Russian Gulch State Park Campground California
Russian Gulch State Park Overview
Russian Gulch State Park Campground has 30 single-family campsites and is located just off Highway 1 a few miles north of Mendocino. There are many beautiful redwoods throughout the campground and the heavy forested Russian Gulch Creek is nearby. The campground is open for overnight camping (reservable) from early May through mid September (sometimes mid October).
There are also 4 horse camps located on the northeast edge of the park. Corrals and water troughs are available. You can make a Russian Gulch horse camp reservation by calling 707 937-5804.
The campground can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs (up to 24 feet). There is also drinking water, flush toilets and showers. Hike/bike and equestrian campsites are also available. Each campsite has a table, food storage locker, fire ring and grill.
Russian Gulch State Park – Area Recreation
Outdoor recreation includes hiking through the forest, along the river or on the beach, exploring tide pools, beach combing, surf/rock fishing, kayaking, skin diving, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, swimming, biking, horseback riding, picnicking and wildlife viewing.
MacKerricher State Park is also located on Highway 1 about 14 miles to the north of Russian Gulch State Park.
Make a Reservation for Russian Gulch State Park
Amenities
- BBQ Grills
- Campsite Tables
- Drinking Water
- Equestrian trail
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Available
- Food Storage Locker
- Grills
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Ranger Station
- Restrooms (Flush Toilets)
- Showers
Activities
- Beach
- Beach Access
- Beach Combing
- Biking
- Bird Watching
- Boating
- Boating (non motorized)
- Creek
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Hiking
- Historic Sites
- Horseback riding
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- Photography
- Picnicking
- River
- Sailboarding
- Scuba Diving
- Skin Diving
- Snorkeling
- Stargazing
- Surf Fish
- Swimming
- Tide Pools
- Walking Trails
- Water Sports
- Whale Watching
- Wildlife Viewing
Mendocino, California 95460
707 937-5804
Lat / Long:
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Campsite Types
- ADA
- Equestrian
- Group
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
# of Campsites:
30
Campsite Vehicle Size:
Up to 24 feet.
Season:
Early May – Mid September
Elevation:
80
Russian Gulch State Park Comments & Reviews
Visited Russian Gulch State Park Campground lately? We'd love to hear about your adventure. Did you find us useful? Did we forget something? Anything our community should know before heading out to Russian Gulch State Park?
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can you have 1-2 dogs
Hi Janet,
Yes dogs/pets are allowed at Russian Gulch State Park, but must be well-behaved and on a leash.
What day in September does the season end, for camping?
Hi Kathy,
Russian Gulch State Park campsites can be reserved from late March through Labor Day, and are first-come, first-serve other days of the year. So – the campground is open year-round, but reserved camping ends after Labor Day.
I am interested in Camping for two in a tent along a water area. July 16 and 17. Do we need a reservation?
Hi Robin,
Yes, you need a campsite reservation for Russian Gulch State Park. You can click on the ‘Make A Reservation’ button to check availability, pricing and make a reservation. However I did check your July 16 and July 17 dates and there is not any availability.
27 is the best site – one of the largest, quietest & definitely the most private/ furthest from neighbours. Sites 25, 26 & 28 are also good for the same reasons. 22 and 23 would be our choices if all the above are taken (nice, but slightly smaller). 21 is ADA and not really space for a tent. 18, 19 and 20 are more exposed, & sites 29 & 30 are basically on the same plot, so no privacy. Sites 1-20 have a risk of noise from the highway, if you’re sensitive to that kind of thing (21-30 are VERY quiet traffic-wise). Overall definitely a more peaceful alternative to Van Damme, with hiking trails directly from the sites, and just under a ten minute drive from Mendocino.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=432
– only open May – Sept. “Russian Gulch Campground is currently open for the season. The Russian Gulch campground is open from May 2021 to September 2021.”
Reservations can be made through reservecalifornia.com or by calling 1-800-444-7275. For further information please contact the Sonoma Mendocino District Office at (707) 937-5804 Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thanks Bruce,
I double checked the State Park website (where you got your info) and it’s a bit confusing. One sentence says “Campground is currently open for the season”, and then another says “is open from May 2021 to September 2021“. I called the park and left a message to confirm. We still think the campground is open for first-come, first-serve campers, and reservations are available from early May through early September. I’ll update our info if the park tells me different. Thanks!
HI Bruce,
The park service called back and you are correct. Russian Gulch State Park campground is open for overnight camping early May through mid September (sometimes October). We updated our info. Thanks again!
I just stayed at this campground (mid-May), and here’s what I think of which sites are the best. First, let me talk about my criteria. I have a 25-foot motorhome, so I like level sites I can fit into. I’m also looking for a private site with pleasant surroundings. That said, I liked #17, 23, 25, 26, 28. I stayed in #29, which turned out to be a joint site with #30, so don’t pick this site if you don’t have a friend next door.
We recently stayed in site 26, and honestly, we thought it was the best one! Shade during the day, right next to the creek, close to bathroom but with greenery blocking the view, relatively private. Sites 25 & 27 were also nice. The only downside was the large number of day use traffic walking and driving by. Also, the beach is not particularly nice. However, the picnic area is stunning, and the weather remained sunny even when nearby areas were cloudy.