2022 Events at Fort Ross
Fort Ross Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 15th, Fort Ross State Historic Park
10am – 3pm
$10/car parking fee
Harvest is the time to enjoy autumn’s fresh air with friends and family, acknowledging all that the seasons provide us. Please park at the main parking lot and walk up to the orchard (~20 minutes), or wait for the ADA shuttle. $10 per car park entrance fee applies.
There will not be food vendors at the park--please bring a picnic.
- Apple and pear picking in the historic orchard,
- Juicing the apples (store bought apple juice will be served),
- Pumpkin Carving for kids of all ages,
- Kedry and their families in traditional costume singing and performing seasonal games,
- Kids games, seasonal food samples,
- 11:20am (to be confirmed) - Interpretive tour of San Andreas Fault and Spyra Redwood Grove (25 minutes, easy walking)
Call or email us for more information info@fortross.org (707) 847-3437
Ongoing Events
Fort Ross Conservancy Directors Meetings Schedule
Past Events:
Summer Solstice Saunter
Salt Point State Park
Saturday, June 25, 11am
Meet at Mile Marker 44
Grace Rock Trailhead
Join us for this summer solstice season hike on the wild north side of Salt Point State Park. The Grace Rock Loop Trail features otherworldly landscapes of tafoni geology and seascapes of pounding surf, deep water and distant vistas.
We’ll meet at the Grace Rock Trailhead at the Mile Marker 44 pull-off (limited parking, but more available just to the south). This is an approximate 1.5 mile easy-to-moderate hike, starting roadside, proceeding through a stressed Bishop Pine forest down to the ocean terrace and the unique and unforgettable tafoni honeycomb geologic sandstone formations. At lunch time, for those ready for a tad more adventure, we’ll climb through a rocky passage and out on a peninsula facing Grace Rock to more fully embrace the elements. (Or there’s another easily accessible and sheltered spot of beauty and wonder nearby, no worries!) After lunch, together we’ll loop around and up the hill, taking in the view to the north (beyond Horseshoe Cove, into the Kashia Coastal Reserve, Richardson family ranchlands and Sea Ranch), then through grasslands back down to the trailhead.
Plan on an approximate 3-hour round trip hike. Please bring your own water, a bag lunch, sunscreen, headwear, hiking boots, layered clothing (be prepared for some possible brisk wind) and if desired, optional hiking sticks, binoculars, and camera. Not recommended for kids under eight and - sorry - no dogs are permitted on Salt Point State Park trails. Hike led by Fort Ross Conservancy’s Hank Birnbaum. Donations to Fort Ross Conservancy gratefully accepted. For more information contact Hank at hankb@fortross.org or call or text 707-321-5783.
Steller Sea Lion Surveys: Contact Charon Vilnai at charonv@fortross.org for survey dates.
January 27th, Viola Adunca work day at Salt Point
Join State Parks and Fort Ross Conservancy for two days of field work as we plant viola adunca at Stump Beach as part of a restoration project to improve habitat for the Behren's Silverspot butterfly. For background on the project visit our webpage. Camping provided at Salt Point. No experience necessary.
To learn more about the January work day and to register, see our Eventbrite page.
First Day Hike! January 1, 2022
Salt Point State Park Grace Rock Loop Trail
Join us for a hike on the wild north side of Salt Point State Park. The Grace Rock Loop Trail features otherworldly landscapes of tafoni geology (at its best) and seascapes of pounding surf, deep water and distant vistas.
We’ll meet at the Stump Beach parking area (restrooms available) at 10:30am and carpool to the Grace Rock trailhead at Mile Marker 44. This is an approximate 1.5 mile moderate hike, starting roadside, proceeding through a stressed Bishop Pine forest down to the ocean terrace and the unique and unforgettable tafoni honeycomb geologic sandstone formations. At lunch time, for those ready for a tad more adventure, we’ll climb through a rocky passage and out onto Grace Rock to more fully embrace the elements. Sound scary? No worries or disappointment - there’s another easily accessible and sheltered spot of beauty and wonder nearby. After our (socially distanced) bring your own lunch, together we’ll go back up the hill, take in the view to the north (beyond Horseshoe Cove, into the Kashia Coastal Reserve, Richardson family ranchlands and into Sea Ranch) then loop through grasslands back down to the trailhead and return carpool.
Plan on an approximate 3+ hour round trip hike plus carpool. Please bring your own water, a bag lunch, layered clothing, sunscreen, headwear, hiking boots (be prepared for some possible brisk wind and seaside moisture) and if desired, optional hiking sticks, binoculars, and camera. Not recommended for kids under eight and - sorry - no dogs are permitted on Salt Point State Park trails. Hike led by Fort Ross Conservancy’s Hank Birnbaum plus knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers.
Pair this hike with a 2:30pm Fort Ross Guided Walking Tour & Tea. For more information and rain cancellation info, please see email hankb@fortross.org or call 707-847-3437.
First Day Walking Tour & Tea
Fort Ross State Historic Park
Learn the inside stories of Fort Ross, featuring a guided tour through the fort compound, behind locked doors, including an introduction to surrounding neighborhoods and the Kashaya Pomo, Russian and Ranch eras. Following our hour-long tour, let’s sit down outside* at the samovar for a cup of hot tea before you hit the road. Meet at 2:30pm at the Fort Ross Visitor Center. $15/person. Fort Ross Conservancy’s bilingual (English and Russian language) guide Hank Birnbaum. Pair this tour with a morning Salt Point First Day Hike.
*Inclement weather? Tour will proceed rain or shine, and our small group staying for tea will be socially distanced inside with door open. (Please dress warmly!)