Thursday, March 7, 2024

GUALALA POINT PARK #3

 

Start at the Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00. You can park on westside entrance just left after pulling past the fee post. If you have a pass, bring it as there is a fee to park in the park. Or park across the street and cross Hwy 1 if you do not have a pass. Hike from there down to the beach but instead of going to the beach go south past the restrooms to the bluff. Bear left on bluffs and continue on Bluff Trail until you intersect the Salal Trail. Hike the Salal Trail to Hwy 1, turn left and follow frontage path back to the Park and the Hidden Parking lot. If it is very wet, can retrace steps instead of taking the Salal Trial. Lunch at the Hidden Parking lot tables or by the poles.
Leader: Dona Dougherty

Photo Credit: Laura & Dona

Thursday, February 22, 2024

TIMBER RIDGE ROAD - POSH SQUASH

 




Meet at 10:00 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and/or at the end of Verdant View near the Ranch Cafe at 10:15. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk on the informal path west to Timber Ridge Road. Walk south on this road until the end of the road. This is a forested road with ups and downs so a hiking stick could be helpful but is not mandatory. When we reach the end, we will turn around and walk back stopping at the Posh Squash where there are picnic tables where we can eat our lunch and survey the vegetable gardens.
Leader: Laura Bridge, 408-306-5321.

Photo Credit: Laura & Dave

Thursday, February 15, 2024

KRUSE RANCH ROAD TO PLANTATION

 

Carpool at 9:30 at pullout for the Gualala business directory north of bridge. Shortly after entering Salt Point State Park, drivers from the north should prepare to turn left on Kruse Ranch Road and drive to the official parking area for Kruse Reserve. There are no fees or passes required. Hike will begin from the Kruse parking area at 10:00. We will hike up the gravel road all the way to Plantation. The ascent is gradual, but the gravel large and often sharp, so sturdy shoes are recommended. In the late nineteenth century, Plantation was an important destination for travelers from San Francisco on their way to Gualala. It had the only hotel available. The views are spectacular. We will walk along several gushing creeks, and have views into deep forested canyons. The return trip is all downhill and we will have lunch at Kruse Reserve. This hike is a bit longer than our regular hikes, about five miles, but the rewards are great.
Leader: Dona Dougherty

Photo Credit: Laura & Dona

Thursday, February 8, 2024

GUALALA POINT PARK

 

 
Start at the Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00 (on west side entrance just left after pulling past fee post). There is a fee per car. (Or park across the street and cross Hwy 1 if you do not have a pass.). Our leaders will determine the route of the hike.
Leaders: John and Lynn Walton, 884-9714

Photo Credit: Laura
 

Thursday, January 25, 2024

GUALALA POINT PARK BLUFF AND LOOP

 

Start at the Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00 (on westside entrance just left after pulling past fee post). There is a fee per car. (Or park across the street and cross Hwy 1 if you do not have a pass.) Walk through the Serge Poles and then cross the road to the bench overlooking the Gualala River. Take the trail from there that leads to the Visitor Center and from there the northernmost trail to the bluff. Hike to Whale Watch Point for the view and then hike to the bluff, turn south and walk along the Bluff Trail past Salal Cove. Between post 64 and 63 turn left walking through the hedge row and on Fish Rock Road to Leeward. Turn left on Leeward and walk until you intersect the Salal Trail. Turn right following it back to the highway and the Hidden Parking Lot.  Lunch at the picnic tables at the end.
Leader: Laura Bridge, 408-306-5321

Photo Credit: Laura & Dave

Thursday, January 18, 2024

MANCHESTER STATE BEACH

 


Meet at 10:20 at pullout for the Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 10:30. We will turn in at Alder Creek Beach Road (mm 22.48), then turn directly left and park parallel on the road that parallels Hwy 1. Hike starts around 11:00. We will walk along the closed road until we can access a trail on our left. Our leader will lead us to a nice view point before we walk to the environmental campground. From there we will make our way to the beach and walk north to Alder Creek stopping to have lunch at an appropriate location along the beach. From the beach we will walk back to Alder Creek Beach Road and return to our cars.
Leader: Joel Chaban, 884-9280

Photo Credit: Laura, Dave and Dona

Thursday, January 11, 2024

UP AND DOWN SCENIC GUALALA

 
Meet at 9:30 at the parking area behind the Gualala Hotel for a walk around town. On this walk there are many scenic views. We will see views of the ocean from many different vantage points, interesting and diverse architecture and drought tolerant entry gardens, walk on the Gualala Bluff Trail, and see Gualala in a way most of us have never seen it, on foot. This hike is not level, but none of the "elevation changes" are very long. This is a hike without lunch, but there are a number of places in town to buy lunch after the hike.
Leaders: Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner, 707-884-482

Photo Credit: Laura & Dave