There’s so much more to Sonoma County than vineyard views.
From towering redwoods to historic fruit orchards to rugged coastlines studded with migrating whales, all it takes is racking up some steps to take it all in.
Jenner Headlands Preserve: Coastal Prairie Loop (4-mile loop)
(Courtesy of @sonomacounty)
If you’re looking for a workout, the 18-mile out-and-back Sea to Sky Trail delivers. But striking views of the Pacific actually require very little effort at Jenner Headlands Preserve. Take a moment to enjoy the view from the parking lot, then get going on the Coastal Prairie Loop, saving time for a photo at Sentinel Point. Considered a moderate hike, there’s still more than a 900-foot elevation gain, so leave anything you don’t need in the car. Birdwatching opportunities—including red-tailed hawks, ospreys, and turkey vultures—abound, and dogs are welcome on leash.
// 12001 Highway 1 (Jenner), alltrails.com
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve: Pioneer Nature Trail (1.7 miles out-and-back)
(Courtesy of @davidhcollier/@visitcalifornia)
Flat and ideal for a Sunday stroll type situation, take the Pioneer Nature Trail from the park entrance, just off the parking lot, to the Parson Jones Tree. More than 310 feet tall—taller than a football field is long—it’s the tallest tree in the park, and it’s just 0.1 mile from the park entrance, so instant gratification. Enjoy the lovely walk through the shady grove to the picnic tables then return the way you came. Better yet, add another half-mile or so to your walk by tacking on a trip to the Colonel Armstrong Tree. The oldest tree in the park (estimated to be more than 1,400 years old), it’s easy to reach via the Armstrong Nature Trail, named after the lumberman who preserved the park in the 1870s.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is heavily shaded, making it a perfect outing on hot summer and fall days. Dogs on leash are allowed on the main, paved road, but not any dirt trails.
// 17000 Armstrong Woods Rd. (Guerneville), alltrails.com
Sonoma Coast State Park: Bodega Head Trail (1.7-mile loop)
(Courtesy of @artyyah)
Steep and rocky bluffs serve up sweeping ocean views with little exertion required. The terrain is easy to navigate and, although the hike is a loop, you can simply turn around and treat it as an out-and-back walk if you get tired. It can get windy, so dress in layers; it’s better to peel things off than be cold.
Humpback whales can be seen during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Bodega Head is also a primo place for spotting gray whales from winter through spring. (State parks volunteer docents are stationed at Bodega Head on weekends from 10am to 2pm, January through May, to help visitors spot the gentle giants.)
// Westshore Rd. (Bodega Bay), alltrails.com
Historic Orchard Trail, Jack London State Historic Park (4 to 7 miles)
(Courtesy of Jack London State Historic Park)
Stretching some 1,400 acres, Jack London State Historic Park includes nearly 30 miles of backcountry trails along with the residence of famed writer Jack London. It’s also home to a little-known, historic fruit orchard with a cool backstory. In the early 1900s, London’s neighbors, residents of the Sonoma State Home (a government facility for people with developmental disabilities most recently known as the Sonoma Development Center), planted 100 acres of fruit trees, including pears, apricots, prunes, plums, and apples. The orchard flourished through the mid-1950s and even turned a profit thanks to a surplus of fruit before being abandoned and almost forgotten in the 1980s. When the land was annexed to Jack London State Historic Park, work began, mostly by volunteers, to revive the historic orchard.
Park visitors can hike through the orchard and, depending on the season, may even get to taste some fruit. (The produce is harvested annually by nonprofit Farm to Pantry and distributed to local residents facing food insecurity.) The shortest route to get there begins at the parking lot using the Beauty Ranch Service Road, followed by the Lake Service Road, to reach the Vineyard Trail. That leads to the intersection of the Plum Tree Trail and the Pear Tree Trail. This is approximately 2.4 miles (one way) and is considered moderately strenuous.
// 2400 London Ranch Rd. (Glen Ellen), alltrails.com
Gualala Point Regional Park, Bluff Top Trail (1.4-mile loop)
(Courtesy of Sonoma County Regional Parks)
Bordering the Gualala River and Mendocino County, it’s a bit of a trek to get to this Sonoma County Regional Park, but it’s well worth the time behind the wheel. It’s a straightforward hop onto the Bluff Top Trail from the parking lot at Gualala Point Regional Park. The trail is not paved, but it’s a flat and relaxing walk with stunning vistas of the Pacific. Be on the lookout for marine life, especially when you reach Whale Watch Point. If you want to add some steps, take the beach access, just past the bathrooms, down to the sand.
Want to spend the night? Gualala Point Regional Park features a campground with 19 sites for tents, trailers, and RVs in the Gualala River redwoods on the east side of Highway 1.
// 42401 Coast Highway 1 (Gualala), alltrails.com
