Seaside School Road Hike

Meet at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala Business Directory to carpool to Cooks Beach. Try to park off the pavement at Cooks Beach as there have been parking tickets issued in the past for cars parked on the pavement. The walk begins at 9:45 going north along Highway 1 for about one block to St. Orres.  We will cross the highway to St. Orres and will walk up Seaside School Road to Old Stage Road to the top of the ridge, stopping as frequently as necessary to rest our legs and drink water. Once we reach our destination, we will return to Cooks Beach by going downhill on Seaside School Road.  We will eat lunch at Cooks Beach.  This is a very steep walk uphill and downhill, so bring your hiking poles.  It is very pretty with pastures, forest, and homes along the road.  The road is paved for the first and last third of the hike.  The middle third is dirt road and is not usable by vehicles.
Leader: Joel Chaban

photo credit: Beth R

GUALALA ROAD TO GREEN IRON BRIDGE AND GAC HIKING TRAILS

 

Meet at 10:00 in back part of the Gualala Arts parking lot. We will walk one of the GAC trails before hiking along the road down to the green bridge and back. There are some mild elevation changes. We will have lunch at the picnic tables at the Arts Center, and after lunch those interested can view the art shows inside.

Leader: April Dammann 

photo credit: Laura B

 

TIN BARN ROAD TO KING RIDGE ROAD

Meet at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool. From Skagg’s Spring Road turn on Tin Barn Road and park at the corner of Tin Barn and Kings Ridge Road. Start at 10:00 and walk to Odiyon entrance and back, lunching at the end at the cemetery on Tin Barn Road. This is a road hike, but with lovely green vistas in the winter and glimpses of the Buddhist Temple. 

Leaders: Harmony  & Annie Pivarski

mileage: 5.9

photo credit: Bob R

 

LONGMEADOW TRAIL/BLUFFTOP TRAIL LOOP

 

Carpool at 9:50 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory north of bridge or meet at 10:00 at the Stengel Beach Coastal Access parking area. Walk south to the Ohlson Ranch Center and cut through the Demonstration Garden to take the 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 down Navigator's Reach, then walk north on the Blufftop Trail to the starting point, saying hello to the seals at Green Cove's Marine Preserve along the way. Eat at Ohlson at the end. 

Leader: Laura Bridge

photo credit: Laura B

 

STORNETTA LANDS OCEAN VIEWS NORTH

 

Variation: Meet at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at meet at 9:40 at Anchor Bay (West side of Hwy 1) to carpool and park in front of the Lighthouse north of Point Arena. The walk begins at 10:00 by going through the gate and hiking through the pasture, following the Gualala river downstream. We will then follow the bluffs to the south/west and hopefully have lunch at the gazebo near the lighthouse. The views should be lovely (this hike can be windy). Note the ground may be uneven due to cow walking/grazing so sticks are recommended. 

Leaders: Jeff Gyving & Lena Bullamore

photo credit: April and Laura B

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 B

 

FORT ROSS GRASSLANDS AND COVE

Carpool at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge or meet at Fort Ross State Park at 10:00. There is a charge of $10 per car for parking, $9 for the senior rate (62 and older.) We will first walk north along the bluff exploring this undeveloped part of the park with lovely ocean views and then turn around and walk to the Fort. Most of this is grassland, but because of the wind most of the vegetation is not very tall except in a few places. Although the elevation changes are minimal, the ground is very uneven and the trails are not always visible so wearing good shoes is recommended. We'll turn around at some point and continue walking back to where we started. After we have everyone again in their vehicles, we will drive to the Fort Ross Orchard where we will have our lunch with hopefully spectacular views. Dogs aren’t allowed on most of the Fort Ross trails. 

Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob R

MOONRAKER HIKE

 

Carpool at 10:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge or meet at 10:30 at Black Point Beach Coastal Access parking area. From the parking lot, walk to Moonraker Road, turning left and then to marker 3C, Brigantines Reach. Hike down the hedgerow trail to the Bluff Trail and turn north at marker 3A. Travel north to marker 7, turning right on to the Sea Meadow Trail. At marker 7C, turn right onto Whaler's Reach, then left on Sea Gate to Navigator's Reach. Turn right and follow the bike trail that parallels Highway One. Turn left at marker 138 to reach the Bluff Trail and have lunch at Pebble Beach. Return to the cars via the Bluff Trail. 

Leader: Annie Pivarski

photo credit: Laura B & Annie P

 

MANCHESTER BEACH SOUTH

Meet at 8:30 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 8:45. The hike will begin at the Manchester State Beach Parking Lot (end of Kinney Road, about half a mile north of Manchester) at 9:15. We will access the beach and walk southwest to the Garcia River before returning. Last year it was so dry that the Garcia River did not reach the ocean and we will check it out again this year before returning. Lunch optional but the beach or the picnic tables in the campground are possibilities.  This is an earlier start because of the tides that day.
Leaders: Mary Sue, 884-4824 and Harmony

photo credit: Mary Sue & Laura B

mileage: 5.6 (to Garcia River and back)