for one of these fishing excursions.
Rock fishing also is good along the ocean bluffs anywhere along this section of the coast; however, you will lose a lot of hooks and sinkers because of the rocky bottoms and the sea weed that grows 3 to 4 feet tall along the bottom. During stormy weather the water will be too cloudy for the fish to see your bait, so do not waste your time fishing when the water is rough. When the surf is rough, rock fishing is also dangerous due to the unexpected “sleeper waves” which can wash you off the rocks. Thus, in the winter do not try fishing from the rocks unless you are well above the waves below (75
feet or more). Use heavy tackle, medium sized hooks and sand bags for weight. Muscles, which can be picked from the rocks at low tide, provide the best bait for rock fish. You can purchase fishing tackle at any of the drug stores in Fort Brag.
The ocean front trail at Russian Gulch State Park is an excellent place to fish for rock fish and sea trout. There are several benches (ledges) along the trail which are far enough from the water to be safe irrespective of the weather.
Surf fishing for sea perch is good along any of the area’s sandy beaches in the summer. Use the same bait and tackle that you would for rock fish. Surf fish also run during the summer months; however you will have to buy a throw net to fish for them. Muscles, which are abundant on the rocks anywhere along the northern coast, are easy to get at low tide. While it is not safe to eat muscles because of the “red Tide” they are the best source of bait for both Rock