The Russian River rises in the coastal mountains of Mendocino County, north of Ukiah, in Northern California. Its tributaries flow into Lake Mendocino, a reservoir formed by the construction of Coyote Dam in 1958, for winter flood control.
Russian River
The river takes its name from the Russian trappers who explored the river in the early 19th century, and established their Fort Ross trade colony a few miles north of its mouth. They called it the Slavyanka River. The redwoods that lined its banks drew loggers to the river in the late 19th century.
According to the USGS, variant names of the Russian River include: Misallaako, Rio Ruso, Shabaikai, Slavianka, and Slavyanka.
Fort Ross
The settlement of Ross, the name derived from the word for Russia (Rossiia) was established by the Russian-American Company, a commercial hunting and trading company chartered by the tsarist government, with shares held by the members of the Tsar’s family, court nobility and high officials. Trade was vital to Russian outposts in Alaska, where long winters exhausted supplies and the settlements could not grow enough food to support themselves.
MOSCOW General Store
Moscow Store is located in Casini Ranch and you can get there anything you need – ice and coffee, firewood and flashlights, beer and cigarettes, camping and fishing gear.
You can also rent a kayak or buy rafter boat in the store.
For More info Call: 1 (707) 865-2255
Duncans Mills
This entire area was once part of the enormous Don Muniz Mexican Land Grant. In 1877 Alexander Duncan established a sawmill here and the town of Duncan's Mills was born. Lumber was sent down to the growing city of San Francisco.
The worldwide depression of the early twentieth century forced the abandonment of the town, but fortunately in 1971 it began to be restored.
Russian River Wine Road
Wending through some of the most picturesque wine country in California, the Russian River Wine Road takes visitors on a sensually gratifying journey of natural beauty, sublime tasting experiences and memorable personal encounters with the state’s most devoted and individualistic winemakers. Even for veteran wine travelers already well acquainted with California wine country, the Wine Road is likely to be uncharted territory, sure to imbue a fresh sense of discovery.
