ALDER CREEK-MANCHESTER BEACH

 

 

Meet at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 9:30. The hike starts at the shoulder of Highway one (on the east side) just before Alder Creek Beach Road at 10:00. We will walk a short distance south along Highway 1 to the entrance gate across from Pacific View Drive.   At the start of the walk there is tall grass.  So be sure to wear long pants to help keep the ticks away.  We will walk west on the trail past the old red house and down the hill with beautiful views of the ocean.  Then we will head north at the environmental camps and up to the trail for some of the best wildflower displays.  We should see our coastal California Poppies, Baby Blue Eyes, Buttercups, Douglas Irises, Sea Thrift, Lupin and more all in bloom at once. We will continue up past the "once beautiful home," to where we turn off to get views of Alder Creek and the coast beyond.  That is where we should see both yellow, orange and red Indian PaintBrush and lots of Douglas Irises. We will have our lunch there.  We will then walk back to our cars along the old Alder Creek Beach Road, where we will add Bush Lupine and Ceanothus to our list of plants in bloom. It should be a lovely spring time ramble.  And, if we are really lucky, we will see some happy California Cows.
Leader: Mary Heibel, 707-882-2055
 

Photo Credit: Laura
 

HORSESHOE COVE - SALT POINT NORTH

 

Meet at 10:00 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool. Park at MM 44.00 at Salt Point where we will meet our leader at 10:30. The turnoff is tricky; turnoff at MM44 even though the sign says Turnout 1/4 mile. This hike is quite steep in places so hiking sticks and boots are recommended. Hike on the trail staying right at the fork until you go over the crest of the hill and have a beautiful view of Horseshoe Cove. Descend sharply until you reach the Bluff. Walk south along the bluff until about 11:30 and retrace your steps until we reach a magical rock formation for lunch. The return to the cars after lunch will be uphill, but this is a gorgeous spot so worth the effort.
Leader: Joel Chaban, 707-485-4339 

Photo Credit: Laura

ONE-EYED JACKS AND BLUFF

 

Meet at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and at the One-Eyed Jack's parking area at 10:00 (from Hwy 1, go west on Leeward Spur, then left on Leeward until you get to One Eyed Jacks). Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk to the blufftop trail and walk to the Marine Preserve to see the baby seals. Continue north and walk along the trail visiting Walk-On Beach. Once back on the blufftop trail, continue north and take the unmarked trail in the middle of Sea Pine Beach to connect to Sea Pine Reach. Enter the Leeward Meadow Trail and follow it to post 35C where you’ll  go left, then follow the trail to Whalebone Reach at post 34A. Turn right on Whalebone Reach, left on Pacific Reach, and catch the public trail back to the bluff and go right at post 34. Continue until you pass post 36 then walk up the trail back to One Eyed Jacks where we will have our lunch.
Leader: Laura Bridge, 408-306-5321
Photo Credit: Laura