Fort Ross State Historic Park
General Information
“The mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is: To provide for the health, inspiration, and education of the people of California by preserving the state’s most valued natural and cultural resources and by providing opportunities for high quality recreational experiences. To protect the natural and cultural resources for the State Park System, unimpaired for present and future generations. To develop and maintain facilities and programs aimed at providing high quality recreational experiences for state park visitors. To provide leadership for park and recreation agencies throughout the state to ensure that California’s recreation and heritage-preservation needs are met fully and efficiently."
Fort Ross State Historic Park is one of the oldest historical park units in the California State Park System. Fort Ross is a wonderful place to visit for its outstanding scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and to learn about local, California, or world trade history. This park has been established to benefit the people by preserving, restoring, and interpreting the cultural and natural history of this place, and to make the resources accessible to all people. Today the fort has been partly restored to its former appearance.
I want more children’s history.
Address:
Fort Ross State Historic Park
19005 Coast Highway One
Jenner, CA 95450
Telephone:
707 847-3286 for General Information.
707 847-4777 for educational opportunities.
707 847-3437 to reach the Fort Ross Interpretive Association, museum, and bookstore.
Park Hours:
The park grounds are open half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset each day. The
Visitor Center, Bookstore, and Fort Compound are open from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM each day.
We are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Day use fees:
There is a per car entrance fee to the park of $6.00 ($5.00 if a senior is in
the car). The per car entrance fee in one state
park is valid in most other state parks for the day of purchase. For buses of 10-24
persons: $50.00. For buses of 25 and up the fee is $100.
This fee covers entrance to all buildings and grounds. Cash or checks only. Please
make checks payable to California Department of Parks. For
specially arranged presentations there is a fee.
Park Passes: These passes
may be purchased at the entrance station of most parks or Russian River District
Headquarters. Please call 707.865.2391 or 707.847.3286 for more information on
passes and prices.
The Annual Day Use Pass is used
for entrance into most parks for an entire year.
A Disabled Discount Pass is a
lifetime pass and offers you a 50% discount
on camping and day use. Does not count for dogs, or reservation fees.
A Disabled Veteran Pass is a
lifetime pass which than grants you free day use and camping. Does not count for dogs or
reservation fees.
A Golden Bear Pass is for those
62 and over with a limited income or for those receiving AFDC or Aid to the Blind or
Disabled. The pass is not for camping.
A Limited Use Golden Bear Pass is an annual day use pass for any
interested person, but only good in ‘off season’.
Presentation Information:
During the summer months, presentations by Park Interpreters are available most
days and at various times. Please contact the park the day of your visit to be
assured of presentations being offered. During the school year (Sept.-June) presentations are available most weekends at 12:00 or 2:00. These presentations are free to the visiting
public. School and
tour group reservations are given out on a first-come first-served basis, so call
as early as you can to insure maximum choice of dates. Presentations are usually fairly
general in scope: why the Russian American Company came, what they did, and why they left
the area. Within that framework, we are happy to focus on any aspects of the history of
the site that your group may be interested in. Presentations generally last approximately
one hour. You might also visit us for Special Events,
Volunteering at Fort Ross is a wonderful experience. We offer many training opportunities to become a quality interpreter to the visiting public. You will meet a great group of dedicated people.
Climate and Dress:
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. For more
climate information in this area go to NOAA at
www.noaa.gov
Dogs: Dogs at Fort Ross are allowed only on a leash. They are not allowed in the fort compound or the buildings, except for ‘seeing eye dogs’. Please check with the park you plan on visiting as they all have different rules, regulations, and some parks have fees.
Parking:
The parking lot is just past the entrance station at the Visitors Center. All vehicles
must park in the parking lot. To aid those with limited mobility, cars and busses
may
drive straight 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. Drivers with
limited mobility may park near the fort compound. Buses may not park at the fort compound.
Handicapped Access:
The Visitors Center is fully accessible to wheelchairs. Wheelchairs can use the 1/3-mile
path from the Visitors Center to the fort, or can be driven directly to the fort’s
main gate. Parking is nearby for cars only. Within the fort itself, the terrain is bumpy
but passable. All of the major buildings except the blockhouses have access ramps. The
Southwest Blockhouse’s lower floor is accessible, but not the upper floor. There are
two large steps into the Northeast Blockhouse.
Picnicking and food
availability:
There is no food available at Fort Ross, so you should bring lunches and / or snacks along
with you. There are picnic tables near the parking lot, in the orchard near the Call
House, and in the fort compound. There are stores in Jenner, and also north of
the park about 2 miles for food and other supplies.
Camping: There are two State Park campgrounds near the fort. Fort Ross Reef Campground, two miles south of the fort, has 21 campsites. This is a first come, first served campground. For information call (707) 847-3708 or 847-3286. Beautiful Salt Point State Park, seven miles north of Fort Ross, has 109 campsites. Salt Point SP is currently off the reservation system. You may call the park for more information at (707) 847-3221. Please refer to the California State Parks home page for this and other Sonoma and Mendocino Coast Camping and Day use opportunities.
Lodging: Sonoma County Chamber of Commerce or The Chamber of Commerce of Mendocino at www.mendocinocoast.com, Redwood Coast Chamber of Commerce at www.redwoodcoastchamber.com. or Russian River Chamber of Commerce at www.russianriver.com.
Abalone: The limit is 3 red abalone with a 7” length minimum. The maximum take in one year is 24 abalone. Abalone season is April thru November, and closed December thru March and in the month of July.
Mushrooms - Collection is not allowed at Fort Ross State Historic Park. Collection is only allowed at Salt Point State Park. The limit of mushroom gathering is 5 lbs. per person per day.
Fishing Regulations - For local fishing regulations click here.
Rhododendrons: This beautiful flowering shrub native to the coastal regions blooms late April through May. Salt Point State Park is home to Kruse Ranch Rhododendron State Reserve.
Seals: The Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods runs The Seal Watch program, a 'Volunteer in Parks' program. Please contact them for further information at 869-9177 or visit the web site. The Harbor Seal pupping season is March to end of May. For more educational information on seals, sea otters, and other marine mammals please contact The Marine Mammal Center at www.tmmc.org.
Whales: The California Gray Whale may be seen off our coast between the months of December and April. The Whale Watch program is run by The Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods at 869-9177 or visit the web site. The whale watch program is a ‘Volunteer in Parks’ program.
Transportation: There are no current transit systems to get you here. You must provide for your own transportation.
Directions to Fort Ross SHP:
Fort Ross is twelve miles north of Jenner on Coast Highway One. From Highway 101 there are
two easy routes to the fort:
1. From Petaluma: From 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 One North. Fort Ross is twelve miles north of Jenner on Coast Highway One.
2. From Santa Rosa: From 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 One North towards Jenner and Fort Ross. Fort Ross is twelve miles north of Jenner on Coast Highway One. Drive time is about 1 !/2 hours from the Hwy 101 exit.
3. From the North: Take Highway 1 from Fort Bragg and go south about two hours drive. We are about 16 miles south of Stewart’s Point Store.
Drive time from San Francisco--2 1/2 hours; from Sacramento--3 1/2 hours.