UP AND DOWN SCENIC GUALALA

 

 

 Meet at 9:30 at the parking area behind the Gualala Hotel for a walk around town. 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, 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. This is a hike without lunch, but there are a number of places in town to buy lunch after the hike. 
Leaders: Mary Sue & Bob

Photo Credit: Laura & Bob 

SALAL TRAIL AND BLUFF

 

Start at Hidden Parking Lot at 10:30 (on westside entrance just left after pulling past fee post.)  There is a fee per car. (Or park across the street and cross Hwy 1 if you do not have a pass.) Walk along trail next to Highway to Salal Trail. Hike this beautiful shady trail to the Bluff and south for awhile before turning around and walking north to Gualala Point Park and lunch. We may eat at the picnic tables overlooking the ocean or on the beach. After lunch the leaders will lead us back through Gualala Point Park to our cars.
Leader: Stephen

Photo Credit: Stephen 

DMC LOOP #2

 

 

Carpool at 9:50 at the Gualala Super parking lot, close to the back side of the old hotel. Start at 10:00 at the Del Mar Center on TSR (hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers). Hike north on the Del Mar Meadow Trail to the Bluff Trail, down the hedgerows and to the Salal Trail. Cross the highway by the entrance to the Regional Park and go through the gates to post 152. Walk up Haversack and make a right on Deer Trail, catching the trail at post 139. Turn right at post 138 and go through the tunnel under the highway, turn left on Tallgrass and walk back to the Del Mar Center. Lunch in the garden.
Leader: Laura

Photo Credit: Laura 

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: Stephen

Photo Credit: Laura
 

POINT ARENA PUBLIC LANDS LOOP

 

 

 Meet at 10:00 at the parking area directly across the highway from the entrance to Gualala Point Park and at 10:10 at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) to carpool and start at Point Arena City Hall at 10:30. Walk north until you reach a road that will lead you to the bluff and spectacular ocean views. Follow the bluff north for a while to catch the spectacular middle section with views of the islands, ocean, and the Lighthouse before turning around and walking south along the bluff towards Arena Cove. This is mostly coastal grassland so there isn't much elevation change, but the ground is uneven and there are gopher holes so good hiking shoes are helpful. We will have lunch at a nice spot on the trail.
Leaders: Lynn & John

Photo Credit: Laura 

PELICAN BLUFF

 

Meet at 9:35 at the parking area directly across the highway from the entrance to Gualala Point Park and carpool at Anchor Bay at 9:45 at the south side of town on west side of highway. The hike will begin at the Pelican Bluff parking lot at 10:00. Please carpool if at all possible as there is limited parking. The Mendocino Land Trust has designed a 2.2-mile trail and this 73-acre preserve is home to the endangered Point Arena Mountain Beaver and several rare plants, as well as a creek (which is recovering from cattle grazing) and Bishop pine forest. We will start our hike with the trail that goes to the bluff and then South, retracing our steps back to the parking area. After that, we’ll hike the loop that goes North and then down to the bluff, and finish up with the short loop in the center, eating lunch at the picnic tables.
Leader: Jack

Photo Credit: Jack 

DOG PARK RAMBLE

 

Carpool at the parking area directly across the highway from the entrance to Gualala Point Park at 9:50. Start at 10:00 at the Dog Park on The Sea Ranch (off of Deer Trail). Hang tags are needed for non Sea Ranchers. We will do a loop which will include both sides of the highway and stop close to the end for lunch at Del Mar Center garden or the “Secret Place” by the school before carefully crossing highway 1 back to our cars.
Leaders: Harmony & Laura

Photo Credit: Laura