PELICAN BLUFF

 

Meet at 9:35 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory 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: Cynthia

Photo Credit: Laura 

STORNETTA - HWY 1 TO CYPRESS ABBEY SECTION

Meet at 10:30 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and at 10:40 at Anchor Bay (West side of Hwy 1) to carpool and start at the junction of Lighthouse Road and Hwy 1, 2 miles north of Point Arena at 11:00. We will travel the access road to the old Coast Guard Loran site (now owned by Mendocino Community College) turning left before we get there to enter that middle section of the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands. From there we will walk through the "forest" to the bluff and enjoy the spectacular views of the off shore islands and the Ocean and find a suitable site for lunch before retracing our steps.
Leaders: Jeff & Lena

Photo Credit: Laura 

MOONRAKER HIKE

 

Carpool at 10:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge and meet at the Black Point Beach Coastal Access parking area at 11:00 (there are a limited number of spots at this parking area so please carpool). Hike to Moonraker Rd and take trail behind tennis courts. Trail exits on Ramsgate, which leads to Galleon's Reach. Turn left on Galleon's then right on Seagate and follow it to the end. Continue on trail at end of Seagate. Turn left to Bluff on public access trail which intersects bluff trail at Pebble Beach. Lunch at Pebble Beach and then back to the cars.
Leader: (none)

Photo Credit: Laura 

KRUSE RANCH ROAD TO PLANTATION

 

Carpool at 9:30 at pullout for the Gualala business directory north of bridge. Shortly after entering Salt Point State Park, drivers from the north should prepare to turn left on Kruse Ranch Road and drive to the official parking area for Kruse Reserve. There are no fees or passes required. Hike will begin from the Kruse parking area at 10:00. We will hike up the gravel road all the way to Plantation. The ascent is gradual, but the gravel large and often sharp, so sturdy shoes are recommended. In the late nineteenth century, Plantation was an important destination for travelers from San Francisco on their way to Gualala. It had the only hotel available. The views are spectacular. We will walk along several gushing creeks, and have views into deep forested canyons. The return trip is all downhill and we will have lunch at Kruse Reserve. This hike is a bit longer than our regular hikes, about five miles, but the rewards are great.
Leader: Joel

Photo Credit: Laura 

Gualala Point Park

The weather was rainy and only two people showed up so we hiked in Gualala Point Park, which was wet but beautiful.

Photo Credit: Laura 

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 visit the Gualala cemetery and 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: None

Photo Credit: Laura 

TIMBER RIDGE ROAD - POSH SQUASH

 

Meet at 10:00 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and/or at the end of Verdant View near the entrance to Sea Ranch Supply at 10:15. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk on informal path west to Timber Ridge Road. Walk south on this road until the end of the road. This is a forested road with ups and downs so a hiking stick could be helpful but is not mandatory. When we reach the end, we will turn around and walk back stopping at the Posh Squash where there are picnic tables where we can eat our lunch and survey the vegetable gardens.
Leader: Laura

Photo Credit: Laura