Sonoma County Recreation

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Additional Information

Northern California is stunning. Its vast and varied terrain provides not only beautiful views but a plethora of excellent recreational areas from which to choose if you're planning on spending some time in the great outdoors. Sonoma recreation can be enjoyed in a number of places - from excellent beaches to abundant state and regional parks where you can enjoy hiking, camping, and a list of other Sonoma outdoor activities.

Beaches

If you're traveling up or down scenic Highway 1 on the breathtaking Northern California coast, there are a number of Sonoma beaches at which you can make a stop. Though the ocean is a bit chilly for swimming, you can still enjoy the views as well as other outdoor pursuits.

Consider the charming coastal village of Bodega Bay, home to many of the county's working-class fishermen. Bodega Bay is quite a popular spot for both locals and visitors. Head to Salmon Beach, a favorite with families; Goat Rock, the first choice for kayakers; or romantic Portuguese Beach, with its steep interior cliffs. Doran Regional Park also boasts 2 miles of pretty beaches.

Black Point, Bluff Top Trail, Pebble Beach, Stengal Beach, Shell Beach and Walk on Beach are among the beaches accessible from the Sea Ranch development, so if you're renting there, you can enjoy photography, hiking, or even horseback riding along the beach.

The coastal town of Jenner and its surrounds also boast some fine beaches, and from the ones in Fort Ross Historic Park - North Cove and Sandy Beach - you can do a little whale watching.

Sonoma Parks

Sonoma boasts a huge amount of open land, much of which has been turned into parks for visitors to enjoy. Sonoma hiking trails are prevalent through many of the parks and you'll also find space for cycling or horseback riding in many locations.

Sonoma State Parks include beautiful Sugarloaf Ridge in Kenwood, where you'll find the headwaters of the Sonoma Creek. This park has 25-miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. Similarly, Annadel State Park in eastern Santa Rosa offers trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail riding. You can also fish for black bass in Lake Ilsanjo. Coastal Salt Point State Park offers 20 miles of hiking trails, 6 miles of breathtaking coastline, and an underwater park. Camping is popular here as well.

There are also three State Historic Parks: Jack London, Petaluma Adobe, and Sonoma. These provide not only open space but also some insight into California state history.

Camping

Camping in Sonoma is really quite easy to find if you plan ahead. Sonoma County is a wonderful place for camping, be it along the coast or in one of the pristine state parks.

Camping is available in Sugarloaf, Annadel, and Salt Point as well as in a handful of regional parks including Doran Park and Westside Park (Bodega Bay), Gualala Point (Sea Ranch), Spring Lake (Santa Rosa), and Stillwater Cove (Jenner). All parks have limited space so try to make reservations if possible during peak times.

You'll also find a few RV parks scattered throughout the county including in the towns of Healdsburg, Bodega Bay, Cloverdale, Petaluma, and Rohnert Park.