Stunning views, family-friendly strolls and rugged trails make these hikes some of the best in Sonoma County.
Taylor Mountain, Santa Rosa: If you're looking for an Instagram-worthy hike, we recommend the Eastern Route Trail. This 3.2-mile trail (roundtrip), which was once an old mill farm road, will take you up a 1,000-foot hill and, in spring, past a variety of wildflowers. Lupine, tidy tips, woodland stars, poppies and the golden curlicues of fiddleneck make for great photos. The views aren't bad either. Open from 7 a.m. to sunset; $7 parking fee. (Alvin Jornada)
Will Jaffe takes his dog Ziggy for a walk at Taylor Mountain Regional Park in Santa Rosa, with a view of Mt. St. Helena in the background. (Kent Porter)
Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa: Spring Lake is perfect for hikers of all abilities, with 10 miles of trails linking to Trione-Annadel State Park and Howarth Park. Family-friendly trails can end with picnic and play at Howarth Park, and hikers looking for a more intense trek can tackle the Annadel trails. Throughout the year, the changing colors of the surrounding landscape reflect off the water, creating a mirroring effect. Open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset; parking is $7. (Alvin Jornada)
Morning sunlight filters through trees at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa. Read our contributor Lizzie Simon's Love Letter to Spring Lake. (Kent Porter)
Howarth Park, Santa Rosa: This park near Spring Lake in Santa Rosa offers up plenty of family fun with a playground, mini-amusement park and train rides. The park is also home to several relaxing trails that loop up and around the lake. Open daily, sunrise to sunset; parking is free. (Beth Schlanker)
Hood Mountain Regional Park, Santa Rosa: This is the perfect spot for seasoned hikers and those looking for a rugged challenge. A highlight of the park is the Hood Mountain summit, which stands at 2,730 feet, the highest peak in the Mayacamas Mountains. The trail climbs through grassy meadows and pine forests. A favorite for intrepid hikers is the trek to Gunsight Rock, which overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day. Want a tougher challenge? Try taking the Goodspeed Trail that spans over eight miles and connects to Sugarloaf Ridge. Open 7 a.m. to sunset; parking is $7. Note: Due to impacts from the 2020 Glass Fire, Summit Trail, Azalea Creek picnic area and campground, Upper Johnson Ridge Trail and parts of Lower Johnson Ridge Trail remain closed. (Kent Porter)
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood: With 25 miles of trails that weave through oak woodlands and along babbling brooks, Sugarloaf has the right trail for everyone. The Canyon-Pony Gate Loop trail leads to a glorious 25-foot waterfall, which flows full-force during the rainy season. The Meadow Trail is a 1.6-mile roundtrip gravel road that’s perfect for those who need more accessibility. If you’re looking for a more strenuous hike with stunning views, try the 6.6-mile Bald Mountain Loop that takes you 1,529 feet up to the peak, where you can see as far as Mt. St. Helena to the north and San Francisco Bay to the south. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; parking is $8 for seniors (62+) and students, $10 for general admission. (Chris Hardy)
Jack London State Park, Glen Ellen: This historic landmark features over 1,000 acres of stunning nature and literary history. You can see the ruins of London's dream home, Wolf House, and choose between a short half-mile loop or a two-hour countryside walk. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closed on December 25; $10 vehicle entry fee. (Courtesy of Jack London State Park)
Sonoma Botanical Garden, Glen Ellen: Formerly known as Quarryhill Botanical Garden, this Sonoma Valley treasure boasts one of the largest, wild-sourced, Asian plant collections in North America and Europe. You can download an app for self-guided tours through the 25-acre grounds. Take the trail up to Prayer Flags for Sonoma Mountain views. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed some holidays; $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (65+), $8 for children ages 13-17, active military and students, and free for children 12 and under. (Beth Schlanker)
Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Glen Ellen: Located in the center of Sonoma Valley, this 202-acre park features several shaded picnic areas and various short trails around ridges and hillsides. The main path is the 1.3-mile Valley of the Moon Trail, beginning in a meadow and winding through a forest of oaks along a seasonal creek. Springtime offers dreamy views of poppies, lupine and other wildflowers. The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset and parking is $7. (Conner Jay)
Crane Creek Regional Park, Rohnert Park: This 128-acre park, full of sloping grasslands and grand oak trees, is an ideal spot to hike, ride horses, have a picnic or play disc golf. From December through July, cattle can be seen grazing around the park to reduce fire risk. Enjoy hiking alongside the cows in Crane Creek’s meadows from 7 a.m. to sunset; parking is $7. Note: Do not pet cows and keep dogs on leash. (Beth Schlanker)
Shollenberger Park, Petaluma: Go birdwatching on a leisurely stroll around this 165-acre wetlands park. Hugging the Petaluma River, this park features a pond encircled by a level, 2-mile trail that’s perfect for your daily run, a bike ride, walking the dog or a casual walk with a friend observing the swans, swallows and red-winged blackbirds. Another trail branching off from the main loop takes you through Alman Marsh and to the Ellis Creek Treatment Plant. The park is open sunrise to sunset and parking is free. (John Burgess)
The wetlands at Petaluma's Shollenberger Park and the Ellis Creek Trail have been included on an international list of critical wetlands worth protecting. The Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, a designation from the Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature will be helpful in securing grants for wildlife conservation and preservation. (Crissy Pascual)
Helen Putnam Regional Park, Petaluma: Whether you want to stroll along the fish pond or explore dense oak woodlands, there’s plenty of beautiful paths to take from the park’s six miles of trails. The Panorama Trail lives up to its name, offering spectacular views of the rolling hills and golden grasslands of the Petaluma Valley. Hikers, bikers, horses and dogs (on leashes) are welcome on Helen Putnam’s trails from 7 a.m. to sunset; parking is $7. (Courtesy of Helen Putnam Regional Park)
West County Regional Trail: This forested 5.5-mile route, linking Sebastopol, Forestville and Graton, is perfect for cyclists looking for a nice stretch of road to bike. The trail is also a prime spot for bird-watching and admiring the thick moss which grows on the trees that line the path. The park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset; parking is free. (Beth Schlanker)
Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, Guerneville: This sprawling 805-acre redwood grove is the kind of place that can reinvigorate the soul. Take the 1-1.7-mile Pioneer Trail for a peaceful stroll among nature's giants. This state park is also a prime spot for snapping a selfie or sitting down for a family picnic. Open daily from 8 a.m. to one hour after official sunset; $10 parking fee per vehicle, $9 for seniors. (Christopher Chung)
Take a "forest bath" in Armstrong Redwoods. Shinrin-yoku or "forest bathing" was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. (Kent Porter)
The Kortum Trail, Jenner: Sonoma Coast State Park offers one of the most scenic hikes in the county. The 4-mile roundtrip coastal trail takes you from Goat Rock to Wright's Beach. You can explore coastal cliffs and gullies as you breathe refreshing ocean air. There is an $8 parking fee per vehicle, $7 for seniors. For park hours, call 707-875-3483. (John Burgess)
A hiker finishes the Kortum Trail along the Sonoma Coast, just in time for sunset. (Kent Porter)
Foothill Regional Park, Windsor: Located in the hills at the northeast corner of Windsor, this 211-acre parkland was a cattle ranch until the mid-1980s. The land is covered in oak savanna that is scattered with several species of oaks, bay, madrone and buckeye trees. Many of the trails that weave through the hills are old ranch roads. This dog-friendly park (allowed on leash only) is a great place for some quality time with your pet. Open 7 a.m. to sunset; parking is $7. (Christopher Chung)
Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, Windsor: In the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains southeast of Windsor lies this rugged 850-acre park that includes canyons, rolling hills, oak woodlands, mixed evergreen forests, a shaded creek and a pond. Most trails offer sweeping views of the Santa Rosa Plain and are suitable for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Try Ridge Trail to Pond Trail and back to the start via Canyon Trail for a hike that has a bit of everything, from panoramic vistas to secluded treks through dense greenery, with plenty of wildlife sighting opportunities. Open 7 a.m. to sunset; parking is $7. (Erik Castro)
Riverfront Regional Park, Healdsburg: Located along the Russian River, Riverfront Regional Park offers less strenuous jaunts than the area’s higher-incline trails, but still has incredible views. With two lakes and a redwood grove, hikers can enjoy the 2-mile Lake Trail that loops around the park and end the day with a picnic under the redwoods. Open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset; parking is $7. Note: No swimming in the lakes. (Weriset / Shutterstock)
Mount Saint Helena is the tallest peak in Sonoma County at 4,339 feet. It is located in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, at the intersection of Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties. The 5.3-mile trail to the summit is steep due to a steady climb, but not too strenuous. Once at the top, the views are spectacular: 360-degree vistas that extend across Napa Valley to Mount Tamalpais, to San Francisco and the twin peaks of Mount Diablo in the south, Mount Lassen and Snow Mountain in the north, the Vaca Mountains in the east and the coastal ranges and the ocean in the west. Open sunrise to sunset; parking is free. (Kent Porter)
Kunde Family Winery, Kenwood: The hiking program at Kunde Family Winery takes you 1,400 feet above the Sonoma Valley floor to the Mayacamas Mountains. You will get a firsthand look at sustainable winegrowing practices as you take in Sonoma County scenery. The hike concludes with a trip to the tasting room (this trail is for 21+ only). The winery advises participants to pack a lunch. Tours are $40 per person ($20 for wine club members) and begin at 9 a.m. There are dog hikes as well ($90 per person; dogs must be leashed), paired with wine tasting. Reservations are required; call 707-833-5501 to make a reservation. Check the website for hike schedules. (Scott Manchester)
Alexander Valley Vineyards, Healdsburg: The "grape-to-glass" excursion at the Wetzel family estate is less of a hike and more of a leisurely stroll among the vineyards and winery grounds in Healdsburg. The tour ends with wine tasting straight from the barrel in an underground cave. This 21 and up-only hike is $60 per person and requires a 48-hour reservation beforehand. Vineyard hikes are available daily starting at 10:30 a.m. (Kent Porter)
This article was originally published in January, 2020.
Grab your backpack, fill up the water jug and lace up those boots. It’s time to take a hike! And, if you’re so inclined, sip some wine: in Sonoma County, there are tasting rooms at the end of the trail. (Remember to call wineries in advance to make sure that they are open, to get hike dates and make reservations).
Jenna Fischer contributed to this article.
