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.
Leaders: John & Lynn Walton
mileage: 3.7
photos contributed by Mary Sue and Bob R

MANCHESTER STATE BEACH AND THOMPSON HEATHER GARDENS

Meet at 9:05 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 9:15. The hike starts at the public access from Hwy 1 on about mile marker 22.48 at 9:45. We will turn in at Alder Creek Beach Road which hasn't been marked lately, then turn directly left and park on the road that parallels Hwy 1. We will walk to the ocean and then go South on the beach and then return. We will then drive to the Thompson garden afterwards for lunch. There will be a little beach walking, but there aren't rocks to scramble over and Manchester Beach is very pretty. The Thompson garden, though always wonderful, in August is a feast for the eyes with the heathers in bloom. It is Beverly Thompson’s birthday that day, so if you can, please bring a card for her to congratulate her on her birthday and thank her for letting us enjoy her garden.
Leader: Mary Heibel
photos contributed by Jane, Bob R and Mary Sue

MONARCH GLEN/WALK-ON BEACH LOOP #2

Carpool at the pullout for the Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:50. Start at 10:00 at the paved 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 Hwy 1. 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 left onto Leeward Road and continue to Walk-On Beach where we will be able to stop for lunch (or on bluff above seal viewing spot).  After lunch proceed south on bluff top trail to post 35, then turn east to Pipers Reach and the cars. This hike is longer than we usually do but very enjoyable.
Leader: Laura Bridge
Mileage 5.4 
photos contributed by Bob R and Mary Sue

FERN CANYON TRAIL – VAN DAMME STATE PARK (New)

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge 8:05 am, at 8:15 am in Anchor Bay and 8:40 am at Manchester School parking lot for this longer than usual drive for a hike. This will be a one way hike so a shuttle will need to be arranged. We will start at the parking area for the Pygmy Forest Natural Preserve that is located beyond the airport on Little River Airport Road. Hikers will walk the Pygmy Forest boardwalk trail and then wait for the drivers to come back after they drop off cars at the beach at the entrance to Van Damme, our ending point. We will take the logging road to the Fern Canyon Trail and walk mostly downhill to the entrance to the park. This hike is longer than most, probably more than 5 miles, but is incredibly beautiful, mostly shaded with mixed evergreens, ferns, shrubs and the sound and sometimes sight of Little River in the background. The trail is narrow in spots and there are tree roots so good shoes and hiking sticks will be helpful. We can eat at the beach or the picnic tables in the park at the end. As an extra treat after lunch we will visit the Ford House Museum in Mendocino where there is on exhibit through August the winners of this year's California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest. The Coastal Commission received 2,850 entries for the 2019 contest and awarded ten winners and 39 honorable mentions in the different age groups. An extra benefit besides being struck with the talent and appreciation of the coast by these young people from grade one to grade twelve is reading their statements about their art.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller
photos contributed by: Mary Sue and Bob

FORT ROSS BLUFFS AND COVE

Carpool at 9:15 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory north of bridge, at the Stengel Beach Coastal Access parking area at 9:25 or meet at Fort Ross State Park at 10:00. There is a charge of $8 per car for parking, $7 for the senior rate (62 and older.)  People who have passes should bring them. We will walk by the windmill and then down to the road, turning south and taking the trail to Fort Ross Cove. Returning to the road we will continue to walk south and take the trail to Sandy Cove and walk from there along the bluff to Reef Campground before retracing our steps.  After the hike we will then drive to our lunch spot at the picnic tables at the Fort Ross orchard with incredible views. Dogs aren’t allowed on most of the Fort Ross trails.
Leader: Harmony Susalla
Mileage: 4
photos contributed by Bob R & Harmony