Camp at Russian Gulch State Park

Mendocino, California

Description

Russian Gulch Campground offers a beautiful and nearby 5.4-mile hike to a 36-ft waterfall, the Devil's Punch Bowl and multiple sea caves to explore, and 27 secluded campsites with clean bathrooms and showers.

Just two miles north of Mendocino, you'll find this beautiful, well-maintained park that features a little bit of everything. The campsite is situated between a rugged beach and a stunning 36-ft waterfall, giving you plenty of easy and fun options.

This park is most well known for the heavily forested Russian Gulch Creek Canyon, and a headland that features the Devil’s Punch Bowl (a large, collapsed sea cave with churning water). The nearby beach offers swimming, tide pool exploring, skin diving, and rock fishing. Inland, of course, is the waterfall and miles of hiking trails. There is also a paved three-mile bicycle trail for those of you looking to explore on two wheels.

The park has nearly a mile and a half of ocean frontage; its craggy beauty rivals any point along California’s coast. In the spring, the park’s foggy headlands bloom with acres of wildflowers.

Reserve your campsite here.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Camping

Fishing

Photography

Kayaking

Swimming

Hiking

Diving

Bathrooms

Beach

Family Friendly

Forest

Groups

Waterfall

Wildflowers

Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike Along Mendocino Cliffs Trail

The town of Mendocino is as charming and quaint as one can find. It is no wonder why it was pegged as the perfect location spot to film the series Murder She Wrote. While the series heroine Jessica Fletcher's home can still be visited, it is the bay itself that will draw your attention. Starting in the southwest corner of the town, Main Street ends where the Mendocino Cliffs Trail begins. While...

Explore Big River Beach

Make your way around the back of the Chevron on Main st. in town and just keep following the stairs down to the little trail that leads to the beach. The beach is beautiful with soft sand. Dogs are allowed but please note they are supposed to be on leash. Obviously our group wasn't too upset by being greeted by little Cricket. Great place to relax and read a book, walk along the shoreline, or...

Kayak Mendocino's Big River

The Big River estuary in Mendocino Headlands State Park is one of those best of both worlds scenarios where dense Redwood forest and fresh, lazy river water meet rocky beaches and the mighty Pacific. If you're really lucky, you can swim with river otters and harbor seals at the same time. Paddle up the river and pull over to explore the Redwood forest - there are plenty of small trails winding ...

Paddle Redwood Outrigger Canoes up Big River

Big River is a 40 mile or so river in the heart of Mendocino and its first 8 miles form the largest undeveloped estuary remaining in California. It is home to some amazing wildlife from seals to jellyfish to the endangered California Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, and Steelhead Trout. If you are lucky you may spot a sea otter or the endangered California Golden Beaver. The best places to put in a...

Hike Van Damme State Park

The Fern Canyon Trail system is the main hiking vein of Van Damme State Park. This particular hike is on a mostly flat, wide trail through dense, green forest of California Redwoods, Cypress, Pines, and giant ferns. The trail is paved but typically carpeted in soft pine needles. Come in the rainy season for an overwhelmingly green experience. Dogs are not allowed on trails or dirt roads or in h...

Sunset at Glass Beach

Glass Beach is located at MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg, CA along the Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California. Take Elm street toward the beach and the parking lot entrance for glass beach will be located on the left at the bend. From here, its a short walk on some pathways.This beach is a truly unique experience that blends local history, the power of the Pacific Ocean, and natura...