Camping Northern California Coast
Gualala
Point Regional Park
By: Patrick Witz
A
cool ocean mist gently pillows the towering majestic redwoods that
embrace our fern-enclosed encampment. Nearby a fly’s
nightmare beautifully comes alive in the early low light as the
meadow’s
morning dew
sparkles like thousands of tiny beaded diamonds caught in hundreds of
spider webs stretched between the reeds. In concert, the low distant
thunder of crashing waves compliments the crisp crackle and hiss of a
hot flickering campfire. Although the nearby silent river
stands motionless and almost stagnate at this time of year, scattered
and partially buried huge bleached white drift wood tree trunks and
branches stand as evidence of its seasonal power on the wide sand bar
separating the now calm river from the thundering sea. The sheer rock
cliffs on 
either
side of the almost mile wide river chasm are chiseled and sculpted by
the relentless hammering surf. Huge flocks of pelicans and seagulls
suddenly squawk and burst into flight as sea lions meander up onto the
beach from the seaweed bobbing swells and foaming surf. Most of the
birds land moments later on the now white tipped rock outcroppings that
were brutally separated eons ago from the jagged cliffs, while the
birds still in flight glide effortlessly overhead in the salty
sea breeze. A few birds soar up the sheer wall updrafts of the cliffs,
and we see sitting atop the cliffs as if overseeing all of
nature’s harsh yet spiritually tranquil beauty, the quaint
little northern California coastal town of Gualala (Wha-la-la).
Minutes
south of Gualala is Gualala Point Regional Park, which is the northern
most public park of the Sonoma County Regional Parks system that dots
the rugged northern California coast not more then an
hour or two
north from San Francisco on Highway 1. Gualala Point Regional Park has
numerous hiking trails with many memorial placard benches, and a
volunteer-staffed visitor’s center that enlightens guests to
the local vegetation, ocean and land animals, as well as numerous
antiques and information detailing the area's history. The Gualala
Campground is nestled among tall ancient redwoods and lush undergrowth
and moss covered logs just off Highway 1 within Gualala Point Regional
Park. The campground has flush toilets with electric outlets and
lights, hot pay showers, a payphone (cell didn’t work well),
numerous water spigots, paved roads and paved parking. Each of the 20
campsites has a picnic table and metal encased campfire ring, no RV
hookups. There are also a couple walk-in hike/cyclist sites and a dump
station near the overflow parking and day use area. Bring plenty of
quarters for shower and payphone use, as well as firewood for
a fee. Camp fees 
are $19.00
per site, with a $6.00 extra vehicle fee, and a $3.00 day use fee.
Camping is allowed up to ten consecutive nights at a time,
with a maximum stay of 30 nights in a calendar year. The campground
does accept pets, charging $1.00 per dog, and requires them to be
leashed. Our camp ground host as well as the park service, highly
recommend storing food and anything that could be misconstrued as or
smell like food, be put in your vehicle at night due to midnight raids
by raccoons and feral cats. If you don’t want to spend hours
cleaning up, don’t forget to put your trash into the lidded
dumpsters each evening before turning the lights out. It was a pleasure
to see next to the dumpsters, aluminum recycling barrels. These
campgrounds are extremely nice, very well shaded, and wonderfully
maintained. The Park Rangers were pleasant and ever present to assist,
answer questions, or supply information. However, it’s highly
recommend to do what the posted signs say, if it says "No Parking" they
mean it; there were a couple "illegally parked" vehicles with tickets
on their windshields in the morning. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7
a.m., and generators or loud music that disturbs other
campers
will not be permitted at any hour. Payment for the campsite can be cash
or pre-printed checks with current photo ID, but it is highly
recommended (especially with this campground) to call far ahead of time
and reserve a campsite (No need to be particular with these campsites,
they are all good!). To reserve, call
If by any unfortunate chance something was forgotten while packing, the town of Gualala is not more than a 5 minutes drive up the road from the campground entrance. The little town of Gualala with its just under 600 residents offers a large variety of amenities and shopping opportunities for such a small coastal town. If camping isn’t "your thing", then possibly one of the dozens or more Bed & Breakfasts, Hotels, Resorts, or Home rentals in the town and surrounding community might fit "your style" better. Regardless of the type of luxury, or lack there of, the area has plenty of nature’s bountiful beauty, rugged coastline, towering redwoods, sea life, wild life, history, hiking trails, and just plain good relaxation to offer. Keep in mind your fun doesn’t have to end in the town of Gualala, we had just as much fun in the Gualala campground as we did on the ride home laughing repeatedly at how we were able to substitute the words to numerous songs on CD’s and the radio with "Ga-wa-la-la-la-la-la!!"
Photos Courtsey Patrick
Witz Ó
2003
Ó
2008 Patrick Witz