GUALALA REDWOODS ROAD

"It was a very pleasant day for a walk through the redwoods on their logging road near the river. We found a nice log to sit on for our lunch and some scarlet monkeyflower or Mimulus cardinalis  in bloom nearby," Bob (Flower photo credit too!)

 

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 10:30 and meet for the 2nd carpool at 10:45 at The Sea Ranch Business Center on Annapolis Rd. Turn right before you reach the Fire Station. We can park along the cul-de-sac by the building supply.  Sea Ranch members please bring along extra hang tags for non Sea Ranchers. We will be hiking on a mostly shady logging road that starts near Valley Crossing and follows the south fork of the Gualala River south of Annapolis Road. The hike will be about four miles with lunch near the river at the half way point. Although it is mostly level, it is a bit uneven and we think boots would be a good idea. This hike is on private property (Gualala Redwoods) and it's a very beautiful, peaceful area.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner & Bob Rutemoelle

MONARCH GLEN/WALK-ON BEACH LOOP #2

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:50. Start at 10:00 at the parking area at Piper's Reach. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers.  Walk to the bluff and then walk south to post 31. Continue east to Cormorant Close and through the hedgerow intersecting the trail that is adjacent to Highway One. Walk north on it until you reach the Monarch Glen Trail. Do that loop and then walk back to Bosuns Close and carefully cross the highway taking the road to the Chapel. Walk the first part of the Chapel Trail with its great views to post 128, turning left to Leeward Spur, crossing the highway again. Turn east onto Leeward Road. Take a left on Seal Rock Reach and hike to Walk-On Beach where we will be able to stop for lunch.  After lunch proceed south on bluff top trail to post 35, then turn east to Pipers Reach and the cars.
Leader: Tina Vasavada

The day started out cold and foggy.  Tina promised sunshine for lunch and delivered!!!  It was a wee bit longer than most of our hikes.... approx. 5 miles but everyone agreed it was a keeper.  It had everything - bluff, woods, river, meadow, hedge row.... a 5star hike.

FISK MILL BLUFFS

Nhu, who is getting his PhD in mushrooms, helped identify the ones we saw.

This one is use for dyeing according to Nhu.

Meet at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and at The Sea Ranch Lodge parking lot at 9:45.  We will park at Salt Point State Park at large pull out on the right past MM 43.20. Starting time is about 10:00. We will take the trail through the grass and then turn south. We'll cross over on the rocks by the first gulch and find the trail that passes Sentinel Rock. From there we'll  take the bluff trail south and hike this unbelievably beautiful bluff  for about an hour. Before we get to Stump Beach we will turn around and hike back. Walking sticks are advisable and good boots since there isn't much maintenance these days on the trails and there are some uneven areas and potential crossings.

Today we had special guest and friend of Mary Sue, Nhu join us from Berkeley.  We ate at the top at Sentinel Rock.  It was a diamond day -- sunny with very little wind!

SODA SPRINGS RESERVE

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala Business Directory just north of bridge at 9:45 and/or at the Sea Ranch Annapolis Road Business Center at 10:00. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers who park there to carpool. Park on Kelly Road 1 mile beyond entrance to Annapolis winery and hike to park. Hike on gravel road 2.3 miles to this 49 acre Sonoma County Park since 1994 (and known locally as Kelly Park) with lovely old growth redwoods and stream running by, plus being dog friendly with a toilet and picnic tables also. Lunch, tour the park, and return. There is a bit of up and down on this hike.  OPTION: Swimming in the swimming hole!  Robin did!
Leader: Harmony Susalla
It was great to have long time Annapolis local Robin along on this hike to tell us the history and answer questions.   At lunch we were treated once again by "Brownie Bob".

UP AND DOWN SCENIC GUALALA

me and Jane walking the labyrinth at Mary Star of the Sea

view from the Gualala Bluff Trail

me in a tree on the bluff trail

end of the trail at the Mary Sue bench

Meet at 10:00 in the Community Center Parking lot.  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, pass the houses of several members of our group 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. We will eat our lunches on the Gualala Bluff Trail near the end of the hike, but close to Trinks for all the gelato fans. We will walk the rest of the trail, exiting at the new southern access and back to our cars.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller