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 Reach. 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 Coffeysmithphoto credit: Bob R & Phil

ALDER CREEK-MANCHESTER BEACH

Meet at 10:20 at pullout for the Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 10:30. We will turn in at Alder Creek Beach Road (mm 22.48), then turn directly left and park parallel on the road that parallels Hwy 1. Hike starts around 11:00. We will walk along the closed road until we can access a trail on our left. Our leader will lead us to a nice view point before we walk to the environmental campground. From there we will make our way to the beach and walk north to Alder Creek stopping to have lunch at an appropriate location along the beach. From the beach we will walk back to Alder Creek Beach Road and return to our cars.
Leader: Joel Chaban

photo credit: Phil & Gary

TALLGRASS VARIATION

 

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:45. Start at 10:00 at Del Mar Center on TSR. Sea Ranchers please bring your extra hang tags for non-Sea Ranchers to borrow. Walk on Leeward north, turning onto Tallgrass and continuing until you come to the spot where the golf cart path passes under Hwy 1. Hike under the Highway and continue on the trail until you intersect the Saloon Trail. Turn left and walk north on the trail ending at Screech Owl. From there take the lower loop of Pomo Creekside Trail and then reverse steps except for taking the left fork of the Saloon Trail to the end (near the dog park) and then walk south on Deer Trail, crossing the highway there. Lunch in the Del Mar Center garden or at the "Secret Place" by the school.
Leader: Phil Lewenthal 

photo credit: Laura

SALT POINT BLUFFS/SLEEPING LION

 

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala business directory at 9:30 and at the Black Point Beach parking lot at 9:45. Start at 10:00 at Salt Point State Park - There may be a $7-$8 charge per car so bring a couple of dollars (or coupons/passes if you have them). Hike past the Visitor's Center and walk to the South Gerstle Cove Picnic Area. From here we will follow the bluff as closely as possible. The rock formations and views from the bluff are outstanding and sometimes there are fireworks waves. The paths are rough and eroded in places and walking sticks and boots are recommended. Our leader will point out a "sleeping lion" rock formation. We will turn around at some point and return to the picnic area for lunch. Dogs are not allowed on the Salt Point trails.
Leader: Joel Chaban  

photo credit: Phil

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 spectacular ocean views. Follow the bluff north for a while to catch the middle section with beautiful views of the islands, ocean, and the Lighthouse before turning around and walking south along the bluff toward 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 have lunch at the picnic table back at the City Hall parking lot. 

Leader: Jeff Gyving & Lena Bullamore 

photo credit: Phil and Joel

 

GUALALA POINT PARK #3

Start at the 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 the Salal Trail. Hike the Salal Trail to Hwy 1, turn left and follow frontage path back to the Park and the Hidden Parking lot where we will have lunch.  

Leaders: John & Lynn Walton 

Photos by Laura Bridge

 

HUGAL RAVINE-LONG MEADOW LOOP – May 20, 2021

Meet at the Stengel Beach Coastal Access parking area at 10:00 (just north of the Knipp-Stengel barn on the Sea Ranch). Take the path to the barn, then cross the highway to post 254A and take the Hugal RavineTrail* to Seabird Road. Pick up the trails again at the end of Schooner Dr. (post 109) and follow the Sag Ponds Trail to Ridge Trail via post 104, then right at post 103 to Sorcerer Wood at post 102. Pick up the trails again at post 314. Turn left at post 240 and take Long Meadow Trail down to Highway 1. Cross Highway 1 and take the bike and foot trails to Ohlson Rec Center where we will have lunch. *Hugal Ravine goes uphill so be prepared for elevation change during this hike. 

Leaders: Laura Bridge  & Steve Coffeysmith