Kelp below crowds the small inlet inside Russian Gulch
Russian Gulch, one of California’s most spectacular State Parks, is located just two miles further north of the town of Mendocino. When I was younger, my family stayed only at Van Damm State Park. Only in the last ten years have I discovered the hidden cove known as Russian Gulch which goes unnoticed when I had traveled on Highway 1 so many times without seeing the fascinating scenery below the gorgeous bridge. I had never noticed the cove below. I happened to stay with a friend who lives nearby on the bluffs just north of the park when I first discovered the beauty of this park. This weekend I once again experienced the surprises of the grandeur of this hidden treasure of a cove with water the color of green to light blue only rarely seen this side of Hawaii.
I walked down the winding road down to the creek and to the shallow cove which appears so peaceful with its crescent shaped beach protected from the wind of the Pacific Ocean. Both sides of the cove have strikingly beautiful cliffs and assortment of statuesque trees which perch precariously on the edge of the meadows above.The stunning weather this past July 4th weekend of cloudless skies warmed the sand and even the tide pools on the rocks were warm. The meadow above the cove has a sink hole where on rushing water from the majestic Pacific Ocean rushes in through a cave to this strange sunken treasure.
Californians are blessed with so many of these exceptional state parks. I just hope that we can find a way to fund our proudest possessions that makes California, and Sonoma County the best place to live, at least for me, in the world. I hope that the proposal to fund the state parks with an added $15 fee to our car registrations will be passed and will save our beautiful parks for all the world to enjoy.
Stunning Bridge which spans the inlet below
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