Quick Hikes in Sonoma County
Sharon Monticello
Sharon Monticello is native to one of California's most picturesque areas— Petaluma, nestled in the heart of wine country, has been home to Sharon's...
Sharon Monticello is native to one of California's most picturesque areas— Petaluma, nestled in the heart of wine country, has been home to Sharon's...
With Sonoma County’s public health officer ordering expanded access to parks effective May 13th, more residents are now allowed to drive to inland parks and get more options for outdoor exercise while sheltering near their homes.
Take note that playgrounds, dog parks, picnic areas, barbecue areas, drinking fountains, campgrounds, visitor centers and other facilities that promote gatherings or feature high-touch surfaces are also closed, including some restrooms.
Even as you go out, make sure to comply with the following requirements, as recommended by the Sonoma County Regional Parks
- Stay at least 6 feet from others who are not part of your household.
- Carry a face covering at all times. Coverings must be worn outdoors when you cannot stay 6 feet from others, such as when passing others on a trail.
- Do not visit a park if you have any symptom of Covid-19: a fever over 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, unusual headaches, severe fatigue, chills, gastro-intestinal symptoms and lost sense of smell or taste.
- Do not use group facilities.
- Do not use drinking fountains. Bring your own water.
- Some restrooms are closed or might not have hand-washing stations. Plan ahead by checking the list of closures. Carry your own hand sanitizer.
- Pack out your litter to reduce the amount of trash parks staff and visitors may come into contact with.
- Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue and pack out your tissue for disposal at home.
If you've been missing the great outdoors, don't miss this chance to go for a quick hike and enjoy some summer fun.
Crane Creek Regional Park
5000 Pressley Rd, Rohnert Park, CA 95404
Located east of Rohnert Park, Crane Creek features beautiful grassland and majestic oaks in its 128 acres. 3.5 miles of trails loop through meadows and oak woodlands, and cover rolling terrain. The easiest trails run parallel to Crane Creek beneath mature oaks, while Fiddleneck and Hawk Ridge trails require a little bit of exertion but offer excellent views from the top of the hill. The Creek and Lupine trails are wheelchair accessible with a compacted gravel surface
Sonoma Valley Regional Park
13630 Highway 12, Glen Ellen CA 95442
While the dog park is closed, parking and restroom facilities are now open in the park. The 202-acre park features several miles of trails, but the easiest would be the Valley of the Moon Trail, a paved, 1.2-mile path curving through the oak forest between Highway 12 and Arnold Drive. The trail also links to surrounding ridges with breathtaking valley views, and is open to bikers, hikers and even equestrians!
Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail
6303 Highway 12, Santa Rosa CA 95409
Summer and fall is the best time to visit the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail, as this marsh landscape is dry and easily accessible. This 1.8-mile multi-use trail trail runs east side of the Laguna's main channel between Highway 12 and Occidental Road, mostly passing through grasslands dotted with oaks and eucalyptus. The trail features vernal pools, woodland and valley oak savannah, which is home to a variety of wild, bird, and plant life.
Santa Rosa Creek Trail
782 Willowside Road, Santa Rosa CA 95401
The Santa Rosa Creek Trail runs along the creek for 2.14 miles between Willowside Road and the City of Santa Rosa's Prince Memorial Greenway into downtown Santa Rosa. The paved trail is on a raised area on the north side of the creek, and is an easy trail with views of the waterway, farms, vineyards, and mountains. It is also home to a variety of birds and wildlife and offers views of cattle and horses grazing in adjacent fields.
Spring Lake Regional Park
5585 Newanga Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Spring Lake Regional Park is one of Sonoma County's most popular parks and destinations. While boating and swimming are currently not available, the park's 10 miles of trails are still open to visitors. Take the paved Spring Lake Loop for an easy 2.3-mile paved circuit around the lake, or challenge yourself a little and go off to the unpaved connecting trails such as Fisherman’s Trail and the Horse Loop.
Shiloh Ranch Regional Park
5750 Faught Rd, Windsor, CA 95492
Shiloh Ranch Regional Park features 7.9 miles of trails that offer moderate hikes with several loop options you can choose from. Follow Ridge Trail to Creekside Trail, then connect with Pond Trail, and follow it up to connect again with Ridge Trail for an extensive tour of the park. You can also take Big Leaf Trail to Canyon Trail to Pond Trail to Creekside Trail to Ridge Trail. Many of the trails are former ranch roads, winding through oak woodland with views of the Santa Rosa plain.
