Outdoor Activities off the River

Hiking and Parks 

This part of  the world is blessed with some amazing parks and wildlife reserves. Go out and enjoy!

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. http://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.

Horseback Riding

Saddles with Bridles…

Armstrong Woods Trail Rides & Pack Station. Horseback adventures through the giant redwoods and coastal mountain wilderness of Armstrong Redwoods and Austin Creek State Parks. PO Box 287, Guerneville, CA 95446. (707) 887-2939

Chanslor Ranch. Guided trail rides on horseback and horseback riding on the beach. 2660 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA 94950. (707) 875-3333

Bicycling

Saddles with Handlebars/Bike Rental:

Russian River Bikes, 14070 Mill St, Guerneville, CA (707) 869-1455

Wine Country Bikes. Wine Country Bikes offers high quality hybrid, road bike or tandem bike rentals and guided or self-guided bike tours for riders of any ability. 61 Front Street, Healdsburg (707) 545-7960

Rides to Get you Thinking…

Westside Road – The prize of the Russian River. Westside Road runs from River Road at the Hacienda Bridge to Healdsburg. It is a two-lane country road that rolls up, over, around and through vineyards, redwoods, wineries, and the Russian River.

Sonoma Coast – Start in the town of Occidental. Head down through the forests to Monte Rio. Follow the Russian River along Highway 116 to the coast. Head south along the coast to the town of Bodega Bay. From there there you bike inland and take Joy Road back to Occidental. These are rough directions, you will want to take a map with you.

Wine Country – Leisure Cycling. Consider taking scenic and mild rides through the heart of the region’s wine country along West Side and East Side Roads. Also consider Joe Rodata West County Trail which extends from downtown Santa Rosa to Forestville. They all offer beautiful views of farms and vineyards.

Additional Biking Resources and Details: http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/penngrove/bik_sono.htm

Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition – Bicycle Advocacy

Santa Rosa Cyling Club -Routes and organized rides.

Sonoma County Trails Council

Undiscovered Country Tours – offers bike tours that stays on the banks of the Russian River. 

 

Other Outdoor 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