A short, fun ride at Salt Point State Park

 I recently spent a week camping at Salt Point State Park, on the North Coast between Jenner and Gualala. This is a nice campground and is always a good place to escape the summer heat of the Sacramento Valley.

I don't plan on a lot of cycling when I come up here, but there is one short ride that I look forward to doing when I'm here. It's a loop that takes you up Highway 1 to Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Preserve. Then over to the northeast side of the Park and then back through the Park to the entrance. While not quite 11 miles, it has some challenging climbing. Much of the ride is on good gravel roads.

Easily the worst part of this ride is the section on Highway 1. Very curvy and with little shoulder, I'm very anxious when on this stretch. I always plan on doing this ride on a weekday when the traffic is lightest. I also start at around 9:00 AM to avoid "commuter" traffic.

Eventually you arrive at Kruse R. Park turnoff, this is actually Kruse Ranch Road and is across the road from the now closed Fisk Mill parking lot. Immediately, you encounter a stiff climb. I had to drop my chain into the granny gear of the triple and I kept it there for quite a while!

After a long stretch of pleasantly shaded climbing you leave the park and eventually come upon "Farm Camp". This is a small private ranch that is a summer camp. It looks like a neat place.

Farm Camp on Kruse Ranch Road.

After passing Farm Camp you start climbing again but soon you come to the crossroads of Kruse Ranch Road and Hauser Bridge/Seaview Roads.

The road junction at the end of Kruse Ranch Rd.

At this point I turn left and go down Seaview Rd for a short way, maybe half a mile and look one the right side of the road for the Sea View Trail marker.

The Sea View Trail marker is where you leave Sea View Road.

Now you are back on gravel roads and trails which for the most part are dropping down back towards Woodside Campground. This is where I appreciate disc brakes as the descent is lengthy and steep at times!

After a long descent you hit a short climb that takes you to the "Prairie" of Salt Point SP. You follow the trail and shortly you come to a "T" intersection. If you go left, you will drop down south and eventually high Highway 1 a bit below the Park Entrances. I usually go right here, to take the middle path to the Woodside day use and Hike-Bike camp area.

This photo of the entrance to the Prairie was taken on a previous year's ride, this year the skies were clear and sunny!

After turning left you will come to another junction; going right will take on the north trail and through the Pygmy Forest. This stretch included some very eroded sections of road so I usually opt for the left trail which sends you down towards the Woodside entrance area.

This is a pretty nice trail and it's mostly a descent. As you get closer to the Park's entrance you will encounter more hiker traffic so you'll want to keep your speed down. Again, disc brakes are very helpful here.

You come across the Parks water supply as you head down the trail!

Well, that's about it, you soon roll up to the gate and to your right is the Park's Bike-Hike camping area. The entry kiosk is just down the road. A I said, this is a pretty short ride but it's a fun one! Worth bringing the bike along if you happen to be camping at Salt Point. Someday I'll need to explore more of Hauser Bridge and Seaview roads.