Russian Gulch State Park: The Prettiest Pitstop?!
Russian Gulch State Park has towering headlands that run alongside the wild Pacific.
It’s a beautiful, rich canyon filled with dripping ferns and glittering moss, a stunning waterfall, huge redwoods, and a massive bridge that reaches out majestically from the gulch.
There are 15 miles of trails, plenty of camping opportunities, and a plethora of recreational activities such as kayaking, cycling, diving, and hiking. Here is what to do when visiting Russian Gultch State Park!
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Table of Contents
Russian Gulch Bridge
Russian Gulch Bridge will take you by surprise as it rises majestically from the sand. Although it isn’t as big as the world-renowned Bixby Bridge along the Big Sur drive, it’s arguably as impressive, only supported by the cliffs on either side.
For the best views of this engineering marvel, you should head down to the beach to see it from below, or there are some pretty epic photo opportunities along the trail to the Russian Gulch Bridge Viewpoint.
Visit the Beach
The sandy beach of Russian Gulch State Park sits invitingly below Highway 1, surrounded by towering, rocky headlands that offer a little protection from the coastal winds.
The beach is where Russian Gulch Creek flows down and into the ocean, often running right down the sand, creating an easy paddling spot.
Although many people will spend their day chilling on the beach, you could also check out the rocks and tide pools along the shore. It’s also a popular diving spot!
Trails at Russian Gulch State Park
- Dogs are allowed on the trails west of Highway 1, but they are not allowed on the trails east of Highway 1.
- There is an entry fee of $8 per car to enter the park.
Headlands Trail Devil’s Punchbowl
Distance: 0.4 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 324 feet
Keep things short and sweet on this quick but impressive hike in Russian Gulch State Park.
The trail is nice, easy, and short, leaving you to enjoy the stunning ocean views as you make your way along the coastal cliffs scattered with wildflowers in the spring. Along the way, you’ll get bonus views of the bridge, beach, and beautiful forest-filled coast.
Eventually, you’ll come across Devil’s Punchbowl, a huge collapsed sea cave. It is 100 feet across and 60 feet deep, and the angry waves crash and churn within it, making it an incredible feat of nature to witness on such a short hike.
Russian Gulch Fern Canyon and North Trail
Distance: 6.2 miles
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 830 feet
This epic hike combines three of the most scenic hikes in Russian Gulch State Park: Fern Canyon, Falls Loop, and the North Trail, creating one awesome hike that showcases the park’s best.
You’ll start on the Fern Canyon section, which is a popular hike in itself.
You’ll follow a twisting Creek through the canyons, and as the name suggests, the canyon is thick with ferns, moss, and huge redwoods, like stepping back to the Jurassic period.
Soon, you’ll reach the mighty 36-foot falls that plunge in a wide arch off the rock. This part of the trail also takes you to explore more of the redwood forest above the falls and then above the canyon.
Keesbury Bay Viewpoint
Distance: 0.5 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
A bit of a hidden gem is the Keesbury Bay viewpoint, which can be reached via the South Trail. It’s a short little side trail at just half a mile there and back, but the bay views are incredible.
There is a great payoff for such a short hike, with a beautiful vista of Kessbury Bay, the coastline, and the blue Pacific.
Camping at Russian Gulch State Park
The Russian Gulch State Park campground can be found just a short distance from the beach, located along the Creek. It is a relatively small campground with 26 sites, all suitable for tents, trailers, and small RVs.
When it comes to amenities, although there are no hookups available at any of the sites, they do come with picnic tables, a fire ring, and a food locker. Showers, toilets and water are all available nearby.
As a relatively small camp in such a scenic area, it is worth booking in advance if you know your travel plans.
Nearby state parks that are also worth checking out:
Check out the other awesome northern California Coast beaches or our favorite California Coast State Parks!
Don’t miss making a pitstop at Russian Gulch State Park!
