GUALALA REGIONAL PARK NORTH SEA RANCH LOOP

Start at Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00 (on west side 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.) Cross the highway and pick up the Badger Trail. Take the Badger Trail and hike the Pomo Hillside Trail to Deer Trail. Turn left on Deer Trail (post 147) enter the Pomo Creek Trail at post 146. Exit the trail at post 142, turning right on Halcyon and crossing the highway. Turn right on Leeward, left on Fish Rock, taking the trail through the hedge row to the Bluff Trail. Turn right and walk along the trail until you pass post 67, then take the Salal trail back to Gualala Point Park. We will have lunch at the picnic tables at the end.

Leader: Cynthia 

Photo Credit: Laura 

SALT POINT LOOP #2

Carpool at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge. Park at the call box parking area one-half mile south of Stump Beach on the east side of HWY 1 (south of MM 41.00). Take trail going south on east side of the highway up to the first fork. Take the left trail toward the Prairie, going up the hill, then stay right at each fork until coming out at the park entrance. Cross the highway and take the trail toward Gerstle Cove. Hike up the gravel road, pass the Information Center and go onto the headlands. Hike north on the bluff all the way to a rock outcropping in line with the call box on the highway, then continue for another few minutes toward Stump Beach. We will have lunch seated on some wonderful rock ledges, watch the crashing surf and see the salt pockets after which Salt Point was named. Walking sticks are a good idea! After lunch take the meadow trail back to the cars. Dogs are not allowed on the Salt Point trails.
Leader: Mary Sue

Photo Credit: Laura & Bob 

POINT ARENA PUBLIC LANDS LOOP

Meet at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at 9:40 at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) to carpool and start at Point Arena City Hall at 10:00. Walk north until you reach a road that will lead you to the bluff and gorgeous ocean views. Follow the bluff north for a while to catch the spectacular middle section with views of the islands, ocean, wildflowers 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 eat lunch back at the picnic tables at City Hall.

Photo Credit: Laura

BLACKPOINT BEACH WALK & BLACKPOINT-BIHLER POINT WILDFLOWER FOOTPATHS

 

Carpool at the Gualala Business Directory pullout just north of the bridge at 9:45, and meet at the Black Point Beach Coastal Access parking area at 10:00 (there are not many spots at this parking area so please carpool). Walk north from the parking lot to the fire road. Turn left, then right to marker 1. Go down the stairs and walk on the beach to the north end, returning to the stairs (Note: The stairs are steep!). From marker 1, walk south to the first gate marked with the wildflower path marker and follow the path to Black Point, the barn, and Bihler Point. Continue on the marked path toward the Lodge, past the old sheepherder’s cabin, and turn left on the main trail. Follow the Bluff Trail from marker 1 to 3, turn right and continue through the hedgerow to marker 3C, then right on Moonraker to the fire road gate at Black Point Reach. At the end of the hike we will find a good area to eat our lunches. Note: If it’s windy, the leader may modify the plan.

Photo Credit: Laura

KRUSE RHODODENDRON STATE RESERVE

 

Carpool at 9:45 at the 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, just before Fisk Mill Cove. There is just a short drive to the official parking area. No fees and no passes are required. The hike will begin from the Kruse parking area at 10:15. We will hike the short Rhododendron trail connecting with Phillips Gulch Trail and return on the Chinese Gulch Trail. This is only a 2.5 mile hike. The first part is mostly up and the second part is mostly down (but no steep places). Fortunately, there are level places along the way where we can catch our breath. We will cross eight bridges over flowing creeks. This is a spectacular area. If the Rhododendrons are still in bloom we will have time to appreciate them and we often see Coralroot orchids and sometimes late flowering Calypso orchids. Lunch will be on some friendly logs near our starting place. Dogs are not allowed on the Kruse trails.

Photo Credit: Laura

MOAT CREEK #3

 

Meet at 9:35 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and carpool at Anchor Bay at 9:45 south side of town on west side of highway. Start at Moat Creek at MM 12.77 on way to Pt. Arena at 10:00. Hike the bluff south to Bowling Ball Beach. Walk south on the beach to Schooner's Gulch and then return via beach and bluff to Moat Creek for lunch. The hike is mostly level, but there are two short steep stretches (up one way and down another). The beach can be rocky and a bit challenging to walk on in a few stretches. There is a minus tide this day so we will be starting early to take advantage of this. There are often nice wildflowers this time of the year along the bluff and Schooner's Gulch at a low tide is a sight to behold.

Photo Credit: Laura

SEA FOREST AND BLUFF TRAILS

 

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:45 and meet at the Black Point Beach Coastal Access parking area at 10:00. We will take the trail from the parking lot to Moonraker Road and cross highway 1. From there we will take an immediate right at trail post 220 and enter the Sea Forest Trail, which has a creek and a seasonal waterfall. Take the trail to post 219 to the bench at the end of the trail and admire the spectacular view of the coast. We will retrace our steps, cross back over highway 1 and head north toward the Moonraker Rec Center. At trail post 3C we will head toward the bluff, turning south at trail post 3. We will return to the parking lot via the bluff trail and will find a suitable spot for lunch.
Leaders: Harmony and Laura

Photo Credit: Laura