Point Sal

Paradise Beach & Mussel Rock

click here for Mussel Rock Hike to Paradise Beach

click here for Point Sal Beach - Hike

Jeep Road
No Hunting!

Corralitos Canyon
Closeup

Ceanothus Darkstar
Closeup

Early Hill
1st glimpse of sand

Santa Maria River
Guadalupe Dunes

Cows! - leave road
1st Dune Outcrop

Follow the dunes!
Another Viewpoint

Last Meadow
Before the Cliffs

East Map - Jeep Road
West Map - Beach

3 More Photos!

Point Sal
Guadalupe northside

Paradise Beach!

Mussel Rock

Directions
From Hwy 101 take Betteravia Road west (out of Santa Maria) 7.4 miles.
Take Brown Road south(left) before you get to Guadalupe.
Cross Hwy 1 and continue about 4 miles along Corralitos Canyon.
You'll see Brown Road turn right and dead-end before a farmhouse.

Hiking Directions
After going north for about 20 minutes take a fork to the right.
You'll see the red gate with a 'No Hunting' sign.
Some maps show a number of roads, but there's only one.
Careful as you pass by the cows especially if they have their young with them!
It's about 1 hour and 10 minutes to the top of the bluffs.
I crossed the bluff meadows and stayed close to the sand dune outcrops.
Those mother cows scared me!
Got to see Paradise Beach and Mussel Rock!
Will have to find a way up/down from the beach!

Next Time...
(1) From Guadalupe Dunes Preserve it's 3 miles south to Mussel Rock
Then you can turn around (6 miles round trip) or continue!
Up Devil's Slide (soft sand & steep - 280 ft elevation
Rope(?) to help descend to Paradise Beach to Point Sal
(2) This "jeep road trail" off Brown Road did head back toward Point Sal.
Now I'm wondering if it links up to the ridge and Point Sal Beach!
(3) If you take the shorter (2hr) hike to Point Sal Ridge & radar building,
You can continue northwest along the ridge to Point Sal
and down to the south end of Paradise Beach!

Links | Sally & Jim Trips | Physics/Geology | SLO Sites | Coastal Photo Gallery

February 2006


Jeep Road No Hunting!	Corralitos Canyon Closeup	Ceanothus Darkstar Closeup


Early Hill 1st glimpse of sand	Santa Maria River Guadalupe Dunes	Cows! - leave road 1st Dune Outcrop


Follow the dunes! Another Viewpoint	Last Meadow Before the Cliffs	East Map - Jeep Road West Map - Beach