ALDER CREEK - MANCHESTER STATE BEACH

All Photos by Bob Rutemoeller

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 Highway One on about mile marker 22.27 at 9:45. We will turn in at Alder Creek Beach Road, then turn directly left and park on the road that parallels Highway One. 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 wildflowers and walk back via the beach if we can. We may change the direction of the hike depending on the wind. We will have lunch afterwards at Beverley Thompson's lovely garden to view spring flowers (Rhododendrons and Azaleas to name a few.)
Leaders: Bob Rutemoeller & Mary Sue Ittner

BLACKPOINT BEACH WALK & BLACKPOINT-BIHLER POINT WILDFLOWER FOOTPATHS

Carpool at the Gualala Business Directory pullout just north of bridge at 9:45, and meet at the Sea Ranch Lodge north (additional) parking lot at 10:00. 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 fire trail we will go to either the barn or the Lodge chair area for our lunches. Note: If it's windy, the leader may modify the plan.
Leader: Jane Seck
Mileage: 3.7

SODA SPRINGS RESERVE

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Steve Coffey-Smith

Photo credit: Steve Coffey-Smith

Photo credit: Steve Coffey-Smith

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala Business Directory just north of bridge at 9:45 and/or at the Sea Ranch Annapolis Road Business Center at 10:00.  Turn right before you reach the Fire Station. We can park along the cul-de-sac by the building supply. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers who park there to carpool. Park on Kelly Road 1 mile beyond entrance to Annapolis winery and hike to park. Hike on gravel road 2.3 miles to this 49 acre relatively unknown Sonoma County Park known locally as Kelly Park.  From the Parks website: "The park is a perfect place to stop among your travels. Rest or hike under the fragrant shelter of redwood groves, while enjoying the soothing sounds of running water from the adjacent Soda Springs Creek. Amenities include picnic areas, restroom, barbecues, and hiking trails."  Lunch, tour the park, and return.
Leader: Dard Hunter

POMO TRAILS AND FOREST

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Steve Coffey-Smith

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:50. Meet at Dard's (205 Screech Owl, Sea Ranch) at 10:00. It's East on Halcyon (North end of Sea Ranch) North on Deer Trail, West on Screech Owl.  Starting on Screech Owl, do entire Pomo Creekside Trail. Turn left on Deer Trail and walk until you catch the Pomo Hillside Trail.  As this trail exits to Deer Trail take the Badger Trail to the dirt road, turn left and after a few hundred feet take unofficial trail to right through the grass and over a flattened to the ground barbed wire fence to the county campground road. Turn to the right and walk to the campground. At the bottom of hill take unofficial trail heading toward river and explore this beautiful area. Reverse and start back. Cover the route taken inbound to dirt road, turn right to Post 152 turning left on Haversack connector trail.  Take it exiting on cul-de-sac which traverse turning right on Deer Trail.  Turn in on Pomo Creekside trail and return to beginning. Lunch at Dard's at the end.

RIDGE, SAG PONDS, BIG TREE AND BIG TREE LOOP TRAILS



 

Photo credit: Steve Coffey-Smith

Photo credit: Steve Coffey-Smith

Photo credit: Steve Coffey-Smith

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:45 a.m. Please bring hang tags for non Sea Ranchers. Going south exit Highway 1 to the left at Deerfield. Go to the top of Deerfield and turn right on Timber Ridge. Start at Big Tree Close and Timber Ridge at Ridge Trail post 122 at 10 a.m. Pass Ridge Trail post 116.  At Ridge Trail post 111 take left fork.  Follow trail to Ridge Trail post 104 at which point you are at Longmeadow Street.  Go through gate and turn right onto Sag Ponds Trail at trail post 104A.Continue on this trail past the Sag Pond to Sag Ponds Trail post 109A.  Turn right and walk to trail post 110.  Turn left on Ridge Trail and walk to trail post 117.  Turn left downhill on Big Tree trail to post 118.  Continue downhill now on Big Tree Loop trail and walk to trail post 267.  Here there is a bench with a great view.  Time for lunch.  After lunch at trail post 267 take a left turn and hike to Big Tree Loop trail post 120. Turn left and exit the Big Tree Loop Trail at Big Tree Close at trail post 123.   Turn right and return to parking area on Timber Ridge.
Leader: Theresa Yuen

POINT ARENA-STORNETTA PUBLIC LANDS

photo credit: Robert

photo credit: Robert

Meet to carpool at 10 a.m. at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge or at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy One) at 10:10 a.m.  The hike starts at 10:30 a.m. at Point Arena City Hall.  We will be walking in coastal grassland so there isn't a lot of elevation changes, but the ground is uneven and there are gopher holes so boots are still helpful. We should have spectacular views of Arena Cove and the offshore islands and the Pacific Ocean. We may do a loop, or just turn around and come back after walking an hour and have our lunch overlooking Arena Cove.
Leader: Mary Sue Ittner for Mary Heibel

CORMORANT-WALK-ON BEACH LOOP

Meet at 9:45 at the Gualala Business Directory (north of bridge) and at 10:00 at Steve and Bonnie Coffeysmith's house, 339 Bluff Reach, corner of Bluff Reach and Cormorant Close. Walk to marker 30A and follow the hedgerow to marker 30D. Turn left and follow the trail straight through 31C to 33B. Turn right on Pacific Reach and Whalebone, toward Rt. 1. Turn left at marker 34A, left at 35D, and right at 35C. Continue hiking through the meadows to marker 42C, then turn left and walk to 42, overlooking Walk-on Beach. Turn left and follow the Bluff Trail, passing the TSRA Marine Preserve and Dune Drift Beach at marker 38. Hike to marker 37 and follow the sand trail to the cypress hedgerow, turn right and go to Tidepool Beach to look for harbor seals. Continue on the trail, passing Shell Beach and stopping to check out the cormorant nesting area before returning to the Coffeysmith's to enjoy your bag lunch.