Whether you prefer to camp under a canopy of redwoods or near waves crashing on a beach, you’re sure to find your ideal campground in Sonoma County.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, Kenwood

Nestled in a large, lush valley and flanked by meadows and streams sits a loop of family campsites in Sugarloaf’s pristine park. The 50 total camping spaces include 47 family campsites, two wheelchair accessible campsites and one group campsite with room for up to 50 people (perfect for a relaxing business retreat).

Sugarloaf Ridge’s campground has something for everyone, such as horseback riding and nature exploration through oak woodlands. Campers can also enjoy stargazing at the park’s Robert Ferguson Observatory each month on a Saturday night around the new moon.

Campsite amenities at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park include picnic tables, fire rings, food storage boxes, a campfire area, public restrooms (or rent a personal porta-potty for $20glamping per night) and shower facilities. There are also luxury tents complete with furnishings available for those who want to give glamping a go. Regular campsites are $35 per night, premium sites are $45 per night, and six-person luxury glamping tents are $125 per night (mandatory set-up/cleaning fee for luxury tents  tents are $25 per tent). To reserve a campsite, call 800-444-7275 or visit reservecalifornia.com. 2605 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, 707-833-5712, sugarloafpark.org

Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa

One of the most family friendly parks in the county, Spring Lake’s campground is adjacent to numerous recreational activities, including swimming in the lagoon, boating and paddling in the lake, and hiking/biking/equestrian trails connecting to Howarth Park and Trione-Annadel State Park.

Spring Lake’s oak-shrouded campground has 31 sites, which can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs, and three cozy wedge cabins that can house up to either four or six people. The quaint, modern cabins include porches, a picnic table, a charcoal grill, a food locker and sleeping platforms with bare mattresses. Cabins are $79-$99 per night, depending on date and season, plus a non-refundable reservation fee of $9.50.

Amenities for the regular campsites at Spring Lake include potable water, showers, restrooms with electrical outlets and a dump station. Campsites are around $45 per night and reservations are required. To reserve a site, call 707-565-2267 or visit sonomacountycamping.org. 393 Violetti Road, Santa Rosa, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

Hood Mountain Regional Park, Santa Rosa

Hood Mountain’s 1,750-acre wilderness preserve has a limited amount of hike-in, environmental campsites for those seeking peace and seclusion among meadows and mixed-conifer forests. The four sites at the Azalea Creek campground have been closed due to impacts from the 2020 Glass Fire.

There are two campsites currently available at the park’s Merganser Pond. Campsites are $22 a night and offer picnic tables, food lockers and pit toilets, but no potable water or electricity. Campers are permitted to stay up to 10 nights in a row. Camp stoves are permitted for cooking, but campfires are not allowed.

To reach the Merganser Pond campsites at Hood Mountain Regional Park, start from the Pythian Road entrance on the southwestern end of the park and hike northeast from the Pythian Road Trailhead for about two miles to the pond and campground. Reserve a site by calling 707-565-2267 or online at sonomacountycamping.org. 1450 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

Casini Ranch Family Campground, Duncans Mills

Family operated and open year-round since 1965, Casini Ranch is located in the picturesque Russian River Valley and has a large assortment of tent and RV campsites along with quaint, rustic cabins and luxurious cottage rentals. Whether you want riverfront views or solitude among the redwoods, the campsites can accommodate groups of several sizes and are in close proximity to a number of relaxing and recreational activities.

Activities and amenities at Casini Ranch campground include hayrides, playgrounds, dog parks, seasonal beach bonfires, horseshoe pits, a baseball field, volleyball and basketball courts, fishing and swimming in the river, movie nights and ice cream socials. There are also restrooms, shower facilities and a general store on site for all your camping needs. Rates vary on dates and site types (see rate details here). Reserve online at casiniranch.com/reservations or by phone. 22855 Moscow Road, Duncans Mills, 800-451-8400, casiniranch.com

Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay

With the most campsites available year-round in the county, Doran Park’s nearly 130 sites are grouped into five areas, encircled by Bodega’s bay and harbor. The Cove, Gull, Shell, Jetty and Miwok campgrounds include seven total ADA-accessible sites and all offer potable water, electrical outlets, restrooms with coin-operated showers, a dump station ($10 fee) and a nearby fish cleaning station.

There are plenty of recreational opportunities to dive into at the scenic Doran campground, from flying kites on grassy dunes to fishing and paddling in the bay to exploring sea life along the rock jetty. Campsites are around $45 per night. Sites can be reserved up to six months in advance by calling 707-565-2267 or online at sonomacountycamping.org. 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

Wright’s Beach, Bodega Bay

This sandy beach campground at the Sonoma Coast State Park offers gorgeous ocean and sunset views. There are plenty of fun outdoor activities here, including whale and bird watching, hang gliding and hiking the Kortum Trail to other nearby beaches. Rates are $35 a night and the 27 campsites include nearby restrooms, picnic tables, food lockers and a fire ring. Registered campers may use the token-operated hot showers at Bodega Dunes Campground (5 miles south). Reservations can be made six months in advance by calling ReserveCalifornia at 800-444-7275.

Maximum trailer length for trailer and RV camping at Wright’s Beach Campground is 31 inches and hook-ups are not available. Wright’s Beach does not offer group camping. There are no potable water filling areas at Wright’s Beach; fill up water tanks at Bodega Dunes. 7095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483, parks.ca.gov

Salt Point State Park, Jenner

Stunning ocean views, waves crashing on sandstone cliffs and 20 miles of hiking trails winding through forested hills and rugged coastline — Salt Point’s campgrounds offer memorable activities for both sea lovers and intrepid hikers. The Woodside Campground has 79 campsites and the oceanside Gerstle Cove Campground offers 30 family campsites near several trailheads to the rest of the park and Gerstle Cove Marine Reserve.

The campsites at Salt Point State Park are equipped with fire rings, picnic tables and a food locker, and all sites are in close proximity to potable water faucets and restrooms, but there are no showers. Regular campsites allow up to eight people per site and there is one group campsite near Warren Creek that can accommodate up to 40 people. Additionally, there are 10 hike/bike campsites behind the ranger station for campers on foot or bicycles. The hike/bike sites are $10 a night, Gerstle Cove and Woodside campsites are $35 a night and the group campsite is $200. Call 800-444-7275 to reserve a site. 25050 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3221, parks.ca.gov

Stillwater Cove Regional Park, Jenner

The inland campground at Stillwater Cove is huddled among ferns, redwoods and rhododendrons. It offers easy access to the charming crescent beach, making it a popular spot for fishing and kayaking trips. The 23 campsites include three first come, first served sites, two ADA-accessible sites and one hiker/bicycle site. The campground offers potable water (though a boil water notice is in place), restrooms with coin-operated showers, electrical outlets, a trailer dump station and a fish cleaning station. Reservations are required. To reserve a site, call 707-847-3221 or visit reserve.sonomacountycamping.org. 25050 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3245, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

Gualala Point Regional Park, Gualala

Bordered by the Gualala River and featuring both an expansive beach and redwood forest, Gualala Point’s rarely crowded campground is great for hikers and whale-watchers alike. There are about 20 campsites available for tents, trailers and RVs, six of which are walk-in sites located in a thick grove of bay trees. The campground features flush toilets, electrical outlets, a coin-operated shower ($2 for 5 minutes) and a dump station. Campsites are $41 per night. Reserve online at SonomaCountyCamping.org or by calling 707-565-2267. 42401 Coast Highway 1, Gualala, 707-785-2377, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov

Liberty Glen Campground, Geyserville

Situated on a hillside near Warm Springs Creek west of Cloverdale, Liberty Glen Campground offers scenic views of Lake Sonoma, a popular place to fish, boat, picnic and hike. The campground has 96 campsites, including two group sites and one group equestrian site, each of which can accommodate up to 75 people.

Liberty Glen campsites feature restrooms, showers, potable water, picnic tables, fire rings and lanterns posts. Liberty Glen has a fish hatchery, a disc golf course and an amphitheater for campers to enjoy summer campfire programs. The campground is also close by the Sonoma County Archery Range. Regular campsites are $25 per night, group campsites are $100 per night and the group equestrian site is $50 per night. Reserve a site online or by phone. Liberty Glen Road, Geyserville, 707-431-4533, spn.usace.army.mil

The post Top 10 Camping Spots in Sonoma County appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

The coronavirus has changed all aspects of our lives, including how we travel. Staycations — or vacationing close to home, sometimes literally in your own backyard — have grown in popularity over the past few months, so have outdoor vacations and RVs. 

Wildhaven Sonoma, a new “glampground” in the heart of Wine Country, combines several of these travel trends. The Russian River flows just steps from its safari-style canvas tents and visitors can enjoy easy access to hiking trails, patio dining, al fresco wine tasting, and other outdoor activities. Alexander Valley wineries, such as Medlock Ames, are just a stone’s throw away. If you’d like to take a break from driving, you may want to consider bringing bikes. (Wildhaven plans to offer bike rentals in the future).

Upon our arrival at Wildhaven Sonoma, my husband and I immediately grabbed our floats and a cooler filled with beverages, and then spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing on the river. While the water may be too cold for a dip or float later this fall, you can still enjoy a picnic on the semi-private beach, or go fishing and kayaking. 

An affordable glamping option

With 30 tents, Wildhaven isn’t as luxurious or intimate as other Northern California glamping spots, such as Guerneville’s AutoCamp or Mendocino Grove, but it’s not trying to be. Instead, Wildhaven offers something that the others do not: an affordable, low key, and family-friendly getaway (dogs are welcome, too). Mid-week rates start as low as $109 a night—kids and dogs are $25 extra each—and while cots are available for children, the campsite recently upgraded some of the family tents to double queens, so sleeping bags aren’t necessary. 

If you’re traveling sans kids, don’t let Wildhaven’s family appeal deter you. My husband and I enjoyed a very relaxing evening at the campsite, despite having a group of 20-somethings as our neighbors (in fact, I really enjoyed the people watching). The strictly-enforced quiet hours, starting at 10 p.m., went into effect without incident, just as we were settling in for some truly incredible stargazing. And with the tent zipped up at night, we felt far, far away from any crowds. (For a quieter and more secluded experience, you can book the riverside tents, which come with larger decks, a double hammock and string lights for added ambiance).

All the necessary amenities

Wildhaven’s tents are minimalist yet cozy and outfitted with all of the necessary amenities—outlets for standard plugs and USBs, end tables with bedside lights, a queen bed, rug, fan, mirror, clothing rack, and two chairs on the deck complete with an awning for shade.

There are clean, communal bathrooms and showers (including outdoor showers if you do take a dip in the river) and each site has a picnic table and either a private or communal barbecue for cooking—but remember that downtown Healdsburg is just a few minutes away, offering an array of top-notch outdoor dining and takeout options. If you do decide to cook, an outdoor kitchen is available for cleaning cookware and dishes.

Wildhaven has basic WiFi, but I recommend using this as a good excuse to unplug for a while. 

The campsite will operate throughout the winter months; all tents are heated and the campsite will provide heavy duvets and extra blankets. By November, Wildhaven will open its own store with wine, beer, and picnic provisions like charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, and nuts.

2411 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, wildhavensonoma.com

The post In Need of a Staycation? Check Out This Russian River ‘Glampground’ appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.