Photo by Kristen Russell
It’s a busy season, with back to school and back to a full load of schedules and activities, but Daylight Savings doesn’t end until November 2nd, so there’s still plenty of time left to take advantage of Sonoma’s beautiful long evenings. Enjoy this special time of year in nature with a sunset hike, picnic dinner, or even a weeknight camping/glamping adventure. There is so much to do at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park that you really can choose your own adventure this autumn.
It’s also a great time to consider getting an annual park pass to set you up for a year of adventures and experiences in the beautiful natural world in our very own backyard. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park contains the headwaters of Sonoma Creek, runs through gorges and canyons, across the meadow floor, beneath scenic rock outcroppings, and is surrounded by redwoods and ferns. With 47 family-sized campsites and 25 miles of hiking trails, it is the perfect place to spend time outdoors all year round.
To streamline your ability to get out and explore the many natural offerings in our own backyard, the SugarShuttle is back for the first weekends of October and November. Now, you can do a thru-hike of nearby parks from Sugarloaf without complicated and time-consuming car drop-offs.
Want to hike from Sugarloaf to Hood Mountain or vice versa? Make a reservation and easily take advantage of this opportunity to explore some of the North Bay’s most scenic and wild parks. You can get a ride to the other end of the trail and begin your hike, or hike and ride back, though we do recommend riding first and hiking back to your car afterward—so you can take all the time you want to finish your adventure. The Shuttle will be operating October 4 and October 5 from Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (Goodspeed) to Hood Mountain Regional Park (Los Alamos) and November 1 and November 2 from North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park to Jack London State Historic Park.
Weekend camping reservations are hard to come by, but midweek at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is your chance to slow down, reset, and recharge in the heart of wine country, surrounded by 25 miles of beautiful hiking trails, creeks, forests, and waterfalls.
Whether you’re planning a solo adventure, a glamping getaway, or a group outing with up to 50 friends, Sugarloaf has you covered—Shelter Co. glamping tents, hot showers, flush toilets, and even tent and porta-potty rentals. However you like to camp, we just want you to enjoy a meaningful experience outdoors. Treat yourself to a serene midweek escape—make your camping reservations here.
One of the most magical ways to immerse yourself in the tranquility and transcendence of our natural world this fall is through a full moon hike. Sugarloaf hosts full moon hikes every month, and there are two upcoming opportunities to explore the park after dark this autumn.
Bring a flashlight and your sense of wonder on October 6 from 5:00-8:00 pm on the Vista Trail or October 7 from 4:45-8:30 pm on the Bald Mountain Trail. The Vista hike heads up to the viewpoint on Vista Trail where you will see the moon rise over the Mayacamas and the sun set over Sonoma Valley. Or if you are looking for the hike to the summit of Bald Mountain, secure your tickets here. This route is a moderate-to-strenuous, 4.2-mile hike with approximately 800ft of elevation gain and begins at 5:00 pm from the White Barn parking lot.
Sugarloaf also offers many opportunities to help you unwind from the frenetic pace of this time of year and slow down in nature. Join on October 26 from 3:00-5:00 pm for a Slow Birding Journey, where you’ll enjoy a walk in the valley, breezes, wildflowers, the sounds of songbirds, the taste of a Douglas Fir needle or a California Bay leaf, the aroma of Tarweed, and watching wild turkeys and California Quail hunt for seeds and insects in the grass. You’ll join Certified California Naturalists and Sugarloaf docents on this meandering exploration focusing on the diverse bird population of Sugarloaf. There will be frequent stops and opportunities for conversation, photography, nature journaling, wildlife viewing, resting, etc., so bring your nature journal, camera, and binoculars if you have them. Tickets are available here.
If you’re craving an even slower and more restorative pace, the practice of Forest Bathing, which is being offered every 4th Sunday of the month through November, has been shown to improve health and well-being. This is an opportunity to take a walk in nature and learn techniques to maximize the health benefits and stress reducing qualities of this nature walking practice. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan and is gaining popularity in the United States for its well documented wellness benefits. This practice takes walking in the woods to another level. A centering and calming restorative practice, it promotes balance and restored vitality through a quality of presence and heightened sensory awareness through the experience of sights, sounds, scents, touch, and memory. The outing begins at the White Barn and meanders less than one mile from the start point in a reverie of introspection and connection to the natural world. Upcoming dates for this therapeutic experience are October 26 and November 23, taking place from 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Tickets are available here. This special opportunity is offered as a part of Sugarloaf’s Park Rx Program and will be led by certified Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) practitioners.
Photo by Studio Luniste
If you are looking for a way to enjoy the benefits of being immersed in the natural world, while also getting some exercise in, consider joining for a Yoga Hike. The outings begin with grounding, breathwork, and standing stretching poses, followed by a tranquil hike along the Meadow and/or Hillside trails.
Or, come out from 9:00 am-1:00 pm on Saturdays during October and November for Intermediate Hiking for Fitness. If you have previously completed the Beginner Hiking for Fitness Program, or can hike a little more than 4 miles with at least 1,000 ft of elevation, this series is for you! The program leaders will guide you on a series of weekly hikes with the challenge increasing each week. Leaders will have group discussions about gear, hydration, hiking poles, first aid and pacing, etc. The group’s final hike aims for Bald Mountain, where hikers can enjoy stunning vistas.
Visit the Park Rx page to learn about these programs and download the form to join! However you choose, we hope you will take full advantage of all that Sugarloaf Ridge has to offer during the late days of summer as we head into another beautiful autumn in Sonoma.
