Tag Archives: The Sea Ranch

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As I posted yesterday, Rick and I were recently shown how to access the Salal Trail. It turns out the trail starts at Gualala Point Regional Park. It makes sense because there is public parking there. Of course you will have to pay a parking fee or, like us, buy an annual Sonoma County Parks pass. You drive by the pay station and and turn to the left into the small parking area. (Note: There are two small parking areas at the entrance. You want the second one in. If you traveled more than 20 yards from the pay station, you've gone too far.) Here is where you will find the beginning of the trail. Who knew?

 The sign below tells you to look for signposts with this symbol on them. You will need to look for them to help guide you along the way.

 Here's the Salal Trail where it runs in-between Highway One and the golf course fence. I had no idea there was a trail down in this swale.

 This is one of the sign posts to watch for. You will cross the golf course driveway entrance. The lines on the driveway, which delineate the trail, are almost gone.

At the end of the golf course fence the trail will veer west and you will go down a wooden staircase. The trail  crosses Leeward. Don't take the wide golf course path, which goes right or left. Stay straight on the narrow Salal Trail. Below is the beautiful waterfall that you will find about halfway down.

 I hope you will experience this beautiful trail for yourself soon! My best to you, Jeanne Jackson

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I have been wanting to hike the Salal Trail but couldn't find where it was on The Sea Ranch. On Friday a friend took Rick and me there. It is so very beautiful and it has a fantastic waterfall, which is running strong from our recent rains.

Tomorrow I will show you a few more photos and give you directions on how to access this wonderful trail.

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Jim Garlock photographed a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus, sitting on a tree branch on The Sea Ranch recently. This Hawk lives in forests near water in California and the East. They eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and crayfish. Perhaps Jim's hawk is looking for a nice fat mouse.

Here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to hear what this hawk sounds like: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-shouldered_hawk/sounds/ac
Thanks to Jim for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Adrian Bennett noticed a Great Blue Heron striding through her Sea Ranch yard.

 The Heron continues its walk, passing by some colorful, decorative "eggs."

 All of a sudden the Heron stops and whips its head around as it notices the "eggs."

 I can just imagine what this Great Blue Heron is thinking - "What the heck...?"

Thanks to Adrian Bennett for allowing me to share her photos with you here. They made me smile and I hope they do the same for you.

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At The Sea Ranch there is a rock that looks like a Gorilla sitting on the bluffs. It appears to be gazing out over the Pacific Ocean.  To find this unique rock Linda Frye advises, "Gorilla Rock is on TSR coast near the White Barn. The silhouette of the gorilla is more prevalent in late afternoon during the late fall or winter months when the sun is setting in the southwest sky. The casual walker may notice it as he/she walks north on the trail."

Doug Patterson took this photo and I thank him for allowing me to share it with you and also thanks to Linda for her directions.