Redwood Adventures in Fort Bragg
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Fort Bragg is surrounded by nature: endless ocean on the west and the 50,000-acre of forest to the east and south. While it’s true that you won’t find as many old growth giants as in the 19th century, there are plenty of big trees nearby. Two local favorites, located no more than 10 minutes south of Fort Bragg, are the Jug Handle Nature Reserve and the Russian Gulch State Park.
Jug Handle
Five minutes south of Noyo Harbor on Highway 1 (also known as Main Street in the downtown and shoreline highway) is this nature preserve with a family-friendly beach (mostly protected from big waves) and a trail that leads you through groves of redwoods for 1.5 miles to a pygmy forest. Give yourself 1.5-2 hours to complete (unless, of course, you stop for a picnic along the way).
Russian Gulch
About 10 minutes south of town is road 409 (make a left off Highway 1) and drive for about 4 miles until the pavement ends and park your car on the left by a fence that looks like a horse hitching post. To your right (50 yards) is a dirt fire road that passes a horse camp (your at the northern boundary of Russian Gulch State Park). Follow the road down hill about half a mile and on the left you’ll see a sign to the Russian Gulch waterfall. You’ll soon be plunged into a redwood forest and a trail that takes you to a beautiful waterfall. The from the time you leave the south end of Fort Bragg, park, hike to the falls and back, you’ll be gone about 1 hours.