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 [...]
Sometimes a rigorous day hike is in front of you, but who says the hike can’t be a collection of smaller hikes? With the town of Sonoma as the center point, there are many mini-hikes to check out, from the Sonoma Overlook Park to walks around town to [...]
Leaving the parking lot at Gerstle Cove, Salt Point SP. Exposed ocean cliffs, pygmy trees, intricate sandstone formations, lush wildflowers – welcome to Salt Point State Park, a coastal outpost in northwestern Sonoma County that is worth a visit. The park, located nearly 20 winding miles north of [...]
Lake Sonoma’s namesake feature is certainly the star attraction and local boaters know it. On any given summer day, the tinted water is buzzing with activity, from anglers to skiers and everything in between. The manmade reservoir is almost 20 years old, having been formed by the construction of the [...]
It’s always cool under the redwoods. Remember that on those days when the temperature has soared to stratospheric levels. And a cool spot for a hike that will provide a bit of a workout and a chance to wander among the tall trees is Armstrong Woods State Reserve, located in [...]
It's taken me a few years but I finally got a chance to visit - and hike - Angel Island. And it was worth the wait. I knew next to nothing about the place other than seeing it in the distance from SF many times. Now I feel [...]
I've hiked and biked in Annadel several times but most trips have revolved around the same few trails, all leading to or around Lake Ilsanjo. And why not? It's a beautiful body of water, whether for fishing or swimming and it provides a nice resting post. Last weekend's [...]
Reprinted from The Press Democrat's Towns, April 8 edition When cyclist Jim Keene first visited Santa Rosa in 1982, his destination was Annadel State Park. A mecca for mountain bikers, trail runners, bird watchers and wildflower lovers alike, the park is now Keene's backyard. He lives in the [...]
For the second time in as many months, I hiked through a park and spotted an archery range. Previous to that, I don't think I had seen an actual archery site in decades. Maybe it's making a comeback? Archery today can be very high-end, with equipment costing well into the [...]
Starting a hike on a beach is a treat because it allows you to discard your shoes, wriggle your toes in the sand and even walk in the edge of the surf as it laps the shore. On a recent hike that started on Limantour Beach at Point Reyes, we [...]
If you were to start hiking on the north side of Sonoma Mountain in Santa Rosa and keep heading south, you would eventually hit San Pablo Bay. It would take awhile and you would have to go through a patchwork of public and private lands, but that’s an impressive greenway [...]
OK, while the moon was full, it was a cloudy night so my expectations for a moon-bathed hike were low. But then the clouds parted just enough and all was well.
A Buffalo 
, New York native, I spent half of my life hibernating indoors, but for the past five years I have basked in the thrilling opportunity to enjoy year round hiking on the many trails of beautiful Northern California. In this blog I will continue in the tradition of trailhead, to recap the hikes I have taken and share the insights of my fellow hikers. Along with day hikes, I am also interested in dog friendly trails, and backpacking trips as well. Please feel free to offer suggestions of where I should hike next, or share tales of where you have explored. . Guest blog entries are extremely welcome as are your photos from your own hikes.