Tag Archives: Salal Trail

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White-tailed Kites are exciting to see. Usually they are spotted hovering in the air as they search for prey for a meal. Eric Zetterholm found two Kites resting in a tree along Salal Trail, which is a public access trail on The Sea Ranch.

Perhaps this is a mated pair, as some birds are pairing up already. White-tailed Kites aren't found in much of the United States, so it's a treat that they are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They have a rather sweet call which you can hear at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

oh, it was a beautiful day here on the coast today, albeit quite cool. The horizon is clear and I'll be watching to see if there is a green flash at sunset.

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There is a special spot on the Salal Trail, a public access trail that starts in the first parking lot of Gualala Point Regional Park. Once you walk along the trail which is beside Highway One and the Sea Ranch Golf Course, you turn westward and the trail brings you to this. John Wall and his dog, Dash, recently visited the Salal falls.

Dash is a very discriminating dog, and he says this spot is just perfect!

Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo with you here. Here is a link to a previous post that gives you a little more direction for finding this trail: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2015/07/29/enjoying-the-salal-trail/

We are in another long dry spell. Thank goodness for the early rains, but we surely could use more of the wet stuff. In the meantime, the weather is mild. There was fog over the ocean this morning, but it's pulled back now. Nothing but blue skies today!

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Margaret Lindgren recently led a hike which included Salal Trail, a public access trail that begins at Gualala Point Regional Park and then onto The Sea Ranch. There is a beautiful cascade to discover.

This is a beautiful spot. Here is a photo I took several years ago, showing more of the pond.

You can find the directions to this trail on this blog post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/01/30/how-to-find-the-salal-trail-a-hidden-gem-of-a-trail-on-the-sea-ranch/

Thanks to Margaret for allowing me to share her photo with you here. To find out more about the hiking tours she leads, here is her website: http://www.unbeatenpathtours.com/index.html

Oh my, the weather is sunny and chilly. Visitors here for the holidays are enjoying everything the Mendonoma Coast has to offer.

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The Salal Trail is rather hard to find. The trailhead is in Gualala Point Regional Park. After you pass the pay station, turn into the parking area on the left and park in the right side. To your left you will see the beginning of the trail.

Beginning of Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium)

You amble down a path between Highway One and the golf course. The trail then heads west. Rick and I, along with friends C'Anna and David Bergman-Hill and our new rescue golden retriever, Sunny, recently enjoyed the trail.

We found summer wildflowers in bloom. Here David has photographed C'Anna and me finding Wight's Paintbrush.

C'Anna Bergman-Hill and Jeanne Jackson find Wight's Paintbrush by David Bergman-Hill

Here's a close-up of this native wildflower, photo by Craig Tooley.

Wight's Paintbrush by Craig Tooley

We came to the waterfall and even in the drought there is a slight trickle. When the winter rains come, the waterfall is glorious. Here's are two photos I took a few years ago. It's really a magical place.

View of waterfall on Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium) Waterfall on the Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium)

Finally, at the end of the trail, you come to a small beach, which is where Rick and Sunny are. This photo was taken by C'Anna.

Rick and Sunny at the end of the Salal Trail by C'Anna Bergman-Hill

We feel very fortunate Salal Trail is a public access trail. There is no other quite like it!
Thanks to C'Anna, David, and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Craig's nature photography, here is his website: www.ruffimage.com.

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The Salal Trail waterfall is very beautiful. When winter rains really get it going, it is something to behold. Paul Kozal photographed it a few weeks ago after the wonderful storms we had.

Salal Trail Waterfall by Paul Kozal

Of course Paul is a professional photographer and able to take a photo like this. I, on the other hand, am not a professional. But I did get two nice photos of the waterfall several years ago.

View of waterfall on Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium) Waterfall on the Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium)

The Salal Trail is a public access trail that begins at Gualala Point Regional Park. After the pay station, turn into the parking area on the left and look for this trailhead sign.

Beginning of Salal Trail by Jeanne Jackson (Medium)

It is a wonderful trail that eventually ends at a small beach.

Thanks to Paul for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Paul's photography, here is his website: http://paulkozal.com/