Fort Ross State Historic Park
The Park is currently OPEN.
Please check the hours of operation.No Drones Allowed in Park
- The noise and sight of drones can alter other people’s enjoyment of nature.
- A drone hovering nearby can feel intrusive and threatening.
- Drones can capture photographs and video without someone’s permission.
- Drones mimic the behavior of predatory birds and can frighten wildlife.
Location-Directions
The park is 12 miles north of Jenner on Highway One. From Highway 101 there are two routes to the fort:
From Petaluma
Highway 101. Take the East Washington Street exit. Go west (left). Washington turns into Bodega Avenue, which after a few more name changes, turns into Highway 1 North and takes you to Bodega Bay. This route is a straight shot--much easier to drive than it looks on the map. At Bodega Bay, follow Highway 1 North.
From Santa Rosa
Highway 101. Go past downtown exits for Santa Rosa. Just north of town, take the River Road exit. Go west (left). River Road will turn into Highway 116 in Guerneville. Follow 116 West, then follow signs to Highway 1 North towards Jenner and Fort Ross.
From the North
Take Highway 1 from Fort Bragg and go south about two hours drive. We are about 16 miles from Stewart’s Point.
Approximate driving times from:
Santa Rosa -- 1 1/2 hours
San Francisco -- 2 1/2 hours
Sacramento -- 3 1/2 hours
Fort Bragg -- 2 hours
Camping Information:
Reef Campground is a first-come, first-served developed campground. Visitors may enjoy diving, fishing, hiking, surfing, tide pools, picnicking, whale watching, bird watching, just relaxing in the sun at this campground just south of historic Fort Ross.
The Campground has 20 campsites available first-come, first-served. No reservations are accepted. For more information during our off-season, call Fort Ross Conservancy at (707) 847-3437. Occupancy: Six (6) people are allowed per campsite. Water: Reef campground is currently a dry campground. Chemical toilets have been placed throughout the campground for visitor use. Drinking water is available for purchase at the Fort Ross Visitor Center. There are no RV hookups at the campsites. There is no dump station located in the park.
Tent Camping Only until work on Reef is fully complete, the campground cannot accommodate trailers, campers or RVs at this time. There is nowhere for these vehicles to turn around once they start down the road toward the campsites.
Vehicle Parking: We have one Day Use parking area open at the Reef Campground located out on the bluff road as you proceed west from the campground entrance. Campsites are small. One vehicle is included in the $40.00 per night campsite fee. 1 additional vehicle is $10.00 per night. Two vehicles will fit in each site area.
Check-In at the Fort Ross Visitor Center between the hours of 10am and 4:30pm. Campsites will be available for use at 1pm each day. Check-Out of the campsite by 11am. Conservancy staff will be around to service the campground between the hours of 11am and 1pm. Quiet Hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Radios and other sound-producing devices must not be audible beyond your immediate campsite regardless of the time of day. Generators are not permitted at this time.
Self-registration: Pay for camping using the self-registration at the campground kiosk after 4:30pm. Confirm campsite availability before depositing the envelope. Refunds cannot be issued once paid by this method.
Fires must be confined to the metal fire rings provided by the park. Please do not gather wood from the park or surrounding areas. Firewood is available for purchase at the Fort Ross Visitor Center.
General Information:
Fort Ross State Historic Park brings attention to the varied stories that have occurred here through the centuries, including the long formation of the coastal natural history, the centuries past and present of resident Kashia Pomo people, the Russian colonization periods (1812-1842), the Ranch era (1842-1972), and the over one hundred year era of this area as a protected resource as a State Historic Park. The park's Visitor Center is an excellent place to start a tour of Fort Ross to become acquainted with the rich natural and cultural history of the area.
Fort Ross was a thriving Russian-American Company settlement from 1812 to 1841. This commercial company chartered by Russia's tsarist government controlled all Russian exploration, trade and settlement in the North Pacific, and established permanent settlements in Alaska and California. Fort Ross was the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent, and was established as an agricultural base to supply Alaska. It was the site of California's first windmills and shipbuilding, and Russian scientists were among the first to record California’s cultural and natural history. Fort Ross was a successfully functioning multi-cultural settlement for some thirty years. Residents included Russians, Alaska Natives, local Native people, and individuals of mixed Russian and Native ancestry.
Today, the Fort itself consists of several buildings surrounded by stockade walls. The structure of most historical interest is the Rotchev house, an existing building renovated about 1836 for Alexander Rotchev, the last manager of Ross. This is thought to be one of the only remaining original buildings from the Russian period. Several other Russian-era buildings have been reconstructed: the first Russian Orthodox chapel south of Alaska, the stockade, the Kuskov House, the Officials Barracks, the Magazin (Fur Warehouse), and two corner blockhouses. A replica of one of the Russian windmills was also added to the park grounds in 2012.
Following the Russian period, the area was a working ranch with diverse interests in agriculture, livestock, and shipping. Butter and apples were primary exports during the ranch era, and there are tangible relics of this period to be seen at the park today such as the Call House, built in 1878.
Seasons/Climate/Recommended clothing
The weather on the coast is ever changing: you can expect fog, wind, sun or even rain--sometimes on the same day. It is best to dress in layers. The ground is often wet either from night moisture, fog, or rain, so appropriate shoes are advised.
Parking and Fees:
Entrance fees to Fort Ross are $10.00 per vehicle. If you are 62 years or older the entrance fee is $9.00. If disabled you are eligible for a $5.00 discount with pass. Your register receipt at Fort Ross is good for any STATE park for the remainder of the day. Fort Ross parking lot closes at Sunset. Parking for Fort Ross is found in the large paved parking lot nearest the Fort Ross Visitor Center. Please park in legal parking stalls. We offer additional disabled parking down the dirt road on the way to the Fort. Please follow signage. Please make sure your disabled placard is displayed. Busses and vans can drive through the parking lot and take the dirt road to the Fort Compound itself, unload passengers, and than drive back to the parking lot to park. Buses and vans may not park at the Fort Compound.
Picnics at Fort Ross:
There is no food available at Fort Ross. However, there is a small market north of Fort Ross at the Fort Ross Store. There is also a small market at the Jenner Sea Store south of Fort Ross by approximately 10 miles. There are picnic tables near the Fort Ross Visitor Center parking lot, in the orchard to the left of the Call House and in the Fort Compound.
Special Events in Parks
Special Events are activities which are beyond the normal scope of activities and operations conducted in units under control of the Department of Parks and Recreation. Consistent with existing state policies and laws. District Superintendents may approve, by permit, a Special Event when it is found to be in the best interest of the Department of Parks and Recreation and is conducted by an appropriate sponsor at no net expense to the state. Special Event permits are required when fees are charged by the event sponsor beyond the regular State Park Facility Use Fees, when the Department has determined the event will create a greater potential hazard or liability to the State than incurred through typical operations, when the activity includes the exclusive use of an area within the park, when the activity interferes significantly with the public’s use of an area, when additional staffing or staff time is required or where items or services are sold. Special Event permits are required for any activity within the State Park System which meet any of these criteria, and which occur wholly or partially within or on any property owned, operated, or administered by the Department. Upon a finding by the District Superintendent that a special event is consistent with the unit’s use, he/she may issue a Special Event Permit for such use.
Examples of when a special event permit is needed:
- Bay Area Tours bringing in a passenger van into front lot and dropping off their group
- Alliance Redwoods dropping off two bus loads of kids with leaders to explore the park for the day
- A group of old car enthusiasts bringing into the park their roadsters for show
- A group of 50 wanting to set up for a wedding or birthday party which is in the day use area
- A local running group of 30 coming in to run the trails of the park
If you have any questions pertaining to special events or if you are curious if your get together would need a special event permit, please email russianriver.specialevents@parks.ca.gov.