Beach Access

Monte Rio Public Beach. Downtown at the Monte Rio Bridge. Boat access, volley ball & horseshoe courts. Rent canoes, kayaks, tubes, umbrellas and chairs. Concessions include standard American fare. Real bathrooms. Dogs permitted off-leash on down river side of the bridge. Boat launch and fishing access. Plenty of free parking. Bohemian Hwy & Hwy 116, turn right just before heading south over the Monte Rio Bridge.

Johnson’s Beach. Kayak, inner tube, canoe, chair and umbrella rental, and hot showers and refreshments for young and old. 16241 1st St, Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-2022 

Villa Grande Beach. Shhh! It’s a secret. A really great secret.

Goat Rock. Goat Rock, near the mouth of the Russian River, is known for its scenic shoreline and easily accessible sandy beach. Picnic tables and restroom facilities are also available. Goat Rock beach is home to a colony of harbor seals which are fun to watch, especially during pupping season March through August. (707) 875-3483

Kayak and Canoe Rental/River Outfitters        

Lazy parts of the river are great for canoeing and kayaking, but be careful near the mouth at Jenner.

There is a public boat launch ramp on the north side of the river, just west of the Mont Rio bridge.

When boating to the mouth of the river to the west of Duncans Mills, take care to stay well above the mouth of the river; strong currents can take a kayak out to sea unless you are an experienced sea kayaker/boater.

Tubing. Tubes can be purchased or rented at several locations, including Napa Auto Parts and Country Tire, both in Guerneville.

Russian River Outfitters. Complete line of rental boats and equipment. Several launch and pick-up points along the Lower Russian River. 25375 Steel Head Blvd, Duncans Mills, CA 94530. Fri – Mon 8:30-5:30. 1-877-RRKAYAK

Water Treks. Guided Tours and River Kayak Instruction. PO Box 39, Jenner, CA 95450. (888 865-2249.  

Burke’s Canoe Trips. Ten mile self guided trip through scenic vineyards and woodlands. Shuttle service included. Intersection of Mirabel Road at 8600 River Road, Forestville, CA 95436 (707) 887-1222

King’s Sports. Kayak rentals and river trips. Camping gear, sporting goods, salt and freshwater tackle. 16258 Main Street, Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-2156. 

River’s Edge. Kayak and Canoe Trips. 3 self guided offering more remote and have more current and wildlife than any other company on the river. Paddle through the vineyards, swim, picnic, and sunbath on the beaches. 13840 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg CA (800) 345-0869

Fishing

Monte Rio Public Boat Launch

Spring brings the shad and catfish. During the summer months, large mouth, small mouth, and striped bass, along with blue gills, come along. The Chinook head up river in the fall, followed by the Steelhead Trout. While Chinook must be released immediately if caught accidentally, Steelhead fishing is an exciting winter sport here. As long as the river is low enough for standing in waders, the river will be dotted with the hopeful. The Russian River is a “barbless- hook” river all year. Check California Dept. of Fish and Game regulations for specific bag limits and rules.

Suggested spots: Wohler Bridge on the Russian River at 9765 Wohler Road, Forestville (many secluded river access points to fish from, a boat launch ramp, picnic tables and a restroom. (707) 565-2041), Monte Rio Beach, Monte Rio, Steelhead Beach, Forestville or head towards Duncans Mills, where the river is wider. Pick up a free fishing map King’s Sport & Tackle in downtown Guerneville. (They also have info about guided fishing trips and equipment rental.)

Great info for anglers here. 

Groceries

The Original Bartlett's Meats - c. 1900

Bartlett’s Market. General provisions. 9890 Main Street across from the Pink Elephant, Monte Rio, CA 95462 (707) 865-2023

Duncans Mills General Store. 25200 Highway 116, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 (707) 865-1240

Safeway. 16405 Hwy 116, Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 431-0128. Pharmacy here.

Food for Humans. 16385 1st Street, Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-3612. Organic + veggie options.

Bohemian Market. 3691 Main Street, Occidental, CA 95465 (707) 874-3312

Fern’s Grocery. General store type grocery, pizza & deli. Video rental with refundable $40 cash deposit. 20348 Hwy 116.  (707) 865-1578

Monte Rio One Stop General Store. General store type grocery, hardware. 20301 Hwy. 116 West. (707) 865-2142

Farmers Markets

Cotati Farmer’s Market. tel. +1 707.795.5508
La Plaza Park, Downtown Cotati, CA
Thursdays, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM; End of May through mid September. 

Duncans Mills Farmer’s Market. tel. +1 707.865.4171
behind Blue Heron Restaurant Duncans Mills, CA
Saturdays, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Late May though October. 

Gualala Farmer’s Market. tel. +1 707.882.2474
Gualala Community Center Gualala, CA 95445
Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM, End of May through October. At the corner of Hwy 1 and Center Street in downtown Gualala. 

Guerneville Farmer’s Market. tel. +1 707.865.4171
Guerneville Town Square Guerneville, CA
Tuesdays, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. 

Healdsburg Farmer’s Market – Saturday. tel. +1 707-431-1956
North & Vine Streets Healdsburg, CA
Open 9:00 AM – 12 Noon; May through November 

Healdsburg Farmer’s Market – Tuesday.  tel. +1 707-431-1956
Matheson Street on the Plaza Healdsburg, CA
Tuesdays, 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM; June through October 

Occidental Farmer’s Market. tel. +1 707-793-2159
Downtown Occidental, in front of Howard Station Cafe Occidental, CA
Fridays, 4:00 pm until dusk

Petaluma Farmer’s Market. tel. +1 707-762-0344
Walnut Park – Petaluma Boulevard @ D Street Petaluma, CA 94952
Saturdays – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, late May  - October 

Santa Rosa Farmer’s Market – Wednesday. tel. +1 707-524-2123
B Street @ Santa Rosa Plaza Santa Rosa, CA
Wednesdays – 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM; May 21 through August 27. Location: B Street at the Santa Rosa Plaza and 4th Street between B & D Streets. 

Santa Rosa Farmer’s Market-Veterans Bldg. tel. +1 707.522.8629
Veterans Bldg East Parking Lot-1351 Maple Avenue Santa Rosa, CA
Wednesday and Saturday, 8:30 AM-12 Noon Year round, Rain or Shine

Sebastopol Farmer’s Market. tel. +1 707-522-9305
Downtown Plaza @ McKinley Street Sebastopol, CA
Sundays – 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM; April through December

Sonoma Farmer’s Market – Friday
tel. +1 707-538-7023
Depot Park @ First Street West Sonoma, CA
Open Fridays – 9:00 AM – 12 Noon; Year ’round.

Sonoma Farmer’s Market – Tuesday
tel. +1 707-538-7023
Sonoma Plaza on the Square Sonoma, CA
Tuesdays – 5:30 PM – Dusk; April through October.

Windsor Farmer’s Market
tel. +1 707-433.4595
Town Green in Old Downtown Windsor, CA
Sundays – 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; May through November and Thursday Nights 5-8 pm at the Old Downtown/Town Green.

Don’t feel like cooking? Here are some other options…

Coffee, Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast

Gold Coast Coffee + Bakery. 25377 Steelhead Blvd, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 (707) 865-1441

Wild Flour Bread. 140 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone, CA 95472 (707) 874-2938. open Fri – Mon, 8:30 am – 6 pm. (Think about stopping on your way north!)

Coffee Bazaar. 14045 Armstrong Woods Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-9706

Howard Station Café. 3611 Main St, Occidental, CA 95465 (707) 874-2838 Breakfast/Lunch only!

Cape Fear Café. Hwy 116, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 (707) 865-9246
Breakfast, Lunch + Dinner

Raymond’s Bakery. 5400 Cazadero Hwy. Cazadero, CA 95421 (707) 632-5335

Don’s Dogs + More Café. Yum! Coffee and hot dogs. Bohemian Hwy & Hwy 116 Behind the Rio Movie Theater Monte Rio, CA 95462 (707) 865-4190. One word: Peets!

Spliff’s. Fresh organic coffee served daily. A favorite of locals and visitors alike. It is a bit hidden – look for it next to the Mexican restaurant. 16626 Highway 116, Guerneville (707) 869-2230

Restaurants

Cape Fear Café, Hwy 116, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 (707) 865-9246
Breakfast, Lunch + Dinner

Highland Dell, Monte Rio, 21050 River Blvd, Monte Rio, CA 95462 (707) 865-2300

Village Inn + Restaurant. Bar and Dining Deck overlooking the river. 20822 River Blvd, Monte Rio, CA 95462 (707) 865-2304.

Bistro des Copains 3782 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental, CA 95465 (707) 874-2436 Dinner only

Café Les Jumelles, 20391 Hwy 116,  Monte Rio, CA 95462 (707) 865-9500. Breakfast, Lunch + Dinner.

Rocker Oysterfeller @ Valley Ford Hotel. 14415 Hwy 1. Valley Ford, CA 94972 (707) 876-1983

Farmhouse Restaurant. 7871 River Road, Forestville, CA 95436 (707) 887-3300. Dinner.

River’s End. 11048 Highway 1, Jenner, CA (707) 865-2484 e111. Lunch/Dinner + Crab Tasting Menu.

Underwood Bar + Bistro. 9113 Graton Rd, Graton, CA 95444. (707) 823-7023. Ranked by Food and Wine magazine as number 4 of America’s 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences. Dinner.

Willow Wood Market Café. 9020 Graton Rd, Graton, CA 95444. (707) 823-0233. Breakfast/Lunch.

Mexican

Tacqueria La Tapatia, 16632 Hwy 116, Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-1821

El Mariachi Café, 3595 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental, CA 95465 (707) 874-2752

Guerneville Taco Truck. 16632 Main St., Guerneville, CA 95446

Pubs + Bars

Pink Elephant, 9895 Main St., Monte Rio, CA 95462 (707) 865-0500

The Pink at night

Barley + Hops Tavern, 3688 Bohemian Hwy Occidental, CA 95465 (707) 874-9037

Russian River Pub, 11829 River Rd Forestville, CA 95436 (707) 887-7932 Breakfast, Lunch + Dinner. This place has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive In’s, and Dives – you can decide what category you think it belongs in.

Stumptown Brewery. 15045 Old River Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446 (707) 869-0705

You will likely want  to get out the map to plan your wine tasting(s)… plenty of options nearby! 

Russian River Wine Road.  The Russian River Wine Road is a winery association of over 100 Wineries throughout Sonoma County wine country, including the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley appellations of Northwest Sonoma County. 800-723-6336. Their website is a great resource: http://www.wineroad.com/

Vineyards within 15 Miles

• Atascadero Creek – shared tasting room with Grafton Ridge Cellers
• D+L Carnelli
• DeLoach
• Dutton Estate
• Gary Farrell
• Grafton Ridge
• Hartford Family
• Harvest Moon
• Hook + Ladder
• Hop Kiln
• Iron Horse
• Joseph Swan
• Korbel
• Lynmar
• Martin Ray
• Martinelli
• Mirimar Estate
• Moshin Vineyards
• Pellegrini
• Porter Creek
• River Road Vineyards
• Sunce (great Bocce court!)
• Taft Street Winery
• Woodenhead

RR House Favorites: 

• Siduri and Novy – appointment required, well worth it!
• Dehlinger – alas, no onsite tastings
• Williams Selyem – tours for mailing list customers only, requires 2 weeks advance notice

Alternative Wine Tastings Options 

Wine Tasting of Sonoma County. Closed Tuesdays. 25179 Highway 116 Duncans Mills, CA 95430 (707) 865-0565 www.winetastingsonoma.com

Sophie’s Cellars. 20293 Hwy 116, Monte Rio, CA 95462 (707) 865-1122. www.sophiescellars.com. Good picnic supplies!

No Corkage: If you’re dining in the Russian River area, buy a bottle of wine at Sophie’s Cellars, then enjoy dinner at one of the following fine local restaurants with no corkage any night they are open (limit one bottle).

The Village Inn, Monte Rio 
707-865-2304

The Highland Dell, Monte Rio
 707-865-2300

Applewood Inn, Guerneville 
707-869-9093

Triple R, Guerneville  
707-869-0691

Mosaic, Forestville  
707-887-7503

Bistro des Copains, Occidental
 707-874-2436

River’s End Restaurant, Jenner
  707-865-2484 x111

CazSonoma Lodge, Cazadero 
707-632-5255

  

Gravensteins!!

When was the last time you went to an apple farm?

 

Walker’s Apples, 10955 Upp Rd. Graton, CA 95444. (707) 823-4310. Up to 25 types of apples in stock –  and you get to taste before you buy! Go early in the harvest season for gravensteins, go late for pink ladies and pippins. Call ahead!

Some random Apple Facts for you to contemplate: 

View of Goat Rock, Sonoma Coast St. Park

Sonoma Coast State Park. Series of beaches separated by rock bluffs and headlands, extends 17 miles from Bodega Head to Vista Trail located 4 miles north of Jenner. Includes Blind Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, Arched Rock, Goat Rock, Penny Island and Bodega Head. Sonoma Coast Trail: From Blind Beach to Shell Beach is 4 miles round trip;
to Wright’s Beach is 6.5 miles round trip. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=451

Armstrong Woods offers great hiking options.

Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. Armstrong Redwoods is a 700-acre tall tree preserve, a cool and dark forest. Armstrong’s magnificent primeval redwood forest is a great place to cool off in the summer. Many hiking options of different lengths/elevations. In spring, wildflowers are prolific, temperatures are mild and the fog is less frequent. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=450

Austin Creek State Recreation Area. Austin Creek, adjacent to Armstrong Woods, offers open sun-drenched, grassy hillsides dotted with oaks. Austin Creek’s twenty miles of trail for the most part follow creeks—East Austin, as well as Gilliam, Schoolhouse and Fife—through an environment of alder, big leaf maple and Oregon ash. Gilliam Creek, Austin Creek Trails: 4 mile loop with 800-foot elevation gain or 8 mile loop with 1,000-foot gain; longer options possible. Austin Creek’s exposed slopes are a bit too hot in summer; hiking here is far more pleasant in spring and fall. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25169

Fort Ross. This last remnant of czarist Russia’s foothold in California is today a walker’s delight. Fort Ross Trail: To Fort Ross Cove is 0.5 mile round trip; to Reef Point Campground is 4 miles round trip; can extend walk north along park bluffs and south along coast. 12 miles north of Jenner on Hwy 1. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25193

Tidepools and amazing formations at Salt Point.

Salt Point State Park. Tidepools! 20 miles of hiking trails, 6 miles of rugged coastline. Sheer, sandstone cliffs, and sandy coves highlight Salt Point State Park’s seven miles of coastline. Tidepools, sea stacks, and sea caves complete the equation. The park includes one of the first underwater parks in California, Gerstle Cove Marine Reserve, where marine life is completely protected. Stump Beach is another picnic area that offers one of the few sandy beaches north of Jenner. Salt Point Trail: From Salt Point, Stump Beach Cove is 2.5 miles round trip; to Fish Mill
Cove is 6 miles round trip; to Horseshoe Cover is 10 miles round trip. Park is 18 miles north of Jenner on Hwy 1. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=453.

Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve. Five miles of hiking trails through the quiet forest with a short loop trail that leads through clusters of rhododendrons. Just north of Salt Point. http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=448

Willow Creek Watershed. The Willow Creek Watershed is literally at the end of the road – don’t cross over the bridge. A permit is required to access this “upper” portion, but the rest of this special reserve is accessible off of Hwy 1 south of Jenner.  If you are visiting the first Saturday of the month, you can get an orientation and a permit via Landpaths.

Other Resources

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods is a non-profit organization that partners with the Russian River Sector of California State Parks to provide excellent educational programs for adults. The sector includes Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve (outside Guerneville), Austin Creek State Recreation Area, Sonoma Coast State Park (from Bodega Bay to Jenner) and includes the Willow Creek watershed. The State Parks Volunteers in Parks program depends on Stewards to provide funding for educational and interpretive activities, for resource management projects, and to assist in the development of interpretive facilities.http://www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org/

Willow Creek trails are located about 1.5 miles to the west on Freezeout Road right after Moscow Rd turns north.http://www.stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org/pdf/wc_trailmap.pdf

Whale Watching

Bodega Head, the rocky headland that forms the entrance into Bodega Harbor, offer excellent vantage points for observing migrating gray whales. The harbor side is a popular crabbing area along the jetty, and the many hiking trails on the ocean side allow access to small, sandy coves and spectacular bluff top views.  (707) 875-3483