Winter in Sonoma County is a great time to get out in nature. There are fewer people on the trails, the air is crisp, all around is green, and streams are flowing. Dress in layers, pack a hooded rain jacket, and walk in some of the area’s most beautiful spots.
Here are some recomendations from Sonoma County Regional Parks, Sonoma County Tourism, and others.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Guerneville
Inspiring and serene setting, majestic beauty, stately coast redwoods.
Doran Regional Park, Bodega
Walk along the shoreline or meander through grassy dunes that connect with the Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail.
Foothill Regional Park, Alta Vista Trail, Windsor
A challenging climb featuring thick oak woodlands, rolling hillsides, ridge-top views.
Fort Ross State Historic Park Jenner
Surrounded by sandy beaches, panoramic coves, and redwood forests, with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
Gualala Point Regional Park, Gualala
A paved, ADA-accessible trail crosses meadows of tall grass; unpaved paths to the beach weave along the cliffs, offering dramatic views of the sea.
Helen Putnam Regional Park, Panorama Trail, Petaluma
Six miles of trails cross grassy hillsides and weave through oak woodlands. Ridge-top trails provide panoramic views.
Jack London State Historic Park, Glen Ellen
Pristine hillsides of madrone, Douglas fir, black oak, buckeye, and bigleaf maple. Grassy meadows, and redwood-filled canyons.
Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail, Santa Rosa
A flooded, marshy landscape during winter rains. its vernal pools, riparian woodland, and valley oak savannah are rich habitats for wildlife, birds, and plants.
Salt Point State Park, Jenner
Featuring 20 miles of trails offer scenes of magnificent beauty and amazing sandstone formations.
Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, Creekside Trail
Oak woodlands, forests of mixed evergreens, ridges with sweeping views of the Santa Rosa Plain.
Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Valley of the Moon Trail, Glen Ellen
The trail borders a seasonal creek and curves through a beautiful woodland of oaks draped in lichen. and features valley views.
Stillwater Cove, Jenner
Three miles of trails on the rugged and scenic Sonoma Coast, featuring towering redwoods, ferns, rhododendrons and other riparian plants and views of the Pacific.
Taylor Mountain Regional Park, Todd Creek Trail to Western Trail, Santa Rosa
Grassy hillsides, oak woodlands and several creeks that provide wildlife habitat.
The Sea Ranch, Bluff Top Trail
See cypress groves, windswept meadows, and unique sandstone formations.
Tolay Lake Regional Park, West Ridge Trail, Petaluma
An 8-mile round-trip excursion to the far reaches of Tolay Creek with views of the Tolay Valley, Petaluma River Valley, and San Pablo Bay.
See also Where to hike in Sonoma County.