Gualala Point Regional Park sits in the northwest corner of Sonoma County, where the Gualala River meets the Pacific and forms the border with Mendocino County. Sonoma County Regional Parks says it has a broad beach and estuary and a small, forested campground along the river. Wikipedia lists the park at 103 acres.
The county says the park draws day hikers, beachcombers, picnickers, birders, whale-watchers and anglers but is rarely crowded. A visitor center, open most weekends, has displays on North Coast history, Native Americans, the river and the marine environment. Wikipedia notes that it also covers the logging industry around 1900.
Trails
The park has 2.9 miles of trails. A paved, accessible trail crosses meadows and groves of gnarled cypress to the beach. Unpaved paths follow the cliffs, with views of offshore rocks, and a bench at Whale Watch Point is a good place to watch for migrating whales or a sunset.
The Bluff Top Trail runs south into The Sea Ranch. The county says it is 3 miles one way to the Walk on Beach access trail, and bikes are not allowed on the Bluff Top Trail through the Sea Ranch community.
The Sakha posts
The carved posts in the meadow near the visitor center are serge, made by woodcarvers from the Sakha Republic in far northeastern Russia. The county says they were carved from a 40-foot Douglas fir during the 2014 Days of Sakha festival and dedicated on the summer solstice. Sakha people first came to Sonoma County in the early 1800s as part of the Russian settlement at Fort Ross.
Camping and practical details
The campground is in the Gualala River redwoods on the east side of Highway 1. It has 19 sites for tents, trailers and RVs up to 24 feet, six walk-in sites and one hike-or-bike site. Reservations are required, and there are no electrical hookups. The day-use area is open from 7 a.m. to sunset, parking is $8 or free for members, and leashed dogs are allowed. Two free all-terrain wheelchairs can be borrowed at the visitor center.