Blackberries and almost-blackberries

Part 2: Sonoma Valley Regional Park, on Highway 12 just east of Glen Ellen. Like Maxwell Farms, more people probably know this park by its roadside enclosed area, in this case a fenced dog park instead of a skateboarding site.

Start in the parking lot of this 200-plus-acre park and climb the slight uphill to an overlook. One of the nice features of this place are the many, many benches situated throughout the park, whether on sunny slopes, or shaded trails, where you can stop, eat, ponder deep ideas, or just do nothing. The Corridor Ridge Trail leads off of the paved path into a nature trail, rising almost 500 feet in elevation. Combine it with the Black Meadow Trail and some short detours and get about three miles of hiking in.

The wildflowers and blackberries are both still in full display across the hillside, and the park serves as a natural smaller cousin to the adjacent Sonoma Mountain territory.
Park map.

Next: Part 3, easy Sonoma day hikes

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