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FERN CANYON |
DISTANCE: 4.7 to 5.8 miles round-trip
HIKING TIME: 2–4 hours
SEASON: year-round
DIFFICULTY: moderate
A two-hour woodsy ramble is accompanied by a gurgling stream, second-growth redwoods, hemlocks, Douglas firs, bigleaf maples, alders, and ferns. The reward at the end of the trail is a picturesque waterfall in a fern-filled grotto.
Follow paved Fern Canyon Trail for 1.6 miles to the start of Falls Loop Trail. Here you’ll see picnic tables and a bike rack. Falls Loop Trail goes left and right. Both paths converge at the waterfall, but the left trail is shorter (0.7 mile to the waterfall versus 1.9 miles), making a 4.7-mile out-and-back.
At 36 feet, Russian Gulch Falls is not huge, but it plummets over a slab of rock into a grotto so beautiful that it makes a lasting impression. In winter, the waterfall can be a rushing torrent, while in summer, it’s greatly reduced. One tree trunk, leaning vertically against the waterfall’s cliff, is lined with dense thriving ferns. Enjoy this tranquil spot, then retrace your steps for a 4.7-mile trip, or circle the entire Falls Loop Trail (2.6-mile loop plus 3.2 miles out-and-back) for an even more rewarding day.
From Mendocino, drive 2.0 miles north on Hwy. 1 to the entrance to Russian Gulch State Park on the left. Turn left and left again to reach the entrance. After paying, continue straight, crossing back under the highway. Drive past the recreation hall and campsites to the parking lot for Fern Canyon Trail. The trailhead is on the east side of the lot.
