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Fort Ross North
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This is the Northern most site at Fort Ross. It is technically more challenging than the Southern site due to the hike and the rocky entry.
Notes from Paul Schmitt to a boater's question: There is a boat launch at Timber Cove a few miles north of Fort Ross State Park. I do not suggest taking a 14 foot aluminum boat as the wind usually blows from the north to the south and picks up late in the morning and really starts blowing hard in the afternoon. An Avon rubber boat is much safer. They will launch the boat for you at Timber cove. I haven't been to Fort Ross for a few years and it seems to me they have stopped all traffic down to the beach. Another outstanding state park with a boat launch is just north of Timber Cove at Salt Point. Timber Cove and Salt Point are usually populated with experienced divers on the week end. Take some time and talk to the divers down on the beach for current conditions and advice. Please note the seas and weather off the north coast of California can be very dangerous, especially if you are not familiar with the area. While diving from shore at the park may be a pain, it is much safer than attempting it in a small boat.
Directions: For a scenic ride, take Highway 116 off 101 to the town Jenner. Head North for about 13 miles, and turn left into the Fort Ross State Historic Park. You'll see this site before you get to the Fort.
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Diver
Reviews: (Please share your
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here!)
01/09/2004 Chip Reuben (Avg: 2.35 Review) - This dive was not worth the effort to get there.
09/28/2003 Paul Schmitt (Avg: 3.60 Review) - I dove this spot 30 years ago with my club, California Ocean Divers. Since then I have found more attractive spots to dive in the area. At that time you could drive down to the beach and park! You didn't have to hike down the the hill. We found the wreck and an anchor. It's like junk all over the bottom. Spearfishing is great for ling cod there. I pulled a 16lb'er out of the north side. Lots of large bolders on the bottom there. The state should rebuild the road down to the beach for access, but I doult it will ever be open to the public like it once was. There are easier access points on the coast just a short distance away like Timber Cove where they have a boat launch for small craft. You can enter there on a good day and take a rubber boat down to Ft. Ross. The area has some of the finest ab diving in the state. This is also a great place to dive by board! Just get away from the cove as it is a little picked over.
08/30/2003 Marc Della Riva (Avg: 3.92 Review) - very enjoyable stay and good diving!
05/01/2002 Valerie Smith (Avg: 2.67 Review) - I did a shore dive here in July 2001. We started the dive at dusk and by the time we finished, it was nightfall. Our aim was to find the old sunken ship (or pieces thereof). Unfortunately, we did not find it. For the most part, it was a very murky dive, not very enjoyable at all. There were beautiful things to see under the kelp, but it was very murky, and I didn't consider it very relaxing. Aside from that, the shore entry left a lot to be desired. When we got out, we were met by rangers who thought we might be ab diving (we were not), and aside from it being a typically chilly night, that was about it for the excitement.
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Site Photos
Maps
(what is GPS?) |
Photo
(click photo for a larger version) |
Comments |
| Entrance
Map
Sat
GPS: CN0901
N38°31.0990'
W123°14.7961'
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You can't miss the entrance.
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| Overview
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The North site is against the cliff at the far side of this picture. The trail heading to the water is clearly visible.
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| Trail Head
Map
Sat
GPS: CN0903
N38°30.8478'
W123°14.8871'
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Drop your gear off here and park either above or below this spot.
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| Trail Head
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Check out the trail conditions before putting your gear on. You may want to carry it down a piece at a time.
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| Trail Head
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The trail appears to precariously wrap around the cliff, but it is well-maintained and safe.
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| Entry
Map
Sat
GPS: CN0906
N38°30.7443'
W123°14.9228'
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Carry your gear carefully over the rocks to a suitable entry point, and slip in!
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Last Verification: July, 2001
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2.25
3.25
3.00
2.00