Tag Archives: Stornetta Public Lands

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Peter Baye explored some of the tide pools at low tide at the Stornetta Public Lands. He found many wonders. One of them was a Gumboot Chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri, also called a Giant Pacific Chiton.

 And here is the underside of this large Chiton.

Gumboot Chitons eat algae, moving along rocks. They also eat sea lettuce and giant kelp. They can live up to forty years. It seems they have no predators to worry about. They are edible but apparently so unpalatable that one would have to be starving to eat it. "Rubbery" is how they are described.
To read about the wonderful Stornetta Public Lands, here's the link to a previous post: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2012/02/18/low-tide-at-the-stornetta-public-lands-in-point-arena-breathtaking/

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If you walked far enough to the south, to nearly the southern end of the Stornetta Public Lands, you would be rewarded in the winter and spring with a beautiful waterfall. But recently a fracture in the rock has caused the waterfall to come down inside the rock. I was standing where last year the water would have been flowing over and cascading down the bluff face.

If you look carefully you can see the fracture in the rock. You can see just a peek of the water and just down from it on the right is the fracture. One day this part of the rock will fall away and the waterfall will be revealed in all its glory. Tomorrow or fifty years from now?

Some of the beautiful offshore rocks seen while walking the bluff.

                                     
 And here is the sign posted along Highway One. See yesterday's post for the best way to enter the southern part of these most beautiful lands.

To see a photo of the waterfall before it "broke," here's the link: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/06/15/a-hidden-waterfall-on-the-stornetta-public-lands-in-mendocino-county/

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Rick and I, plus our golden retriever Huckleberry, took a hike at the Stornetta Public Lands this Thursday. You can see that it was a lovely day. A very low tide occurred while we were there.

 Sea Lion Rocks are only accessible at low tide. The photo below shows this rocky staircase. As this is a Marine Sanctuary, it would be better to stay off these rocks. And you wouldn't want to be caught when the tide changes!

 We kept Huckleberry on a short leash because of sinkholes like this one and the dangerously steep bluff-faces.

 The main access is off of Lighthouse Road, which is north of Point Arena. Before you see the Lighthouse pay station and parking, look on the left. You will see a portable toilet, parking and these rather uninformative signs. Notice that this one still has a picture of a fish, indicating that fishing is allowed. But it's not!

Here's the sign BLM added when this area was closed to fishing, including abalone diving, in 2010.

Tomorrow I will show you that there's been a BIG change in the Stornetta waterfall.

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C'Anna Bergman-Hill recently visited the Stornetta Lands with her camera in tow. There is much to explore on this 1132 acre paradise, with 2 miles of oceanfront. I've previously posted a photo of the lovely waterfall that can be found there. C'Anna's photos will show you more of this beautiful spot on the Mendocino Coast.

                                              Here is an offshore rock with a tunnel.

A sink hole along the trail.
Gulls taking a bath at the top of the waterfall.
Thank to C'Anna for allowing me to share her photos!

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It is a bit of a walk but, oh, is it worth it! There is a beautiful waterfall on the Stornetta Public Lands. The best way to find it is to drive down Lighthouse Road. That's the way to the Point Arena Lighthouse, another great outing. Access the Stornetta Lands off of this road and walk south. Enjoy the beautiful scenery but take a jacket as it is often windy as you will see by the photo of me. Walk for perhaps 30 minutes. You will come to a stream, walk down, cross the stream, walk up and then look back. There you will see the waterfall to your right and in the distance the gleaming white Lighthouse. What a beautiful sight - a hidden treasure for you to find on the Mendocino Coast!