HORSESHOE COVE--SALT POINT NORTH

photo credit: Sus Susalla

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Sus Susalla

photo credit: Sus Susalla

Meet at 10:00 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and at The Sea Ranch Lodge at 10:15. Park at MM 44.00 at Salt Point. 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: Harmony Susalla

TIN BARN ROAD TO KING RIDGE ROAD

photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Meet at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and at The Sea Ranch Lodge parking lot at 9:30. From Skagg's Spring Road turn on Tin Barn Road. Park below Odiyon. Walk to King Ridge Road and back, lunching at the end where there are logs along the road you can sit on. This is a road hike, but with lovely green vistas in the winter and glimpses of the Buddhist Temple on the return.
Leaders:  Ken and Marian Brown
MILEAGE: 5.5

OHLSON RANCH LOOP & POTLUCK

Meet at 9:40 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Linda's house: 37677 White Barn at 9:50. Non-Sea Rancher's will need hang tags. We will leave our food for a potluck at Linda's. Hike starts around 10:00 a.m. Walk from Linda's to Ohlson Ranch and take the trail behind Ohlson Ranch that parallels Highway 1, connecting with bike path to Navigators Reach. Turn right onto Navigators Reach and left on Sculpture Point Drive to end, pick up trail which connects you to Sea Gate Road. Turn right on Sea Meadow Drive where you pick up the first trail on the right (marker 7B.) Follow through hedgerow and markers 7C and 7D, talking trail to connect to bluff trail at marker 8.  Head north on bluff trail until you get to marker 22 exiting at Wild Iris and back to Linda's for lunch.
Leader:  Linda Kennedy

KRUSE RANCH ROAD TO PLANTATION

all photos by Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at 10:00 at pullout for the Gualala business directory north of bridge, or at the Sea Ranch Lodge at 10:15. 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.  Hike will begin from the Kruse parking area at 10:30. 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. Now there is a summer camp at our destination. We will eat lunch on the porch and steps next to the museum. After lunch it is all downhill. The views are spectacular. We will have views into deep forested canyons. This hike is a bit longer than our regular hikes, about five miles, but the rewards are great.
Leader: Jim Suhr

OHLSON RANCH TO BLUFF

Carpool at 10:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge. Start at the Ohlson Ranch parking area at 11:00 (just south of the white barn). Hang tags needed. Hike to the Bluff Trail at post 21 and head north for lunch at One-Eyed Jacks. Retrace steps stopping for cormorant viewing at the overlook near post #31, taking Cormorant close and walking through hedge row to Breaker Meadow Trail. Take it back to the barn and the Ohlson Center.
Leader: Theresa Yuen

BIG TREE AND WHITE FIR TRAILS

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:45. Start at Big Tree Close and Timber Ridge Road at hike marker 122 at 10 a.m. Please bring hang tags for non Sea Ranchers. Pass marker 116.  At marker 111 take left fork.  Follow trail to marker 104 which ends at Longmeadow. Go through gate and turn right back onto a forest path.  Continue on this trail, past the Sag Pond.  The path eventually joins the main trail again at marker 110.  Continue back along trail until marker 117. Walk west to marker 118. We will loop down to post 267 and the bench (with a great view) for lunch continuing back up the Big Tree Loop to marker 120 after lunch. Afterwards follow the upper portion of the Big Tree Loop Trail to marker 120. Exit at 123 at Big Tree Close and return to parking area on Timber Ridge.
Leaders:  Dave and Diana Bower

HARRIS RANCH ROAD AND FROG SONG GARDEN

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of the bridge at 9:30 or at Bower Park at 9:40. We will meet at Bill Clement's house at 10:00. He will lead us on a walk on the road that borders his property and perhaps on his property as well. Afterwards we will drive to Frog Song Garden, Sandy Scott's amazing garden for a tour. You can read more about her and her garden here:
http://www.gualalaarts.org/Events/2010-07GardenGuildLuncheon.html
Afterwards we will eat our lunches. Sandy's garden has been featured in the Garden Conservancy Open Days and she has also created a lovely small area for her grandchildren out of recycled materials that is fun to see. There will be a lot of inviting places in her garden where we can eat our lunches.
Leader: Bill Clement