East Trail–Fern Canyon Trail, 3 sights is a 5.7-mile out-and-back in Russian Gulch State Park near Mendocino, CA. It climbs 861 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
East Trail–Fern Canyon Trail, 3 sights
5.7 mi · ▲ 861 ft · 2 hr 20 min
Elevation 20–542 ft
Out & Back · Russian Gulch State Park
Trailhead: North Trail · 39.33136, -123.79758
Weather Sep 4: Partly cloudy, high 66°F / low 51° · precip 0% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
Toilets at the trailhead
- Start on North Trail, heading E.
- 2.3 miTurn left onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading NE.
- 100 ftBear left onto Falls Loop Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto East Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto North Boundary Trail, heading N.
- 1.6 miTurn left, heading W.
- 350 ftBear right onto North Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~64 min). Leave by 6:19 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from North Trail Trailhead
- Russian Gulch–North Boundary Trail, 3 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 475 ft
- Lindquist Loops–North Boundary Trail, 3 sights 8.4 mi · ▲ 1,476 ft
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