One of many scenic hiking trails along the California coast near Gualala and The Sea Ranch. Looks like locals use it for hiking the loop, walking dogs, getting a nice cardio workout. The trail ends up at the beach, about a mile from the road. There is a $7 parking fee if you drive in, but free parking also available across the road.
The park is on both sides of Hwy 1. Go towards the shore for the rugged shore trail or take the exit on toward the river to take the river walk or to reach the camprground.
This is an amazing park with features ranging from full frontal ocean view and beaches, to river head (Gualala River), to access to the wooded, mystical waterfall-laden Salal Trail on The Sea Ranch next door, to dramatic bluff top, well kept trails, to recently carved totem poles from a native tribe in Russian. Must see!
Gualala Point Regional Park offers great opportunities to view the magnificent cliffs and beaches of the northern California Coast. I started at the park visitor center, following a trail that led west, parallel to the fence separating the park from Sea Ranch. Once the trail reaches the coastline you are treated to awesome cliff top views. Be sure to follow the trail around Whale Watch point. Eventually the trail takes you down to the long sandy/gravelly spit that separates the Gualala river from the ocean. You can walk either north or south along the beach (I did both).
Good if you want to walk early morning and see nature a very short drive less than a 10 minutes very quiet and good for exercise
Yes, you'll need to get out of the car and walk down the hill to the beach. But it's well worth it! Small but nice visitor center. The view and the sound of the waves pounding the beach is awesome. Take shoes to walk in the sand. Small fee to park your vehicle.
We spent the day here walking along the trails. We walked out to the beach and walked to the end. The sand is steeper than it looks. We walked along the bluff trail up to Sea Ranch but it continued on. We crossed under the bridge to get to the other side of Hwy 1 and found a beautiful campground. We spent hours walking along the trails. There is such variety in the plants and trees as you walk along, it feels like you are entering different forests.
Fantastic views of beaches and the ocean. On our walk we saw deer, sea lions and a whale. Nothing to dislike. You can walk for miles.
Very close to Gualala, nice loop trail down to beach from Visitor Center. VERY WINDY! Dress accordingly!
There is a seven dollar charge to park inside the park - it was worth it for me. You can drive right to the visitor center and park at the start of the lovely trails that go along the bluff and down to the beach. Bring a picnic and enjoy one of the many benches and picnic spots throughout. If you don't want to spend the money, you can park across from the entrance on the "land" side of highway !, and take your life in your hands as you run across the highway.