Black Point is a
beach in Sonoma County located directly behind the property of Sea Ranch
lodge.
While visiting this lush paradise of fog-shrouded coastline,
interspersed with sun and sparkling dewdrops that cling to tall grasses
leading to the beach, you'll need a decent pair of walking shoes that
repel the moisture.
OK, so we weren't
prepared for real outdoor adventures when we visited Black Point Beach.
As a result, one of us slipped and fell on the rocks heading down to the
sandy beach leading to rocks where the sea lions, starfish and birds all
seemed quite at home. The studied our intrusion with guarded optimism,
hoping we would know the rules and keep our distance. Thanks to some
local Sea Ranch residents who whispered to us while we clicked away with
our cameras, inching ever closer to the sea mammals nested on rocks, we
were told to stay back and not get any closer. This was how folks
respect their environment at the beaches of Sea Ranch, a community of
houses, condos and a lodge that are all designed to blend into the
natural environment without too much visual intrusion.
Beaches that twist
along the coves below cliffs where the homes are perched include Black
Point, Bluff Top Trail, Pebble Beach, Stengal Beach, Shell Beach and
Walk on Beach. Unfortunately this photographer wasn't able to visit all
these beaches to study their unique features and characteristics. That
lesson will have to come on yet, a third drive (530 miles distance) from
Southern California to Sonoma Coast. It's a long trip, taking around 8
hours minimum, if you are able to go straight through without rush hour
traffic in Los Angeles.
Black Point Beach is
located along Highway 1 south of the Sonoma / Mendocino County Line. The
beach, parking and hiking trails are open during the day, usually from 6
a.m. to 8 a.m. and closing at sunset. Some lots charge a parking fee,
and do pay the fee because they ticket! No campfires are allowed on the
beach and no bicycles are allowed on Bluff Top Trail from Walk On to
Gualala Point Park. You will, however, see dogs on leash. Again the
residents have the "clean up your doggie mess" code that visitors should
adhere to. Sea Ranch Lodge has a pet friendly policy so visitors staying
overnight need to adhere to the local rules and courtesies. Though we
were not told, the beaches seem so pristine that you can only assume
that you would not want to pollute them with trash. The rule is much
like the mantra at any beach should be and is something we learned on a
trip to the Channel Islands National Marine Park. It goes like this,
"Pack it in, take it out."
Six Sea Ranch access trails provide trailhead parking areas, restrooms
and short hikes to outstanding coastal access points. Each of the six
access trails provides access to the beaches by footpaths, staircases or
trails. Something we were not aware of but discovered on the Sonoma
County website was a warning to beware of sleeper waves common
along the north coast.
Being from the
Southern California coast, we've looked up Sleeper Waves for those (like
us) who don't know what they are. You can't look out for something if
you don't understand what it is. Here's the scoop: Pacific
Ocean beaches, especially Hawaii and the Northwest coast, are subject to
rogue waves called sleeper waves. These single, large waves appear to
come out of nowhere. Unsuspecting victims have been swept off of cliffs
or crashed into rocks to certain death. Whoa! Rogue or sleeper
waves are rare on sandy swimming beaches, but many lives have been lost
on rocky coasts where deep water is close to shore. We were not warned
by locals to watch out for sleeper waves at Black Point Beach, so are
not sure how much of problem these types of waves are. It certainly is
something to think about and ask on the next trip to beautiful Sonoma
County coast.
The Sea Ranch Coastal Access trails are marked from Highway 1. Visitors
should use caution while turning off of Highway 1 to get in and out of
the access trails parking lots. RV's and vehicles with trailers are not
allowed to use the parking areas. Parking is limited at Shell and Pebble
Beach parking lots. For additional information, please call (707)
785-2377.
Sonoma County Tourism
Bureau
420 Aviation Blvd., Ste 106
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-539-7282
www.sonomacounty.com
