Fort Ross Reef Campground and Beach
About
Fort Ross Reef Campground and Beach is a public ocean beach in California, set within the Sonoma-Lake Napa Unit about 2.5 miles from the town of Timber Cove. The site has restrooms and accessible access, and a fee is charged. Summer and early fall are the mildest times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Fort Ross show highs around 65 to 67°F from July through September, with lows in the upper 40s. The Fort Ross Flow Trail is the closest neighbor, about 1.9 miles away. Climbers can head to Main Rock and Sea Crag, both roughly 4.3 to 4.4 miles off, and paddlers will find Russian Gulch Creek about 4.6 miles away.
Beach Details
Lifeguards
None
Parking
Available
Fee
Fee charged
Restrooms
Yes
Accessible access
Yes
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Fort Ross Reef Campground and Beach
California
Data: California Coastal Commission, YourCoast public access data. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Apr–Nov. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 60–67°F and lows of 43–50°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Ft Ross, CA weather station, 0.6 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan57° high42° low
- Feb59° high42° low
- Mar59° high42° low
- Apr60° high43° low
- May62° high45° low
- Jun66° high46° low
- Jul65° high48° low
- Aug67° high50° low
- Sep67° high48° low
- Oct66° high47° low
- Nov61° high44° low
- Dec57° high42° low
Where it is
- Sonoma-Lake Napa Unit · Public land
- Nearest town
- Timber Cove, California · 2.5 mi
Source: NIFC Jurisdictional Units; USGS GNIS populated places
Nearby
- Fort Ross Flow TrailHiking1.9 mi
- Main RockRock climbing4.3 mi
- Sea CragRock climbing4.4 mi
- Russian Gulch CreekCanoeing4.6 mi
South TrailHikingPhoto: Orin Zebest, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)5.3 mi- Russian Gulch TrailHiking5.3 mi
Super SlabRock climbingPhoto: Apuch, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)6.8 mi- South Fork Gualala RiverCanoeing7.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Fort Ross Reef Campground and Beach
Best months: Year-round. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
57° / 42°
Feb
59° / 42°
Mar
59° / 42°
Apr
60° / 43°
May
62° / 45°
Jun
66° / 46°
Jul
65° / 48°
Aug
67° / 50°
Sep
67° / 48°
Oct
66° / 47°
Nov
61° / 44°
Dec
57° / 42°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ft Ross, CA, 0.6 mi away at 112 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
