Russian Gulch State Park

Russian Gulch is one of California’s most iconic state parks. It is located along Highway 1 on the northern coast of California between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. The park offers sweeping ocean views, thick forests, waterfalls, and more. It’s hard to snag a camping reservation here so we visited while camping at nearby Navarro River Redwoods State Park. We didn’t have too much time to spend here so we opted to meander along the Headlands Trails, stopping to sit and take in the ocean views as we went. Doing so, we spotted a whale and sea lions. The trail includes the Devil’s Punchbowl, a sinkhole overlook. The parking lot which the trail begins has a few picnic tables with great views. If you’re traveling along Highway 1 and looking for a spot to stop, have a bite, and stretch your legs, the $10 entrance fee is worth it.

We loved the time that we spent here, and if we were to return we would definitely be checking out the hiking trails into the forest. Happy travels!