One of my favorite beach parks on the coast! Beautiful trail through the cypress grove with stunning views of the ocean and Pelican Rock. Plenty of driftwood along the wide beach, and the view of the town in the distance adds a nice touch. read more

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Lovely campsite. Every single site is shaded. Some are huge, some are tiny, some are practically on top of each other. Half of them are also right on the river. We had sites 1+2 which were great for a group; 1 was VERY spacious (could have easily fit 4-5 tents). See my notes below - sorry for the incomplete sentences, I was doing this on my phone walking around. The raccoons are ruthless once it's dark out! They swiped food from our picnic table while we were sitting at it, just 5 feet away from it. I had my trunk open and left my car for a few minutes; when I came back they'd grabbed things from the cooler and broken some eggs we had. Be vigilent!! There is a beach nearby, with 4-7 year old kids, it was about a 40 minute walk. They definitely needed a lot of motivation to get there and back, but it was doable! The beach is beautiful, with all this stripped away dead wood that made for fun playhouses for the kids. But the waves are really tough there and there are about a million signs saying don't go into the water, as the sand gets very deep quickly, which creates these death trap waves. We had a dog off leash and someone told me that the rangers are really strict and will actually ticket if your dog is not leashed. *Note that EVERY SINGLE site is very well shaded. I stopped putting this in my notes halfway through when I realized this. F - 1 small tent, 2nd area for medium or large tent only, flat, river view, full shade, v private E - 2 tents,shade, river view, kind private D - two small tents, right on path no privacy, no river view, shaded C - 1 large tent, Right on path. No privacy, River view, shaded B - 2 medium tents A - two medium tents A/B basically like one site 11 - A little sloped, to medium times, no Riverview, kind of private 12 - not very private from the road, two medium tents s but would be tight, shaded but feels more open. No River View 13 - 3-4 of tent spots, isolated from other sites, shaded but feels open, a little bit Sloped, no River view 14 - very small, space for maybe one tent, shaded 15/16 - basically like one campground, very open right off the road, space for three to four tents 17 - space for two to three tents, open but shaded, semi-private 19 - Small, space for one to two tents, right off road 1 - very large for four or five tents 2 - space for 3 tents 3 - space for one or two tents, has the best river view 1-3 all in one line, shaded, on the river. 1 has the most trees 8 - One or two tents 9 - 1 tent 10 - 1 tent 8-10 All close to each other and not very private 8-9 very integrated, could be a group site. But really close to other sites on either side of the road 5-6 small, one tent each, could be a group site 4 - Small, maybe one or two tents. Right on River read more

Beautiful and well meanaged park. Enjoyed the campsite by the river. Campground host ver nice.

Gualala Point Regional Park is waaaay up the Sonoma coast, just past Sea Ranch and just near the border of Mendocino County. I'd driven up Highway 1, making a full day of it and stopping at other parks along the way. While most of the Sonoma Coast was fogged in, Gualala point was sunny and more mild. The park has an $8 entry fee, self paid with a machine that takes credit cards, clean restrooms (flush toilets) and a small visitor center. The park is open until sunset but the visitor center has limited hours and closed at 3 on the Saturday I visited. I had arrived later in the day so, missed it. There are a few trails that circle the coastal prairie and then lead to a beach and a bluff area with a whale watching overview. Nothing is marked but since it's such a small park, you basically just follow a dirt path from the visitor center towards the ocean. The Gualala River empties here to the ocean and there were a ton of seagulls and pelicans resting by the mouth of the river. It wasn't crowded at all and I had a nice, peaceful walk around the park. The ocean here was an amazing turquoise blue and the beach had some interesting rocks and even a lone piece of sea glass. Definitely off the beaten path and a stretch of a day trip from the Bay Area but a nice finale to my weekend coastal adventures. I would imagine in the spring, when the grass is green and wildflowers are in bloom, it would be even more spectacular. I'll definitely try to come back up and see how it evolved during different seasons. read more

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We stumbled on this park just south of Gualala. We came in kind of blind (it would've helped if I had read reviews!). We paid the eight dollar fee and parked in the entrance parking lot. Had a nice lunch on the picnic tables, used the clean bathrooms and then checked out a trail. We weren't aware that you can drive deeper into the park to another parking area for a shorter walk to the beach. We also didn't know you can camp here! The trail we took leads to some nice overlooks of Gualala River and the distant ocean and beach, through some forested areas and meadows. Benches are available if you want to relax and enjoy the view. Ultimately it leads to the ocean beach. Quite a pleasant surprise for a Regional Park. We only had time to explore a sliver of this park and are anxious to return for a deeper dive. read more

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We spent a few hours walking around the Gualala Point Regional Park. We were there on a Tuesday in the month of March and the Visitor's Center was closed. The trails were clear enough that we managed to walk most of them throughout the park and down to the beach. We had brought along sandwiches for lunch and ate them at the picnic tables by the Visitor's Center. We noticed a sign for wifi and discovered we were able to access it even with the Center closed. That was wonderful as our cell phones reported that we couldn't use our plan (Ting) even though we got a strong signal. There were bathrooms nearby that were clean and well stocked. All in all, a very relaxing day out in nature. Well worth the $7 parking fee. read more

Entry fee : $7 per car. They accept credit cards. Park closes at sunset. Location: its right next to gualala river and on the border of mendocino county and sanoma county. You have surf grocery store and upper crust pizza place and seafood shack in drivable distance for when u are hungry after your hike. Things to do: bluff trail, walk along the coastline thru the trees for amazing views and hear the waves crash. You can also hike on the trails and reach sea ranch hidden beach or just walk along n wander as u please. Good spot for picnic and sunset. They have set up tables and chairs at native garden parking lot area too to relax and unwind read more

Gualala Point Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Gualala, California

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Idyllic place. Campgrounds are a little close to highway 1 and the town of Gualala, but we found that to be more of a convenience than detractor read more

Not a campground for over-sized trailers or vehicles. Not saying it's impossible, but anything over 20' (excluding tow vehicle) is risking clearance in my opinion. Just not worth the risk if you fall into that category. We pull a 16' and did not have issues other than temporarily blocking the loop from passing cars. The loop is one way with a single lane. With our tiny trailer we still had to be cautious entering and exiting. We ended up on lot 10 with a river view and access. The lot contained loose dirt and our tire chocks were slipping. In the end we fortunately managed. The campground is covered with trees with barely any sunlight. Bad for those with solar panels, but gives you that sense of feeling you are deep in the woods. Mosquitos everywhere. Repellent is highly recommended. The majority are tent campers and it's not a bad thing. However, surrounding campers may get annoyed hearing your generator running. We kept it to a minimum. Free dump station and probably due to the fact rarely RVs camp here. It works for us! We had no one waiting on us. We had all the time to flush our tanks thoroughly. One of my favorite campgrounds, but the effort of towing a trailer there on Highway 1 is more than you think. Definitely worth the trouble though. read more

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A sweet little park. Not big enough for monster motor homes to come in. Walk in sites were perfect for group camping. Only thing was the lack of firewood. read more

Gualala Point Regional Park - Walk in site are super convenient. - Parks Near Me - Gualala, California

Great parking, wonderful trails and beach area, a great way to spend the day. Everything is very pristine and clean.

I only learned about this place recently. Wow. I know the California coast is beautiful, but I never traveled north on highway 1 beyond Bodega Bay. It's a drive all Californians should make at least once. The scenery is so beautiful and changes so much--it goes from oceanside cliffs, to forests to grassland and back again. I kept my windows and moonroof open the whole time. Gualala Point Regional Park is located in the town of Sea Ranch. This area has kept its small-town look and feel despite all of the growth and development that has happened in Nor-Cal (and Bay Area) in the past several years. It's a place where weekenders and locals interact harmoniously in an idyllic environment. The views are absolutely spectacular and it didn't long for me to forget about the stresses of work and life's other concerns. There's something very calm-inducing about the Pacific Ocean, it's really quite wonderful. Our family spent the weekend there and it was much better than I had imagined. There is literally so much to see and I only wish we had more than the weekend. This is a place worthy of a second visit. read more

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Best place to camp. Quiet good spots and no hookups so nothing too big. Hot showers and the camp host is amazing. No firewood so bring your own...the county park doesn't want to provide it so just get in town before store closes. read more

Live this campground. Very clean. Good amenities and friendly staff. Beautiful sites with lots of room. Will definitely go again.

Lovely little regional campground. We stayed in walk-in site C for two nights. A couple of things: Pros: -Gorgeous shaded sites. -Clean bathrooms with sinks. -Amazing camp host who was so helpful. Let us use her cart to trek in our gear, and sold really reasonably priced firewood. She went above and beyond for campers, finding some woman tampons, and searching for extra gear for some city slickers who came unprepared. Cons: -Not a ton of privacy in the regular sites, the walk ins were a little more secluded, but the trail goes right up to your site. -Really aggressive raccoons, but there are food storage boxes (do not leave coolers or food containers out). -No easy beach access. Overall I'll totally be back, would love to book more of the walk in sites so it isn't overrun by family (who leave their loud kids unattended). read more

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Just got back from probably my favorite camping experience ever. We stayed three nights the first week of November. The river was closed to fishing, which disappointed the dude, but didn't affect our overall enjoyment. The area is perfect for meandering hikes to the ocean, through the trees, or both! I also got to paddleboard on the river. It would be fantastic for kayaking. Camp hosts, Jim and Sue, couldn't be more personable. They were friendly and helpful, with maps, recommendations for food and hikes, and even career advice! Need something? Give it a sec... Either Jim or a ranger will be by sometime during the day just to check and make sure you've got all you need (without being intrusive at all). Another point, the bathrooms. Look, I'm fine with backwoods camping. I love it, even. But if there is a nice bathroom with flush toilets, warm water taps, that's well lit, and a HOT shower, I'm certainly not going to complain! Some sites are small and close together, and it's nearly impossible for a big trailer to navigate, but if you're car camping, hiking/cycling through, or have a smaller trailer, it's just fine. Can't wait to go back! read more

I can't say enough how much I enjoy this park. It has fantastic walking trails, some paved, some not. Breathtaking ocean, river, mountain and town views. A very friendly staff. I wish more people would pay the daily fee use or purchase the yearly pass to help keep our beautiful parks open. Shamefully many people park and walk in. The fee ensures the future of these parks for the next generations. read more

This park was a highlight of our visit to Gualala. The VC was closed due to covid, but the park was well-maintained, the trails easy to find and follow, and the variety of terrain interesting. The park in large, taking most of a peninsula between the ocean and the river. The parking lot is located about a mile from the other end of the park, so if you want a long walk you can get more than a couple of miles by taking different routes. The biggest attraction is the ocean beach, which is about a half mile walk on well paved trails. Some are through wooded areas, some along the bluffs overlooking the ocean, and then you can get down to the beach. There is an $8 fee for entry, but it is well worth it given the space, scenery and maintenance. Bathrooms are clean and available. We had a picnic lunch here and spent most of the day exploring. Probably the best possible spot to enjoy the coast at Gualala, as coastal access is more difficult in the Sea Ranch area to the south. read more

Gualala Point Regional Park - On the bluff above the beach, looking at Gualala. - Parks Near Me - Gualala, California

Really nice campsites. Half are on the riverside and the others are tucked in the forest with decent privacy. Great hiking trail out to the beach. Restrooms are very clean and the hot shower (5min for $2) was amazing. Great campsites for Kayaking. Mosquitos are HUGE and in abundance. I haven't seen mosquitos like that since Alaska. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was the staff. There was a campsite that was LOUD until about 1am until the party was silenced by one member who vomited extremely forceful. No staff came to get them to be quite and the camp host was just 2 Campsites away. Yet the one time I had my dog off leash while trying to load him into my truck, in a rainstorm mind you, the park ranger decides to hassle me about it. Just bad timing, but it bothered me. Nice enough place and probably the best Sonoma County Parks campground. read more

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So beautiful, and lots of easy to follow trails that meet up with the Public Access Walk On Beach further down the 1. Excellent place to explore! read more

Gualala Point Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Gualala, California

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This is the prettiest campground in Sonoma County IMO! You are surrounded by cool, unusual looking trees and the beautiful Gualala River is easily accessible. If you're looking for the perfect place to hike, kayak or just chill away from the everyday hustle bustle this is it. The nice lady Park ranger was extremely pleasant and informative. The camp host was not very helpful or friendly but maybe she was having an off day. There is decent dry firewood at the camp host site for sale. The restrooms are meticulously clean and have hot running water which is nice. There are warnings posted all over to use the lock boxes and lock your food in your car. They are not kidding about this. The raccoons are relentless! read more

Beautiful place!!! Private, they allow any breed dogs which was the reason we chose it over the other park. River is beautuful! read more

Gualala Point Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Gualala, California

Nice park right above the Gualala River. It's quite and private. It has nice Redwood trees all over the park. It's cool and shaded, so it's a great place to come during hot spells inland. Not too many RV's. It's a Sonoma County Regional Park, so one can purchase an annual pass to use it here or at other regional parks. It's also right across Hwy 1 from the Pacific Ocean. Nice park! read more

Came here for some day hiking while staying in Gualala. There is plenty of parking inside the park, but we parked outside the park entrance because we didn't want to pay for parking. It's a short walk in to the visitor's center, which has information about the different wildlife in the region along with water and comfortable chairs. The bathrooms were also relatively clean. We walked out to the beach and there were some warnings for strong currents, but it was so cold and windy we didn't plan on going anywhere near the water. The park is just breathtakingly beautiful. There are incredible views of the ocean and the beach creates a sand bar in between the ocean and a lagoon. It was super windy, but people made little lean-to structures out of driftwood to create little areas protected from the wind. We spent a couple hours just wandering around on the beach watching the waves and birds. They also allow dogs out here and our chihuahua loved the beach. read more

Lovely place to camp and be with nature. We have been here twice this year. Earlier in April, we drove all the way from Los Angeles in a camper van. That was a fun trip. Although it rained a lot then. The campground was lush, with lots of towering redwoods and Gualala river was gushing into the Pacific. People here are very nice, especially the ranger is a super nice person. He helped us with some quarters needed for the shower room (has hot water). Second time we visited this place but stayed with our friends in Anchor Bay (4 miles drive north of the campground). There are a couple of routes to get to the ocean. One is a hike along the river but the ranger advised us not to take that one when it rains as the land can become very slushy over that route. The other route is to hike from the west side of the highway and walk towards the ocean. On that side you can't park inside the park if you are not a member but you can still park outside and walk in. The ocean view is beautiful. If you plan to come around summer then please be cautious of ticks when moving through tall grass. If you ever need any supplies then Gualala town is about a mile away to your north and there are some lovely shops over there. Love this place. Would come here again. read more

Thanks to all of the other folks who left good thoughtful reviews. This is a Sonoma County Regional Park. I am going to have to agree with the lady who commented on the dark nature of the campsite. It's under a cover of redwoods and huge laurel trees. It's sheltered from the wind, which in this area, is a boon. Since you're up the Gualala River a bit, it gives you shelter from the relentless winds of the coast. However, you are on a river- hello, mosquitoes! We were here in June and we had to stock up on a giant 3 wick citronella candle and some bug spray with DEET, as much as I hate to use that stuff, it works!! The entire camp is not large- about 20 sites, if that. Some are better than others, WAY better. What was noticeable right away is how close the sites are to each other. You can practically hear peoples' entire conversations (or other more intimate things!!), smell what they are preparing for dinner, and learn what they have done that day. It's very....cozy. It *does* feel safe and this is not some rowdy boom-box blasting bro party. It's a county park and is very meticulously maintained. The maintenance lady may have been militant, but those bathrooms sure shined. I mean seriously! The faucets are they type you press down and they stay on for just a bit, but the hot water felt great after a day of sunscreen and bug spray. We didn't get visited by the raccoons, as we took proper precautions, but we did have a lot of curious blue-jays and trolling chipmunks. Driving in VERY late the first night of our visit, we saw a juvenile bobcat on the road into the campground! Very cool!! So, in summary, I might seek out a better reservation for a site now that I know the campground, but I might seek a campsite with a bit more warmth. This is a good location from which to explore the area, but it didn't hit all the blissful notes a perfect campsite of my dreams does. It's rather far from a beach, a pro and a con in my book, but camper who loves lots of shade and paddling their kayak might LOVE this place. Oh one more note. We don't have and didn't bring a dog. We laughed about it all day but one morning while waiting to use the bathroom, my boyfriend saw *all 3* bathrooms being exited at the same time by people who had thier dogs with them!! There were dogs on leash at several of the sites. They were all well behaved dogs, but it was a bit much for me. Also someone didn't curb thier dog and that didn't feel very rugged and camping-like. It was just gross!! read more

Compared to the last place we camped in Gilroy, this place was paradise. We had a walk in site next to the river. Carrying our stuff from the car wasn't a big deal since they have a loading zone right next to the walk in sites. I actually liked the shade from the trees. The lack of dust since the ground was a little wet from being shaded by the trees was the best part. It was nice to not have 3 dust covered dogs att the end of the day. The walk in sites are nice, they are a little bit further from the bathrooms and not as big as drive in sites, but I figured they would be quieter since they are a little set apart. It's a little bit annoying to find parking once you are unloaded if you can't find any parking except at the entrance of the campground. When we first drove up, we found a parking spot pretty close to the site, so we just carried everything from there. Bathrooms were nice and I like that they have single ones. Then I can bring my annoying dogs with me without annoying anyone else while waiting to brush my teeth. I was impressed with how quiet the campground was at first. There weren't any kids and very few barking dogs. That all changed when some bachelorette party started their drinking and were loud until super late. Other than that, it was probably the quietest campground we stayed at. The walk to the beach is about a mile and really nice. There are some great views along the way. We walked along the beach until the wind became too much. The waves are huge and could easily sweep away a dog or person if you aren't careful. The campground hosts were super cute and nice. We bought some extra firewood from them and they were helpful with self registration. They have a cat that stays in their motor home and they walk it around on a leash, which I think is the coolest thing ever. I felt bad when our little chihuahuas started barking at the cat and spooked it. But what a nice life! Maybe when we retire we will become campground hosts. As far as the wildlife, (p.s. I didn't get bit by one mosquito which might be an act of god) I saw a bobcat by the bathrooms. We did have a raccoon visitor in the night. We had a tiny piece of the trash bag sticking out and that coon was all over it. He stole a graham cracker and tried his hardest to break into the cooler, but no such luck. He visited us a few times throughout the night and got spooked by the dogs once and let out the weirdest sound right next to where my bed was in the tent. Sorta like a hiss. It super creeped me out, but I guess that's nature. BTW, think Sonoma County has some of the best campgrounds. read more

The area is amazing. Access to the river is not good and overgrown. Yes the racoons live there as well so keep your food safe. Great bathrooms/showers! There is a nice couple that sells firewood and t-shirts. The town is cute and close and so is the Pacific Ocean! The problem I found is I needed to use the payphone that is at the bathrooms as there is no cell service. There is a sticker on the phone that suggests to use for credit card pay. I did not have any change on me. I found out later on my checking account that the 20 second phone call cost over $20.00!!! DO NOT USE THE PAYPHONE with your credit card!! read more

Beautiful, shady campsites in a redwood/bay laurel forest along the river. Sites are very close together, so there isn't much privacy...but that's pretty much the only drawback. I was not bothered by mosquitoes, as the county comes in and blasts the area with poison to keep them at bay. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and raccoon-proof food cabinet. Restrooms are clean and have electrical outlets, flush toilets and hot water. Showers available for $1.50. The beach can be reached via a beautiful 1 mile trail through forests and meadows. I would probably stay here again! read more

Wow. We will be back! We booked a campsite here along the river for 2 nights. The campground was clean, the Ranger was kind and the bathrooms - They have mirrors you can clearly see in, electricity and ventilation! The firewod is available on site and the campground manager and ranger dont hassle or jother you as long as you arent causing trouble. They have sites by the rivwr and sites deeper in the wood. The trees and redwoods are just to die for gorgeous. They have new outdoor lockboxes, firepits and tables in each site. The shower is great, coin operating. It was nice and hot a refreshing after a day in the river. The Gualala river is crystal clear, ideal for swimming as it's deepest point is maybe 10 feet. Most of the river from the campsite to the ocean is between ankle deep and 6 feet tops! You can rent kayaks and canoes along the river at Adventure Rental for a great price! The beach has wild waves and the coast offers abalone diving! The visitors center has free WiFi and they offer ample hiking trails! We went into Gualala town and the locals are very kind and helpful. They offer several ranges of dining & drinking experiences, 2 supermarkets, a toy store, bookstore, souvenir shop, fishing shop, hardware store you can rent diving gear from and lodging....etc... We had so much fun! This place is a gem, they even offer walk in sites. It felt like paradise cruising around in the crystal clear river with the redwoods soaring over us. It was relaxing and peaceful, not loud - a quick escape from city life up the coast! The drive up hwy1 is gorgeous, too! Time went slower and there isn't cell service so you're off the grid...On purpose! You're in nature but civilization is just a minute away if you need anything. I loved it here! read more

My first impression was the quiet dark stillness of the campground as we first drove in. The trees were tall and the vegetation was plentiful. Being so close to the coast is cold enough. But also imagine a campsite surrounded by dense trees and shrubbery that it literally blocks out ANY sunlight from filtering thru plus the coldness of the ocean...it spells out DARK & COLD! If you enjoy dense dark forestry camping then this is the place for you. Don't get me wrong though...we enjoyed ourselves despite this. They had clean restrooms that provided flushing toilets with toilet paper and paper towels (but no soap, so bring your own) and a HOT shower. A fire pit is provided per campsite and there is someone on the premises that sells a bundle of wood ($7) if you forget or run out. I have to warn you though...if you are traveling afar: beware the winding roads of CA-1. The drive is very scary unless you enjoy sharp & winding roads. read more

Gualala Point Regional Park - Beware the raccoons - Parks Near Me - Gualala, California

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Oh, what a BEAUTIFUL place! You can walk on the bluff and look down at the ocean (great during high tide!) or go down and walk on the beach, take your choice. Plenty of parking, and well worth the application for an annual parking pass. =^_^= I go here frequently. read more

So I apparently got my review mixed up with the park across the river (Gualala River...) from this one (Gualala Point...) so I'm reposting after just learning that. I'll be completely honest here as people should know what they're getting into. 1st the positive- The sties are cool & right near the river with big trees all around. There's wifi with a water faucet near the garbage cans and actual free warm water in the bathroom sink. The bathrooms are nice and they have paid showers. There's a nice hike to a nearby huge tree that's alive still after a portion of the bottom is burned out where you can stand in it. It's far enough from the highway so that you don't hear it much either. The ranger that I talked to was very mellow and accomodating. The camp host apparently helped out our neighbor who had some serious trailer issues and was very friendly...which brings me to the bad. The camp host came over to the site AT LEAST 5 x's (and interacted with us wayyy too many times on top of that), one of which was to ask the kids I was with to quiet down because they were being too loud at 6:30pm. Seriously? Sure, I'm not a parent and kids can be obnoxious & annoying at times, but when kids are out playing while camping, just because its dark doesn't mean they need to be quiet. Plus, after walking away from the site we heard other kids that were even noisier than the kids I was with. He also pointed out to one of the dad's that the kids needed helmets because he thought that they needed to be 12 to ride bikes without a helmet. His wife was passive aggressive with one of the dad's I was with about how the kids were playing and we even heard her say to someone else..."They're in the trees, they're in the river, they're on their bikes! They're out of control!" Really? Apparently this couple has never been around kids before. What are they supposed to do while they're camping? Sit around sedated on ipads? Laaame. These hosts need to move on because they think they own the site and don't realize the public owns it for all to enjoy and kids should be able to be kids. They basically wanted to be the fun police worse than I've ever experienced it before in my life. Someone needs to give these guys a heads up that this sort of behavior isn't ok. read more

A great park! $7 to park, (senior) great paths to ocean and the Gualala river. Views are great, easy walking, signs and alot of information to acquire. Also a information center, ( not sure of hours), but park is open from sunrise to sunset. read more

Gualala State Park is beautiful! As long as you bring your bicycle, you're all set!! IF you don't have one, the only other option for activities is kayaking because the town doesn't provide bike rentals. I agree with Zella: $5 entrance fee, amazing views, & very clean. We obtained the bicycle/hiking maps from the Gualala Visitor Center (called the Dolphin), picnic'd, & biked along the beach trail. & the name: Gualala - one that you can't forget & how can you not? It means, "when the river meets the ocean"... it literally does. read more

Great on the weekdays as there were only a few other in the campground on Sunday night! At night the Racoons come out so beware, they will snitch food right off your table while you are 10 feet away! Be sure to secure ALL edibles in a SECURE place! read more

Awesome State Park. Perfect views of the ocean complemented by a variety of environs. You can be down by the river, strolling along the ocean, tramping through a seaside meadow to climbing through coastal redwoods. You can whale watch at the appropriately named "Whale Watch Point" and spy on the resident sea otters and seals as well. Stop by the Visitor Center (if open) and learn about Gualala's history. Beachcomb the mile long spit of beach. Picnic on the tables facing the ocean and people watch. Great trails and one of the most maintained State Parks I have ever been to. Oh and learn from our first experience 3 years ago when we were much younger (and poorer)... Just pay the (now) $6 dollar fee to park. Or else you might end up with a *friendly* reminder that they have your license plate number and you are a cheat and need to pay up. Or don't and have a hell of a time coming up with all the spare change you can muster and writing a note saying that you are sorry but that this was all you could come up with and laughing all the way home about it. Awww memories. read more

Beautiful place to visit....walk along the Pacific Ocean, see whales, lots of migrating birds, baby seals being born, etc. Want to get the feel of the rugged N. California coast? Stop here. read more

Them raccoons are sneaky lil' critters. Gualala Point Regional Park is situated at the mouth of the Gualala River where it empties into the Pacific. It provides a great campground with several campsites nestled amongst the trees along the river and only a short hike to the beach. If you're planning on stopping here for a few days, here's what you'll want to know: 1) Campgrounds: These campgrounds ($26/day) are probably near the top of my list in terms of amenities. Very easy to get to off of Highway 1. A relatively small number of campsites, so it doesn't get crazy crowded. Each campsite is pretty big, too, so good for groups of 6-8 at least, and many accommodated a fairly large family with their RVs and campers trailers in tow. We had a walk-in site, which doesn't allow you to park your car at the campsite, but there's a 15-minute loading area very close so you can load/unload with ease. There's also a site for hikers/bikers only ($5/day). The campgrounds are well maintained with an on-site camp host who sells firewood ($7/bundle). He keeps the firewood under an electrified fence? That seems kind of weird unless you get a lot of people pilfering firewood. He also has a wagon or wheelbarrow you can borrow to lug the wood to your campsite. 2) Campsites: Campsites are spacious and not too crowded together, so at least you can't hear your neighbors' conversations. Most campsites are in the trees, so there's not a ton of sunlight that gets in, although some sites did get healthy patches of sun. This can be an issue if it gets cold. Thus, fires were started pretty early in the evening. Campsites have a firering with removable metal grilling grate, a picnic table, and a small cupboard at the end of the picnic table for storing stuff. This cupboard is absolutely key to avoid having your food raided by the nocturnal masked bandits that come out for a free meal at night. 3) Bathrooms: The bathrooms are as pristine as camping restrooms come. There's hot water (HOT WATER!) in each individual bathroom, an electrical outlet (ZAP!), a flush toilet, ample toilet paper, and a paper towel dispenser with actual paper towels. Throw in a bathmat and you'd think you were at home. Seriously, though, they keep the bathrooms in great shape, and we saw one guy hanging out by the bathrooms a lot charging his cell phone. Seriously, what was he doing? There's no cell phone reception so maybe he was watching movies on his phone. Dude, take a look around at the trees, maybe. 4) Activities: There seemed to be pretty much two activities you could do while camping here. You could hike down to the beach (about a one mile, 30-minute walk, really), or you could canoe up the river. The canoeing/kayaking looked like a lot of fun, but it also looked like everyone had brought their own boats, so I don't think there was anyplace to rent, although I'm not sure. For most of the campsites along the river, it looked like you could launch straight from your campsite, that's pretty fancy. Otherwise, there was a small landing that you could launch from closer to the ocean. The hiking trail is well-defined and you could walk along the coast for several miles if you chose to be ambitious. The coastal area is beautiful and if you venture further along the trail, you get a lot of gorgeous views of the ocean. The beach is a nice place to hang out, but I think due to the ocean shelf falling off suddenly, you're not really advised to go into the water because of the very strong undertow. You can also go abalone diving (there's a limit) or fishing. Mostly, this place is made for chillaxin'. 5) Random notes: The town of Gualala is a 2 minute drive from the campgrounds, so don't worry if you forgot anything like your bug spray, citronella candle, lighter, firestarter log, tent, sleeping bag, food, etc. There's a farmers market there on Saturday morning, and a couple of supermarkets, and several shops. I can't think of many basic camping supplies that they wouldn't have at one of these places. The Surf supermarket also has a BBQ stand out front where they were serving grilled oysters, hells yeah. The campsites aren't that far from the road, so you do hear occasional cars passing, but it's not that noticeable. There were a LOT of mosquitos, so make sure to bring your bug spray and citronella candles (or buy them at the local supermarket). Seriously, lock up your food. The raccoons were fearless. We had the cupboard open for a few minutes while we were all standing nearby and one snuck up and took off with a loaf of bread. They'll climb up to your garbage bag and crawl over your stuff at night. Throw everything away and keep things secure in the cooler or in the car. I heard they made off with one of the local kids when the parents weren't looking and raised it as their own. I can't confirm this, but there did seem to be one exceptionally large raccoon walking on his hindlimbs. Gualala Point Regional Park, you are pretty awesome. read more

A little jewel on the North Coast. Unlike a lot of campgrounds with Redwood trees, you get good light during the day. It is still chilly until the afternoon, so bring warm clothes. Still, it feels good after the valley heat. We burnt a lot of campfires. Small campground, only 19 sites, so it does not appear hectic. Sites are well spaced away from the river, close together along the river. Take your pick. We like more room, so we chose the larger sites. Look at the map and make your decision. It is pretty accurate as far as how much space you will have. Rangers are helpful and wonderful, and not overbearing. You feel very secure, the Rangers and Sheriffs Department cruise through. Lots of families. Showers and bathrooms are clean, $1.50 for 5 minutes, $.25 for every 50 seconds after that. Hot water starts immediately, so you don't waste any money. Take the hike that leaves from the walk in campsites, goes under Hwy 1 to the Visitors Center and then to the ocean and the river. Go south on Hwy 1 and hit some of the trails in Sea Ranch. Spectacular ocean views. Gualala is about one minute away, a charming little town. Two supermarkets across from each other. One has senior discounts on Mondays, the other on Thursdays. Food is good in town. We ate at the Taqueria and was happy. The Azul Cove and Grill had a great burger. We chose them over Bones Roadhouse, which had mixed reviews from the locals. The one negative: The camp host. Sold us wet wood. When I knocked on his trailer to buy it, his Greeting was "What do you want?" When I went to ask him about the wet wood, he greeted me with "What is your problem? " He also yelled at the guy before me who was taking some kindling after asking permission. They also never left the trailer, the "Off Duty" sign was up permanently. Camp Hosts with negative attitudes like this have no business working with campers. If you see a Saturn out front, that is the guy, and good luck. You can buy wood albeit a bit expensive at the stores in town. They also have a hardware store. We will be heading there again. read more