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California's Sonoma County is known for its wineries and a magnificent natural landscape--a picturesque mix of rugged coastline, steep cliffs, forested hillsides, and verdant agricultural valleys. The cities, towns, and villages are as diverse as the geography. Interspersed throughout the landscape are thousands of acres of undeveloped parklands, forests, and open space.
Day Hikes Around Sonoma County is a collection of 95 of the county's best day hikes, providing access to both well-known and out-of-the-way greenspace. Hikes are found along the Pacific, across the coastal ridges, into wide valleys, and through thick forests. Over a third of the hikes are on the coastline, accessed by Highway 1, which connects the coastal towns as it snakes along the oceanfront cliffs and bluffs. Many coastal access points that are not easily recognized from Highway 1 are clearly described. The remaining hikes explore the inland mountains, hillsides, and valleys through numerous state parks and undeveloped land. Highlights include fog-shrouded redwood forests, creekside canyons, wildlife sanctuaries, lakes, tidal bays, wave-pounded coastline, and sweeping panoramic views. A wide range of hikes accommodates amateur to avid hikers, from beachfront strolls to canyon treks. Straight-forward directions and clear maps accompany all hikes.
The Salt Point Trail is an amazing, world-class hike with a geologically unique stretch of coastal bluffs. The hike explores ancient conglomerate sandstone rock lifted from the ocean bottom. Delicate formations are carved into the cliff faces, forming natural earth sculptures with pits, knobs, ribs, and ridges. Concretion--hard rounded rocks--sit on isolated pedestals. Natural depressions in the bedrock collect seawater, forming pools. Most dramatic are the intricate wind and wave-sculpted honeycomb formations in the sandstone called tafoni. This hike begins on Salt Point at the north end of Gerstle Cove and follows the rolling coastal bluffs north to horseshoe-shaped Stump Beach, protected by 80-foot bluffs. The trail passes sandstone outcroppings with Native American midden sites, wave-pounded rocky points, sea stacks, sea caves, and tidepools. (followed by driving and hiking directions, map)
Each hike includes a summary, driving directions, hiking directions, and a map. (1) Introduction and master map of all hikes (2) North Coast (3) Central Coast (4) Southern Coast--Jenner and Bodega Bay (5) Guerneville, Forestville and Occidental area (6) Cloverdale, Geyservile, Healdsburg and Lake Sonoma area (7) Sonoma-Napa Boundary (8) Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Rohnert Park area (9) Sonoma Valley (10) Petaluma and North Novato area (11) Index
Overview
California's Sonoma County is known for its wineries and a magnificent natural landscape--a picturesque mix of rugged coastline, steep cliffs, forested hillsides, and verdant agricultural valleys. The cities, towns, and villages are as diverse as the geography. Interspersed throughout the landscape are thousands of acres of undeveloped parklands, forests, and open space.
Day Hikes Around Sonoma County is a collection of 95 of the county's best day hikes, providing access ...