This secret trail to a waterfall is only a 20 minute walk off of County Road 409, between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. It’s the kind of place where you’ll hear water before you see it, which is always a good sign. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet.

You have two ways to reach it. The quickest is from County Road 409 itself. Starting at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 20 in Fort Bragg, drive south on Highway 1 toward Mendocino. After five miles, you’ll cross a bridge over Caspar Creek. Immediately after (at milepost 54.65), turn left onto County Road 409. Park just beyond milepost 3.26 where the pavement ends. From there, it’s a straightforward walk to the waterfall.

The second route goes through Russian Gulch State Park Campground near Mendocino and takes about two hours, though you’ll need to pay a day use fee to park at the campground. This gives you more options if you want to combine the waterfall hike with other activities in the area. At Russian Gulch, dogs on leash are welcome at the picnic area, beach, campground, and on paved park roads and the Headlands Trail. Just know that service animals are the only dogs allowed on other trails in the park. If you’re camping, your dog needs to be in a tent or vehicle at night.

The County Road 409 approach is simpler if you’re just looking to do the waterfall walk itself without paying the day use fee. The trail is less crowded than state park routes, so if you’ve got a dog that gets nervous around other people or dogs, this is a nice option. The walk isn’t strenuous, making it good for older dogs or those still getting their hiking legs. Just bring water—there’s not much shade on the approach, and the coastal wind can be deceptive about how much sun exposure you’re actually getting.