SALT POINT LOOP #2 --Variation B

Carpool at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge. Park at the call box parking area one-half mile south of Stump Beach on the east side of HWY 1 (south of MM 41.00). Take trail going south on east side of the highway up to the first fork. Take the left trail toward the Prairie, going up the hill, then stay right at each fork until coming out at the park entrance. Cross the highway and take the trail toward Gerstle Cove. Hike up the gravel road, pass the Information Center and go onto the headlands. Hike north on the bluff all the way to a rock outcropping in line with the call box on the highway, then continue for another few minutes toward Stump Beach. There have lunch seated on some wonderful rock ledges, watch the crashing surf and see the salt pockets after which Salt Point was named. Walking sticks are a good idea! After lunch take the meadow trail back to the cars. Dogs are not allowed on the Salt Point trails.
Leader: Joel Chaban

photo credit: Laura B

ALDER CREEK-MANCHESTER BEACH

 

Meet at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 9:30. This time the hike starts at the shoulder of Highway one (on the east side) just before Alder Creek Beach Road at 10:00. We will walk a short distance south along Highway 1 to the entrance gate across from Pacific View Drive.   At the start of the walk there is tall grass.  So be sure to wear long pants to help keep the ticks away.  We will walk east on the trail past the old red house and down the hill with beautiful views of the ocean.  Then we will head north at the environmental camps and up to the trail for some of the best wildflower displays.  We should see our coastal California Poppies, Baby Blue Eyes, Buttercups, Douglas Irises, Sea Thrift, Lupin and more all in bloom at once. We will continue up past the "once beautiful home," to where we turn off to get views of Alder Creek and the coast beyond.  That is where we should see both yellow, orange and red Paint Brush and lots of Douglas Irises. We will have our lunch there.  We will then walk back to our cars along the old Alder Creek Beach Road, where we will add Bush Lupine and Ceanothus to our list of plants in bloom. It should be a lovely spring time ramble.  And, if we are really lucky we will see some happy California Cows.
Leaders: Susan and Gary Levenson-Palmer

photo credit: Laura B

KENNY & ROBERT’S FARM

 

Carpool at the Gualala Business Directory pullout just north of the bridge at 9:45 and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 10:00. Those that live North of Anchor Bay can meet to carpool at the Point Arena City Hall at 10:15. The hike starts at 10:30 at Kenny and Robert's farm, which is located at 43700 Mountain View Road in Manchester (the driveway is on the left, about 1/2 mile from the intersection at Hwy. 1). The distance is unknown, but this is probably a shorter hike than usual. There is some flat, and there is some hilly. It takes probably an hour and a half, if not moving too fast and enjoying the beauty, to walk the whole thing. Optional lunch at the end of the hike. Bring your “sit-upon.” No dogs are allowed since there are farm animals roaming about.
Leaders: John & Lynn Walton

photo credit: Laura

FORT ROSS ROAD WILDFLOWER HIKE

 

Carpool at the Gualala Business Directory pullout just north of bridge at 9:00. Start at 10:00 at Meyers Grade Rd. and Fort Ross Rd. We will shuttle a few cars to leave at Bohan Dillon Road. Walk down to Bohan Dillon Road on Fort Ross Road (about 625 ft elevation change) and continue past it to the Niestrath Rd. junction and return to Bohan Dillon Road. Some people may choose to continue walking back up the hill while others drive to the top to get the cars left there. After we have everyone again in their vehicles, we will drive to the Fort Ross Orchard where we will have our lunch with hopefully spectacular views. This is a bit farther hike than usual, but when we went there in 2016 there were wonderful flowers.  
Leader: Mary Sue Ittner

photo credit: Mary Sue and Dale

mileage: 3.7

BLACKPOINT BEACH WALK & BLACKPOINT-BIHLER POINT WILDFLOWER FOOTPATHS

 

Carpool at the Gualala Business Directory pullout just north of the bridge at 9:45, and meet at the Black Point Beach Coastal Access parking area at 10:00 (there are a limited number of spots at this parking area so please carpool). 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: Laura Bridge

photo credit: Laura B

Seaside School Road Hike

Meet at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala Business Directory to carpool to Cooks Beach. Try to park off the pavement at Cooks Beach as there have been parking tickets issued in the past for cars parked on the pavement. The walk begins at 9:45 going north along Highway 1 for about one block to St. Orres.  We will cross the highway to St. Orres and will walk up Seaside School Road to Old Stage Road to the top of the ridge, stopping as frequently as necessary to rest our legs and drink water. Once we reach our destination, we will return to Cooks Beach by going downhill on Seaside School Road.  We will eat lunch at Cooks Beach.  This is a very steep walk uphill and downhill, so bring your hiking poles.  It is very pretty with pastures, forest, and homes along the road.  The road is paved for the first and last third of the hike.  The middle third is dirt road and is not usable by vehicles.
Leader: Joel Chaban

photo credit: Beth R

GUALALA ROAD TO GREEN IRON BRIDGE AND GAC HIKING TRAILS

 

Meet at 10:00 in back part of the Gualala Arts parking lot. We will walk one of the GAC trails before hiking along the road down to the green bridge and back. There are some mild elevation changes. We will have lunch at the picnic tables at the Arts Center, and after lunch those interested can view the art shows inside.

Leader: April Dammann 

photo credit: Laura B