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. Please park in the enclosed courtyard if possible. 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.
Leader: Steve Coffeysmith
Mileage: 4.0
photos contributed by Bob R. and Harmony

FORT ROSS GRASSLANDS AND COVE

Carpool at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge, and at The Sea Ranch Lodge at 9:30 or meet at Fort Ross State Park at 10:00. There is a charge of $8 per car for parking, $7 for the senior rate (62 and older.)  We will first walk north along the bluff exploring this undeveloped part of the park with lovely ocean views and then turn around and walk to the Fort. Most of this is grassland, but because of the wind most of the vegetation is not very tall except in a few places. Although the elevation changes are minimal, the ground is very uneven and the trails are not always visible so wearing good shoes is recommended. We'll turn around at some point and continue walking past where we started, deciding on a lunch spot depending on the weather.  Dogs aren’t allowed on most of the Fort Ross trails.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller
Mileage: 3.8
photos contributed by Bob R. & Harmony

GUALALA POINT PARK # 3

Start at Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00. You can park on westside entrance just left after pulling past the fee post. If you have a pass, bring it as there is a fee to park in the park. Or park across the street and cross Hwy 1 if you do not have a pass.  Hike from there down to the beach but instead of going to the beach go south past the restrooms to the bluff.  Bear left on bluffs and continue on Bluff Trail until you intersect Salal Trail. Hike Salal Trail to Hwy 1, turn left and follow frontage path back to the Park and the Hidden Parking lot. If it is very wet, can retrace steps instead of taking the Salal Trial. Lunch at the Hidden Parking lot tables or by the poles.
Leaders: John & Lynn Walton
Mileage: 3.5
photos contributed by Bob R & Harmony

OHLSON RANCH LOOP

Carpool at Gualala Business sign at 9:50 am.  Start at Ohlson Ranch at 10:00am (Sea Ranchers bring hang tags please). Start on 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 26 where we will turn right and follow the Breaker Meadow Trail past the Barn back to Ohlson Ranch. Lunch at Ranch House after hike.
Leader: Laura Bridge
Mileage: 5.3
photos contributed by Harmony & Bob R

SALT POINT BLUFFS

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala business directory at 10:30 and at The Sea Ranch Lodge parking lot at 10:45. Start at 11:00 at the Gerstle Cove Campground/Salt Point State Park. Turn west at Main Entrance and follow road down to ocean where large parking lot and restrooms are.  There may be a $7-$8 charge per car so bring coupons if you have them. Hike the coastal trail along the bluffs starting at left side of parking lot. Continue north until you are at the trail which descends into Stump Beach.  At that point turn around and walk back by jeep trail which is inland of coastal trail. The leaders will pick a good spot around noon for sitting, viewing and eating lunch. Dogs are not allowed on the Salt Point trails.
Leaders: April and Ron Dammann
photos contributed by Bob R.

STORNETTA T AND HUCKLEBERRY PICKIN'

 

Meet at 9:50 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at 10:00 at Anchor Bay (West side of Hwy 1) to carpool and start at Rollerville Junction 2 miles north of Point Arena at 10:20. Cars can park along highway 1 facing south. We will be hiking a T pattern.  Starting down the road (aka Huckleberry Row) to the Loran Station we will first head south to some spectacular rock formations and then retrace back to the Loran Station and this time we will head north for some more great views of the lighthouse (weather permitting) and our coastline. After taking in the views we will return and eat our lunch near the blow holes (or find a spot out of the wind depending on the weather). Eventually we will retrace our way back along "Huckleberry Row" where those who want to may stay and pick huckleberries can and others can return by the road to their cars. Carpools should be done in a way to accommodate pickers and non-pickers.  This is a relatively flat hike with only minor elevation change.
Leader: Harmony
Mileage 4.0
photos contributed by Bob R.