A moderate hike to Russian Gulch Falls via an alternate route; main trail has storm-damage closure but the falls are still reachable.
Russian Gulch Falls in Mendocino offers a moderate hike through California State Parks’ Russian Gulch. The main trail to the falls has been impacted by storm damage, but the waterfall remains reachable via the Fern Canyon Trail alternate route.
Confirm current conditions with CA State Parks before visiting, as storm recovery and trail maintenance may affect your route options.
Spring and fall provide the most pleasant hiking temperatures and fuller water flow.
Year-round, with spring and fall offering the most comfortable conditions.
No fee or permit requirement was published on the managing agency's site when we last checked — confirm current conditions before you go, since these change.
The managing agency's page (linked below) has the current trailhead and route details — round-trip distance wasn't published when we checked.
We track 9 waterfalls in Northern California.
parks.ca.gov
CA State Parks Russian Gulch State Park page, checked Aug 2026. A portion of the North/East approach trail (409/Horse Camp segment) is currently closed for storm damage; the falls remain reachable via the Fern Canyon Trail to the Falls Loop Trail. Height (~36 ft, widely cited) and exact mileage vary across secondary sources and were not confirmed directly on the official page, so left null.
Checked August 2026.