Petaluma, California
The best Trails and Outdoor Activities in Petaluma, California offer a variety of outdoor adventures. The Helen Putnam Regional Park is a top spot with a 6-mile network of trails perfect for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The scenic views of rolling grasslands, groves of heritage oaks, and panoramic vistas are a must-visit. Shollenberger Park is another great location for bird-watching and walking, with a 2-mile trail encircling a beautiful wetland. For a more challenging hike, head to the Tolay Lake Regional Park. The 8-mile trek takes you past unique rock formations and offers stunning views of the lake. These outdoor attractions in and near Petaluma are perfect for those seeking a mix of leisurely strolls and more strenuous hikes.
Top Spots in and near Petaluma
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Inverness, California
S.S. Point Reyes Shipwreck
3.9Explore the shipwreck of the S.S. Point Reyes, perched on a sand bar off the shoreline of Tomales Bay. It is located in the small town of Inverness, just behind the grocery store. If you are driving North on Sir Francis Drake Blvd it will be on your right side. Parking is easy and you will see a ...Read more -
San Geronimo, California
Roys Redwood Preserve Loop
5.02.37 mi / 430 ft gainRoy's Redwoods Preserve is an easily missed pocket of Redwoods off Nicasio Valley Road in Marin County. Don't miss it: heading North on Sir Francis Drake Blvd turn right onto Nicasio Valley Rd--the gate for this little park is about a half mile up on the right. From the main entrance you enter a ...Read more -
Santa Rosa, California
Joe Rodota Trail
4.512.67 mi / 174 ft gainJoe Rodota Trail is an out-and-back trail where you may see wildflowers located near Sebastopol, California.Read more -
Inverness, California
Kayak Camping in Point Reyes
4.9Like camping in remote locations? Love oysters? This is it! Tomales Bay offers boat-in only campgrounds along the east side of the peninsula. We departed from Chicken Ranch Beach, which is on the west side of Tomales Bay. We jumped in our kayaks and headed north in the bay for a quick breather at...Read more -
Sebastopol, California
Laguna de Santa Rosa Loop Trail
4.03.95 mi / 115 ft gainThe Laguna de Santa Rosa Loop Trail offers an enchanting 3.95-mile nature experience just outside of downtown Sebastopol, California. This easy-to-moderate trail provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the largest freshwater wetlands complex on the northern California coast, making...Read more -
Santa Rosa, California
Canyon Trail to Spring Creek Trail Loop
5.07.39 mi / 728 ft gainThe Canyon Trail to Spring Creek Trail Loop is a popular hiking route in Trione-Annadel State Park in Sonoma County, California. This loop offers a mix of shaded woodland paths and open trails, making it a favorite for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Trail Highlights: Length & Difficulty: A...Read more -
Sebastopol, California
Ives Park
4.0Ives Park is the oldest park in Sebastopol, California, and is located only 2 blocks from downtown Sebastopol. The park has many picnic tables with barbecues, a baseball diamond, a playground, and a community pool. Amenities: Parking for the park is on the street surrounding the park. There is ...Read more -
Santa Rosa, California
Hood Mountain Summit Via Lower and Upper Johnson Ridge Trails
5.95 mi / 2054 ft gainHood Mountain Summit via the Lower Johnson and Upper Johnson Ridge Trails is a 6 mile out-and-back trek located in Santa Rosa, CA. The trailhead starts at the Pythian Road parking lot, accessed from Highway 12. The hike takes 3.5 to 4 hours to complete and is considered strenuous. All trails are...Read more -
Lagunitas, California
Redwoods Camping at Samuel P Taylor
These West Marin campsites are often overlooked. It does get busy during the summer, but take the rest of the year to explore this state park. The main campground boasts more than 50 campsites with restrooms, hot pay showers, and piped drinking water. A few spaces can accommodate trailers, but t...Read more -
Kenwood, California
Pony Gate-Canyon Loop
4.02.17 mi / 568 ft gainThe Pony Gate-Canyon Loop within Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is a new favorite of mine on my list of family and kid-friendly hikes. Our little girls did great with this hike and loved it. If you can get moving early in the day and begin your hike around breakfast time, you might find there are few...Read more -
Marshall, California
Kayak Tomales Bay
5.0Kayak Beautiful Tomales bay and experience the bioluminescence ecology of the bay. Timed during the lowest crescent of the moon, and starting around sunset, you will paddle into the sunset and wait until it is completely dark, continuing on around the bay to experience the bio-luminescence natur...Read more -
Lagunitas, CaliforniaThe Inkwells
4.5These natural swimming holes are filled with water flowing from Kent Lake, so they're usually pretty refreshing. And by refreshing, we mean cold. We know this first-hand by testing the pools in the winter months. Let's just say if you can stay in for more than 5 seconds, you're a hero. If you jum...Read more -
Saint Helena, California
Bald Mountain
5.05.24 mi / 1526 ft gainPark at the top of Adobe Canyon Road in the gravel parking lot to the left of the ranger kiosk. There is a $7.00 parking fee. There are many options for routes to the top; the easiest of which is mostly paved (although still steep in parts). To take this route, head north out of the trailhead pa...Read more -
Lagunitas, California
Bolinas Ridge Loop
10.27 mi / 1568 ft gainNestled in the Samuel P. Taylor State Park this ten miler was a perfect escape from the chaos of the city. Hikers are able to pay a $10.00 park entry fee that includes plenty of parking spaces and restrooms before you hit the trail. The hike starts along the Cross Marin Trail, a path popular to ...Read more -
Point Reyes Station, California
Bear Valley to Coast Camp Loop
5.016.18 mi / 2818 ft gainPermit and Trail Camp Info To stay overnight in Point Reyes, you must stay at one of the Trail Camps. Camping anywhere else in the park is not allowed. Permits for the Trail Camps can be booked up to 6 months in advance. If you are looking to go on a weekend, then you'll want to start loo...Read more -
San Rafael, California
Terra Linda Sleepy Hollow Ridge Trail
5.05.85 mi / 1089 ft gainThis San Rafael neighborhood trail is quite popular, but there is plenty of room for everyone and the parking is easy. After you park at the trailhead, you walk (or bike) up a relatively short and steep path that takes you to the beginning of the trail. This hike takes you along a scenic ridge ...Read more
