RUSSIAN GULCH STATE PARK- WATERFALL - June 28, 2012

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

 

Photo credit: Jane Seck

Meet at 9:20 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at 9:30 at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) to carpool to Russian Gulch State Park. This is a LONG drive for us - approx. 1 hour 15 minutes to the north to get to our starting spot. This state park is slated to be closed on July 1st so we wanted to get a chance to experience it one last time. (UPDATE: Parks is NOT closing - yahoo!) In addition to being a longer drive than usual the hike may be slightly longer too. Take road 409 (north of Mendocino) to the east until the pavement ends and park there. Enter through the "Horse Camp" gate on the right and proceed to waterfall via the a loop. We had a bit of a mix up at the start with half the group taking the "usual" way and the rest of us starting from Road 409 but we met at the waterfall. Ice Cream at Frankie's afterwards was a special treat. THANKS BOB!
Leader:  Harmony Susalla

DMC LOOP #1

Carpool at 10:45 at Gualala Business Sign pullout just north of bridge. Start at 10:55 at Del Mar Center on TSR.  Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk to Tallgrass and hike under the Highway and then turn left on Saloon Trail to Pomo Trails and across Highway. Lunch in Gualala Point Park. Hike the Salal Trail to Bluff Trail and then go south, taking either the Del Mar Meadow trail north of the bridge past post #62a ,  or if the leader prefers, staying on the Bluff Trail turning after Post 54 to take the trail back to Leeward and the Del Mar Center.
Leader : Jane Seck

LONGMEADOW TRAIL/BLUFFTOP TRAIL LOOP

photo credit for all: Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge or meet at 10:00 at Ohlson Ranch Center (just south of the white barn). Hangtags needed. Walk south on trail between the highway and the Ohlson Ranch Center.  Cross the highway at Headlands Reach and take an immediate left on a trail off Headlands Close (mm 53.00). Upon reaching Longmeadow Trail follow it south and up hill. At a trail crossing take a right on Spur Close Trail.  This trail goes downhill almost to Spur Close in order to go around trees along a creek, then uphill again through a wooded area. Reaching a bifurcation, take the right hand fork down to the highway. Cross and walk Navigator's Reach and trail to Pebble Beach.  Return going north on Blufftop Trail to starting point, saying hello to the seals at Green Cove's Marine Preserve along the way. Leader's choice for lunch spot.
Leader:  Tina Vasavada

KRUSE RHODODENDRON STATE RESERVE

Carpool at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge, or at The Sea Ranch Lodge at 10:00. Shortly after entering Salt Point State Park, drivers from the north should prepare to turn left on Kruse Ranch Road, just before Fisk Mill Cove. There is just a short drive to the official parking area. No fees and no passes required. Hike will begin from the Kruse parking area at 10:15. We will hike the short Rhododendron trail connecting with Phillips Gulch Trail and return on the Chinese Gulch Trail. This is only a two-mile hike. The first part is mostly up and the second part is mostly down (but no steep places). We will cross eight bridges over flowing creeks. This is a spectacular area.  We may be late to see the rhododendrons  in bloom, but we usually see coral root orchids in the forest. Lunch will be on some friendly logs in the forest at the end or we could walk down to Fisk Mill and Howard's picnic table (but we'd also have to walk back up afterwards to the cars since the parking at Fisk Mill is closed.)
Leader: Gary Sprague

STORNETTA LANDS OCEAN VIEWS NORTH

Photo credit Gary Levenson-Palmer

Photo credit Gary Levenson-Palmer

Photo credit Gary Levenson-Palmer

Meet at 10:20 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at meet at 10:30 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 10:50 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 and wildflowers should be lovely (this hike can be windy).  Note the ground may be uneven due to cow walking/grazing so sticks are recommended.
Leader: Harmony Susalla

CHAPEL AND AZALEA TRAILS

Photo Credit for all photos: Mary Sue Ittner

Meet at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool or at the Sea Ranch chapel at 10:00. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Walk north along the Chapel Trail through meadow, forest and ravine. Return on the Azalea Trail, which leads to the Chapel Trail; follow it south back to the Chapel. There are moderate elevation changes on this hike. Those who want to can use the bench or the rock wall close to the chapel as a place for lunch at the end.
Leaders: Diana and Dave Bower

SALT POINT LOOP

Photos by Mary Sue and Bob

 This was a new hike for us and definitely one we will do again!  For your viewing pleasure, here's another fun video by Jerry Wheat: https://sites.google.com/site/thesearanch2012/salt-point-state-park.

Carpool at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge, and at The Sea Ranch Lodge at 9:45. 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 on east side of the highway up to the first fork.  Turn right and follow the trail until you come out at the highway. Cross the highway and take the road to the campground (where there will be bathrooms we can use.) From there we will hike down the hill turning right on the road to the Visitor Center. Pass it 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 at Glen's Spot.  After lunch continue on the trail to the Highway and carefully walk back to the cars. Dogs are not allowed on the Salt Point trails. Walking sticks are a good idea. The trail could be a bit wet in spots if we've had recent rain. This is potentially a bit longer hike, but we could have nice flowers and it has both forest and bluff and a wonderful lunch spot.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller