STORNETTA - HWY 1 TO CYPRESS ABBEY SECTION

Meet at 10:20 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and at 10:30 at Anchor Bay (West side of Hwy 1) to carpool and start at the junction of Lighthouse Road and Hwy 1, 2 miles north of Point Arena at 11:00. We will travel the access road to the old Coast Guard Loran site (now owned by Mendocino Community College) turning left before we get there to enter that middle section of the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands. From there we will walk through the "forest" to the bluff and enjoy the spectacular views of the off shore islands and the Ocean and find a suitable site for lunch before retracting our steps. 

Leader: Laura Bridge

 photo credit: Phil

DOG PARK RAMBLE

Carpool at the pullout for the Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:50. Start at 10:00 at the Dog Park on TSR (off of Deer Trail). Hang tags are needed for non Sea Ranchers.  We will do a loop which will include both sides of the highway and stop close to the end for lunch at the Del Mar Center garden or the “Secret Place” by the school before carefully crossing highway 1 back to our cars. 

Leader: Steve & Harmony

Mileage: 4.6

photo credit: harmony

 

PELICAN BLUFF

Meet at 9:35 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and carpool at Anchor Bay at 9:45 at the south side of town on west side of highway. The hike will begin at the Pelican Bluff parking lot at 10:00. Please carpool if at all possible as there is limited parking. The Mendocino Land Trust has designed a 2.2-mile trail and this 73-acre preserve is home to the endangered Point Arena Mountain Beaver and several rare plants, as well as a creek (which is recovering from cattle grazing) and Bishop pine forest. We will start our hike with the trail that goes to the bluff and then South, retracing our steps back to the parking area. After that, we’ll hike the loop that goes North and then down to the bluff, and finish up with the short loop in the center, eating lunch at the picnic tables. 

Leaders: John and Lynn Walton

photo credit: Phil

DMC Loop #2

 

Carpool at 9:50 at the Gualala business directory just north of bridge. Start at 10:00 at the Del Mar Center on TSR (hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers). Hike south on the Del Mar Meadow Trail to the Bluff Trail and to the Salal Trail. Cross the highway by the entrance to the Regional Park and go through the gates to post 152. Walk up Haversack and make a right on Deer Trail, entering the Pomo Creek Trail at post 146 and then catching the Saloon Trail then down to post 138. Go through the tunnel under the highway, turn left on Tallgrass and walk back to the Del Mar Center. Lunch in the garden. 

Leader: Linda Kennedy

photo credit: Phil

FORT ROSS GRASSLANDS

Carpool at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge or at the Stengel Beach Coastal Access parking area at 9:25 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 walk by the windmill and then down the road until we reach a gate and then walk north along the bluff exploring this undeveloped part of the park with lovely ocean views. 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 there are spots where footing is a bit tricky. Wearing good shoes is recommended. This area is very exposed with no trees so dress accordingly. We'll turn around at some point and continue walking past where we started and by the bush lupine they are hoping to remove. There are many choices for a lunch spot depending on hikers' preferences and the weather.(bluffs, Call House picnic tables, the Fort.)   Dogs aren’t allowed on most of the Fort Ross trails.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob R, Harmony

mileage: 3.4

 

Meet at the Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00 (on westside entrance just left after pulling past fee post.) Or park across the street and cross Hwy 1 if you do not have a pass. Hike to the bluff, go north, and then back to the Visitors Center, walking occasionally on the road, but mostly on trails. After a brief stop on the benches to look at the view of the river, we will take the trail down to the river and under the highway to the campground. From there we will walk through the forest and down to the Gualala River for lunch. After lunch we will walk back to the cars via the road to the campground.
Leader: Laura Bridge

photo credit: Phil

STORNETTA LANDS OCEAN VIEWS NORTH

 

Meet at 10:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at meet at 10:40 at Anchor Bay (West side of Hwy 1) to carpool and park in front of the Lighthouse north of Point Arena. The walk begins at 11:00 by following the bluffs to the north/east and following the Garcia River upstream (via the bluffs). We will lunch on the bluffs overlooking the Garcia River. We will return via the pasture and through the gate and back on the road to our cars. The views should be lovely and hopefully there are still wildflowers (this hike can be windy). Note the ground may be uneven due to cow walking/grazing so sticks are recommended.
Leaders: Jeff Gyving & Lena Bullamore 

photo credit: Phil and Annie