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Location: | The stretch of land between Salt Point State Park to the south and The Sea Ranch to the north. Stewart's Point marks the middle of the area. |
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Mile Marker: | SON 4455to SON 5085 |
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Access: | Boat |
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Facilities: | None - Private Property with no trespassing |
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Nearest Public Telephone: | At Stewarts Point General Store |
Between Salt Point State Park and Sea Ranch is some of the prettiest shoreline along the Sonoma County coastline. Thick kelp beds just offshore within easy walking distance of the highway is enough to pique the interest of even the most jaded ab diver. This is Richardson's Ranch and, sometime in the dim past, divers were allowed access to the coast over this privately owned land. Not any longer. Trespassing across Richardson's Ranch is forbidden; those inviting waters just offshore are strictly and entirely offlimits to shore divers and pickers. If you ever get a chance to talk to an oldtimer who used to dive this area, you'll turn green with envy.
A check of a map and a look at the lay of the land might (does) lead some to conclude they can get into the area by traversing the shoreline north from Horseshoe Cove. Everybody knows that private ownership of shoreline stops at the mean high tide line, right? Wrong. Richardson's Ranch is an old land deed and predates that limitation on shoreline ownership; they claim the land all the way to the water's edge. Protest all you like but be forewarned that the Sonoma County Sheriff agrees with the owners of Richardson's Ranch and sides with their claims. Trespass citations can, have, and will continue to be handed out to ab divers accessing Richardson's Ranch from the public access points to Horseshoe Cove.
Thusly, only boat divers can legally checkout the waters off Richardson's Ranch. Because there aren't any decent launch sites nearby for small boats and kayaks, there are very few boat divers who ever get the chance to checkout these very tempting waters.
If you have any questions about this area, ask around the Stewarts Point General Store. They'll be more than glad to fill you in on the details.
Last Modified: January 31, 2005
