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North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 192 Google reviews · Running trail in Santa Rosa, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- 26 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Mountainous park with redwood forest, picnic tables & trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding.
What runners say about North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park
“Clearly no horse riders clean up from the horses, and dog doo is miniscule compared to horse poo that we saw along the trail.”
“Benches along the way can be quite steep so a nice place to stop and rest for a moment And to take some stunning pictures.”
“Multiple trails, the the trail to Umbrella Tree is a steep trail but plenty of shade to rest and it is well worth it.”
“It was quiet, not crowded, good work out going uphill and good amount of shades from redwood trees.”
Hiked here with friends. Great hike with a mix of sun and shade. Pretty view. I'm not giving it 5 stars because they don't allow dogs, but they allow horses. Clearly no horse riders clean up from the horses, and dog doo is miniscule compared to horse poo that we saw along the trail.
Went here during a thick fog and really wasn’t expecting much, but were stunned when we got to the Umbrella Tree. We were within the fog, then above the fog as we watched it move through the hills. So beautiful. The redwood forest at the start of the trail was also magical.
It's very pretty place to walk in the Spring time. Benches along the way can be quite steep so a nice place to stop and rest for a moment And to take some stunning pictures.
easy 4+ miles, out and back, although there is a steady increase as you go up the switchbacks to get to the view at the top. Bet the shady parts will be appreciated in the summer months!
Trail conditions & character
“The views are so breathtaking we sat for quite a while on a bench and listened to an audiobook about Sonoma Mountain while taking in the view.”
“Benches along the way can be quite steep so a nice place to stop and rest for a moment And to take some stunning pictures.”
“00 parking is a gentle sloping that meanders the golden knotty ridges we see from Petaluma Hill Rd just pass Sonoma State heading south.”
“There is a well-maintained bathroom at the parking lot, but no potable water: be prepared for your hike/run/ride!”
“Multiple trails, the the trail to Umbrella Tree is a steep trail but plenty of shade to rest and it is well worth it.”
“It was quiet, not crowded, good work out going uphill and good amount of shades from redwood trees.”
“Also these are not technical rocky trails, but still thoroughly enjoyable.”
“8 mile uphill hike was just good enough for me.”
Plan your run at North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Distance26 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteparks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–7 PM |
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