Address: 19005 Coast Hwy, Jenner Ca. 95450
In 1812, Russians established their outpost of Fort Ross in Jenner California. Fort Ross was used as an agricultural warehouse to supply Russian settlements in Alaska. Fort Ross was officially abandoned in the waning months of 1842.
Fort Ross is about 2 hours & 10 minutes drive from San Francisco via Hwy 1. We passed through a series of smaller towns such as Petaluma, Bodega Bay, and Jenner on our way to Fort Ross. From the town of Jenner, we drove for about 12 miles through a series of steep grades, sheer cliffs and lots of hairpins turns road. But the beautiful scenic view from the top of the mountain is all worth the drive.
We paid $8 as an entrance fee at the gate and drove through the paved parking area with lots of parking spaces available. We then parked our car closest to a historical huge windmill. We passed through the gift shop and walked through the trail with lots of beautiful trees which led us to Fort Ross.
As we came out from the trail we immediately saw the high walls of Fort Ross and the tower from the distance. It felt like we were back in the past at 1812. All the historical buildings were intact and well preserved. We went inside on most of the historical buildings such as the Blockhouses, Kuskov House, The Officials quarters, the Chapel, and Rotchev House. My favorite historical building was the corner tower facing the beautiful ocean with a few preserved cannons inside.
Overall, it is a great place to bring your family and learn about Fort Ross’s history and at the same time enjoy the picturesque coastal view of the ocean. There were a few picnic tables available for visitors to use.
Tips: All the historical buildings have a limit on the number of people allowed inside due to the Covid restrictions. Public restrooms are available near the gift shop. There is a trail in the back that will lead you all the way down to the beach cove with a bluish-green color of the water.
Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Fort Ross after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you