Russian Gulch–East Trail, 5 sights is a 7.5-mile out-and-back in Russian Gulch State Park near Pine Grove, CA. The route reaches Russian Gulch. It climbs 1,149 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade. It scores 61/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Russian Gulch–East Trail, 5 sights
7.5 mi · ▲ 1,149 ft · 3 hr 4 min
Elevation 4–565 ft
Out & Back · Russian Gulch State Park
Trailhead: Beach Trail · 39.32949, -123.80425
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 · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Beach Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Russian Gulch.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Russian Gulch State Park, heading SE.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto South Headlands Trail, heading SW.
- 200 ftSharp left onto South Trail, heading SW.
- 2.3 miBear left onto Falls Loop Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto East Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 250 ftTurn right onto North Boundary Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miReach Russian Gulch, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
- 250 ftTurn left onto East Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Falls Loop Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading SW.
- 2.3 miSharp right onto South Headlands Trail, heading W.
- 200 ftContinue straight onto Russian Gulch State Park, heading NW.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Beach Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive 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 3.5 mi in (~107 min). Leave by 5:36 PM for the 7:43 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Beach Trail Trailhead
- Russian Gulch–Fern Canyon Trail, 4 sights 4.7 mi · ▲ 581 ft
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