RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK- WATERFALL - June 28, 2012

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

 

Photo credit: Jane Seck

Meet at 9:20 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at 9:30 at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) to carpool to Russian Gulch State Park. This is a LONG drive for us - approx. 1 hour 15 minutes to the north to get to our starting spot. This state park is slated to be closed on July 1st so we wanted to get a chance to experience it one last time. (UPDATE: Parks is NOT closing - yahoo!) In addition to being a longer drive than usual the hike may be slightly longer too. Take road 409 (north of Mendocino) to the east until the pavement ends and park there. Enter through the "Horse Camp" gate on the right and proceed to waterfall via the a loop. We had a bit of a mix up at the start with half the group taking the "usual" way and the rest of us starting from Road 409 but we met at the waterfall. Ice Cream at Frankie's afterwards was a special treat. THANKS BOB!
Leader:  Harmony Susalla

DMC LOOP #1

Carpool at 10:45 at Gualala Business Sign pullout just north of bridge. Start at 10:55 at Del Mar Center on TSR.  Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk to Tallgrass and hike under the Highway and then turn left on Saloon Trail to Pomo Trails and across Highway. Lunch in Gualala Point Park. Hike the Salal Trail to Bluff Trail and then go south, taking either the Del Mar Meadow trail north of the bridge past post #62a ,  or if the leader prefers, staying on the Bluff Trail turning after Post 54 to take the trail back to Leeward and the Del Mar Center.
Leader : Jane Seck

LONGMEADOW TRAIL/BLUFFTOP TRAIL LOOP

photo credit for all: Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge or meet at 10:00 at Ohlson Ranch Center (just south of the white barn). Hangtags needed. Walk south on trail between the highway and the Ohlson Ranch Center.  Cross the highway at Headlands Reach and take an immediate left on a trail off Headlands Close (mm 53.00). Upon reaching Longmeadow Trail follow it south and up hill. At a trail crossing take a right on Spur Close Trail.  This trail goes downhill almost to Spur Close in order to go around trees along a creek, then uphill again through a wooded area. Reaching a bifurcation, take the right hand fork down to the highway. Cross and walk Navigator's Reach and trail to Pebble Beach.  Return going north on Blufftop Trail to starting point, saying hello to the seals at Green Cove's Marine Preserve along the way. Leader's choice for lunch spot.
Leader:  Tina Vasavada

KRUSE RHODODENDRON STATE RESERVE

Carpool at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge, or at The Sea Ranch Lodge at 10:00. Shortly after entering Salt Point State Park, drivers from the north should prepare to turn left on Kruse Ranch Road, just before Fisk Mill Cove. There is just a short drive to the official parking area. No fees and no passes required. Hike will begin from the Kruse parking area at 10:15. We will hike the short Rhododendron trail connecting with Phillips Gulch Trail and return on the Chinese Gulch Trail. This is only a two-mile hike. The first part is mostly up and the second part is mostly down (but no steep places). We will cross eight bridges over flowing creeks. This is a spectacular area.  We may be late to see the rhododendrons  in bloom, but we usually see coral root orchids in the forest. Lunch will be on some friendly logs in the forest at the end or we could walk down to Fisk Mill and Howard's picnic table (but we'd also have to walk back up afterwards to the cars since the parking at Fisk Mill is closed.)
Leader: Gary Sprague