LEEWARD ROAD - BLUFF TRAIL

 

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 10:20 and at the Del Mar Center at 10:30. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk south on Leeward Road until it intersects Sea Pine Reach, accessing the meadow trail at Post 43B. Turn right on Pacific Reach and walk until you intersect the Public Access trail to Shell Beach. Turn right on the Bluff Top Trail and follow it to Walk On Beach for lunch. Follow bluff  back until you get to post 49 where you take the "Portal Babbling Brook" connector to Tide Pool, Sea Drift and Leeward to the Del Mar Center. 

Leader: Laura Bridge

 

photo credit: Laura B

HUGAL RAVINE-LONG MEADOW LOOP

 

Carpool at 9:45 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory north of bridge or meet at 10:00 at Ohlson Rec Center (just south of the white barn). Hang tags needed. 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. NOTE: If weather or mud is a problem the leader may reroute us onto more roads and fewer trails. Lunch at Ohlson Rec Center.  
*Hugal Ravine is fairly steep. Please be prepared for elevation change during this hike. 
Leader: Laura Bridge

photo credit: Laura

GUALALA POINT PARK #3

 

Start at the Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00 (on the 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. Lunch at the Hidden Parking lot tables. 
Leader: Beth Roland

photo credit: Laura B

DMC LOOP #3 Modified

 

Carpool at 10:15 at Gualala Business Sign pullout just north of bridge or meet at 10:30 at Del Mar Center on TSR. Hang tags needed for parking for non Sea Ranch hikers. Hike was modified from original write up.... we visited the old school house then crossed highway 1 to see a Wood Rat home, then past the dog park to the eastern part of the chapel trail crossing back over highway 1 at the Eucalyptus trees and then south to One-Eyed Jacks and the bluffs back to Del Mar. We ate our lunch at the tables at the Del Mar Garden where there are lovely flowers in spring. 
Leader: Harmony & Laura

mileage:  4.5

photo credit: Bob, Laura and Beth

POINT ARENA PUBLIC LANDS LOOP (B)

 

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 spectacular middle section with views of the islands, ocean, and the Lighthouse before turning around and walking south along the bluff towards 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. A suitable lunch spot will be found with a good view before returning to the cars. 
Leader: Dona Dougherty 

photo credit: Laura B 

STORNETTA - HWY 1 TO CYPRESS ABBEY SECTION

 

Meet at 10:30 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory and at 10:40 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.
Leaders: Jeff Gyving & Lena Bullamore

photo credit: Laura

ONE-EYED JACKS AND BLUFF

Meet at 9:45 at the pullout for the Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool. The hike will begin at 10:00 at One-Eyed Jack's parking area (from highway 1 go West on Leeward Spur then left on Leeward Road). Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk to the Bluff trail and go just a little South to Shell Beach where we hope to see some baby seals. Turn around and head North on the Bluff Trail, taking the sandy trail between the tall beach grass down to Walk-On Beach. We will traverse the beach, then head up the stairs to continue North on the Bluff Trail. Take the path to the right at post 53 and turn right on Leeward Road. We will turn right on Sea Pine Reach, then right at post 43B and follow the Leeward Meadow Trail, turning right at 36C to return to One Eyed Jacks where we will have our lunch.
Leader: Stephen O’Leary 

photo credit Stephen