Sea Ranch Outdoor Activities
There are over fifty miles of private trails in The Sea Ranch and they are all open to guests of Vista Del Mar. You don’t need much to enjoy hiking in our world, but a good pair of comfortable shoes, an old hat, and layers of clothing is recommended. Temperatures change and exercise magnifies the change. When you are out on the trails a long time, a small backpack might be useful to carry water, a light jacket, and perhaps a picnic sandwich. Photo courtesy of Allen Francis / Cristalen Photography.
Bike Rentals
Forgot to bring your bikes on your visit to Sea Ranch? Check out Sea Ranch Supply (707-785-2366) and they will deliver your bike to you while you are staying at Vista Del Mar. Riding in Sea Ranch is a great way to get around, see the beauty of the area and exercise (some of the biking is on trails and can be challenging for those folks who don’t bike a lot). Their bikes are all Specialized Expedition Bikes which is nice because they have an easy, upright body position, and a smooth ride plus a lightweight aluminum frame, 7-speed Shimano shifter and a comfy spring-mounted seat. Each bike comes with a helmet, bottle cage and a cable lock. Great service; great equipment. Very impressive! Highly recommend!
Forgot to bring your bikes on your visit to Sea Ranch? Check out Sea Ranch Supply (707-785-2366) and they will deliver your bike to you while you are staying at Vista Del Mar. Riding in Sea Ranch is a great way to get around, see the beauty of the area and exercise (some of the biking is on trails and can be challenging for those folks who don’t bike a lot). Their bikes are all Specialized Expedition Bikes which is nice because they have an easy, upright body position, and a smooth ride plus a lightweight aluminum frame, 7-speed Shimano shifter and a comfy spring-mounted seat. Each bike comes with a helmet, bottle cage and a cable lock. Great service; great equipment. Very impressive! Highly recommend!
Day At The Beach
A visit to this very secluded beach (directly below Vista Del Mar) and you’ll have a better understanding why people think this is some of the loveliest coastline in all of California. This beach offers a gorgeous delicate waterfall as well as wind-sheltered picnicking. A great place for families. Take in the incredible waves coming in, and smell the beautiful salty air, watch the harbor seals play in the surf. Bring a picnic lunch. You could spend hours and hours here.
A visit to this very secluded beach (directly below Vista Del Mar) and you’ll have a better understanding why people think this is some of the loveliest coastline in all of California. This beach offers a gorgeous delicate waterfall as well as wind-sheltered picnicking. A great place for families. Take in the incredible waves coming in, and smell the beautiful salty air, watch the harbor seals play in the surf. Bring a picnic lunch. You could spend hours and hours here.
Bluff Top Trail
For hikers in your group, a favorite of locals is the Bluff Top Trail — just a few minutes from Vista Del Mar – runs three miles along the headlands from Walk on Beach Trail to Gualala Point Regional Park and is great for Spring whale-watching. As with other Sea Ranch area beaches and trails, the public can access the beaches at specific points without trespassing on private property. Watching the sunset here never gets old. Breathe in the fresh sea air It is absolutely spectacular!
For hikers in your group, a favorite of locals is the Bluff Top Trail — just a few minutes from Vista Del Mar – runs three miles along the headlands from Walk on Beach Trail to Gualala Point Regional Park and is great for Spring whale-watching. As with other Sea Ranch area beaches and trails, the public can access the beaches at specific points without trespassing on private property. Watching the sunset here never gets old. Breathe in the fresh sea air It is absolutely spectacular!
Local Tours
Marg Lindgren & Phil Newbury of www.unbeatenpathtours.com can make your visit to Vista Del Mar something VERY unique and memorable! This is a great way to explore areas of our Sea Ranch that you never would have know existed — and also to learn about its really history and geology. Besides that they know a great deal about the area’s flora and fauna. They are both very nice people and their love of hiking and taking long walks inspired them to start offering private tours in the area. Phil is originally from London, spent many years in Chicago. Madge is from New England but also spent several years in Northern Maine as well as in Austria, Europe. If you are looking for an opportunity for great photos, these are the folks to talk to…you will NOT regret it!
Marg Lindgren & Phil Newbury of www.unbeatenpathtours.com can make your visit to Vista Del Mar something VERY unique and memorable! This is a great way to explore areas of our Sea Ranch that you never would have know existed — and also to learn about its really history and geology. Besides that they know a great deal about the area’s flora and fauna. They are both very nice people and their love of hiking and taking long walks inspired them to start offering private tours in the area. Phil is originally from London, spent many years in Chicago. Madge is from New England but also spent several years in Northern Maine as well as in Austria, Europe. If you are looking for an opportunity for great photos, these are the folks to talk to…you will NOT regret it!
Sea Ranch Recreational Facilities
One of the great things about renting at Sea Ranch is being able to use some of their very impressive recreational facilities. Del Mar is bordered by beautiful gardens and has a large outdoor heated pool, saunas and two well maintained tennis courts The pool is 25 meters long for lap swimming and have areas for water exercise and play. Water is heated to 80 degrees when the covers come off. Morning hours are reserved for lap swimming and water exercise. Each lap pool has lanes for single swimmers and two wider lanes that can be shared. The Del Mar pool is shallow enough throughout to enable water walking, but diving is not allowed at this pool. The location can be a bit difficult to find: 40600 Leeward Rd. – west side of Highway 1 (mile marker 56.88), turn on Deer Trial. Be sure to remember to bring your ID passes in order to gain entry.
One of the great things about renting at Sea Ranch is being able to use some of their very impressive recreational facilities. Del Mar is bordered by beautiful gardens and has a large outdoor heated pool, saunas and two well maintained tennis courts The pool is 25 meters long for lap swimming and have areas for water exercise and play. Water is heated to 80 degrees when the covers come off. Morning hours are reserved for lap swimming and water exercise. Each lap pool has lanes for single swimmers and two wider lanes that can be shared. The Del Mar pool is shallow enough throughout to enable water walking, but diving is not allowed at this pool. The location can be a bit difficult to find: 40600 Leeward Rd. – west side of Highway 1 (mile marker 56.88), turn on Deer Trial. Be sure to remember to bring your ID passes in order to gain entry.
Black Point Beach
At Sea Ranch Mile marker 50.85, a very steep staircase leads visitors to Black Point Beach, a 1/4 mile-long sandy beach with dramatic waves. Very popular with surfers, this beach is just north of Black Point, a cape that juts out about 250 yards from the shore. If you surf, it can be a fun break to paddle out for during a waist-high pulse, but it can also handle overhead conditions as well. E, SE, and S winds are the most favorable wind conditions, which again makes it a tough one to score with the predominant N and NW winds. Mid-tide is also favorable. If you just want to take in the beach, you’ll find plenty of the sea lions, starfish and birds who all consider Black Point Beach their home. The rules at this beach are just as it is with any other beautiful beach: “pack it in, take it out.” As with other Sea Ranch beaches, you’ll find public access parking maintained by Sonoma County. Remember to dress in layers and wear trail-worthy shoes.
At Sea Ranch Mile marker 50.85, a very steep staircase leads visitors to Black Point Beach, a 1/4 mile-long sandy beach with dramatic waves. Very popular with surfers, this beach is just north of Black Point, a cape that juts out about 250 yards from the shore. If you surf, it can be a fun break to paddle out for during a waist-high pulse, but it can also handle overhead conditions as well. E, SE, and S winds are the most favorable wind conditions, which again makes it a tough one to score with the predominant N and NW winds. Mid-tide is also favorable. If you just want to take in the beach, you’ll find plenty of the sea lions, starfish and birds who all consider Black Point Beach their home. The rules at this beach are just as it is with any other beautiful beach: “pack it in, take it out.” As with other Sea Ranch beaches, you’ll find public access parking maintained by Sonoma County. Remember to dress in layers and wear trail-worthy shoes.
The Hot Spot
The “Hot Spot” is unknown to most people passing through Sea Ranch but you definitely should not neglect the forested region high up on the eastern edge of this terrific community. Second and third growth redwood (sequoia semperviron) dominate the canopy, but many other varieties of trees and plants also thrive here. In the late fall and throughout the winter, a very wide variety of mushrooms sprout in the duff on the forest floor and in the spring a very particular set of wildflowers sprinkle their brilliance through the undergrowth of huckleberry and rhododendron. Legend has it that the name The “Hot Spot” was given it’s moniker by Jack London (The Call of the Wild, White Fang, Sea Wolf, et al) who considered it to be one of the finest fishing holes in the entire world.
The “Hot Spot” is unknown to most people passing through Sea Ranch but you definitely should not neglect the forested region high up on the eastern edge of this terrific community. Second and third growth redwood (sequoia semperviron) dominate the canopy, but many other varieties of trees and plants also thrive here. In the late fall and throughout the winter, a very wide variety of mushrooms sprout in the duff on the forest floor and in the spring a very particular set of wildflowers sprinkle their brilliance through the undergrowth of huckleberry and rhododendron. Legend has it that the name The “Hot Spot” was given it’s moniker by Jack London (The Call of the Wild, White Fang, Sea Wolf, et al) who considered it to be one of the finest fishing holes in the entire world.