East Trail–Fern Canyon Trail, 4 sights is a 10.8-mile out-and-back in Russian Gulch State Park near Mendocino, CA. It climbs 1,137 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
East Trail–Fern Canyon Trail, 4 sights
10.8 mi · ▲ 1,137 ft · 4 hr 10 min
Elevation 22–663 ft
Out & Back · Russian Gulch State Park
Trailhead: Russian Gulch State Park · 39.33106, -123.79459
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:47 AM · sunset 7:43 PM
Toilets at the trailhead
- Start on Russian Gulch State Park, heading NE.
- 1.6 miBear left onto Falls Loop Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto East Trail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 250 ftTurn right onto North Boundary Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Parallel Action, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Nitro, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Orchard Trail, heading S.
- 0.8 miReach Fern Canyon Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Nitro, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Parallel Action, heading N.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto East Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading W.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Falls Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading SW.
- 1.5 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 2.7 mi in (~80 min). Leave by 6:03 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:04 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Russian Gulch State Park Trailhead
- Fern Canyon Trail 3.1 mi · ▲ 87 ft
- Dry Dock–East Trail, 8 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 1,976 ft
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