MANCHESTER STATE BEACH

 

Meet at 9:50 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 10:05. The hike will begin at the Manchester State Beach Parking Lot (end of Kinney Road, just north of Manchester village) at 10:30. We will walk south  passing the AT&T Undersea Cable Station, to access a large field of wildflowers adjacent to Brush Creek where it flows into the ocean. After exploring the creek and estuary area we will hike back north on the same route to the cars to pick-up our lunches from the car.  We will then head north along the dunes to the beach for lunch  before returning to our cars. Note: If it is to windy and cold on the beach for eating, we will return to the picnic tables by where the cars are parked for lunch instead
Leaders: Susan Levenson-Palmer and Gary Levenson-Palmer

photo credit: Beth & Dona

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) 

COOK'S BEACH

 

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 10:15 or drive directly to the parking area west of Big Gulch Road (north of Gualala after mm 2.16) where you will meet the leader. We will start walking at 10:30. We will walk south along the Old State Highway and the route of the old railroad. We will explore where the Old Milano used to be before retracing our steps and then walking (carefully) north along Highway 1. This is a scenic corridor with nice views. We will do a short loop east of the Highway on Glennen for more views of ocean and houses before walking to Cooks Beach. Cooks Beach is a RCLC project providing public access to a sheltered beach. We will descend to the beach for lunch and then return along Hwy 1 to the cars. 

Leader: Joel Chaban

 photo credit: Laura B

ALDER CREEK-MANCHESTER BEACH

 

Meet at 9:05 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 9:15. The hike starts at the public access from Hwy 1 on about mile marker 22.48 at 9:45. We will turn in at Alder Creek Beach Road, then turn directly left and park parallel to get in as many cars as possible on the road that parallels Hwy 1 Or we will park on the shoulder of the highway if this parking area isn’t accessible. We will walk down the road where it is closed until we come to the trail that leads to the environmental campground hoping to see iris, poppies, and baby blue eyes along the way and walk back via the beach if we can. We may change the direction of the hike depending on the wind. We will drive to Beverley Thompson's lovely garden to view spring flowers (rhododendrons and azaleas to name a few) and to eat our lunches afterwards. 

Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller

mileage: 3.7

Photo credit: Mary Sue, Bob R, Laura B

 

GUALALA POINT PARK #5

Meet at the Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00 (on the west side entrance, just left after pulling past fee post.) Or park across the street and cross Highway One if you do not have a pass. Walk through the Serge Poles and then cross the road to the bench overlooking the Gualala River. Take the trail from there that leads to the Visitor Center and from there the grass trail to the Beach. Walk as far as you can on the beach, turning around and retracing your steps and then hike south past the restrooms and along the bluff doing the loop for views of Whale Watch Point and then walking south until you reach the trail that goes south to Walk On Beach but take the trail that takes you back towards the Visitor's Center. Leader's choice for eating at the tables at the Visitor’s Center or walking back to the Hidden Parking lot and eating at the tables there.Leaders: John & Lynn Walton

photo credit: Laura B, Lynn, & April

MANCHESTER STATE BEACH

Meet at 9:50 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 10:00. Hike starts at 10:30 a. m. at trailhead for enviromental campground which is located at parking lot off Kenny Rd. on West side of KOA Campgound, Manchester Beach.  To reach this parking lot, take first right after passing KOA Campgound. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. We will walk the trail to the lagoon and then come back along the beach. 

Leaders: John & Lynn Walton

 photo credit: April & Lynn