Sonoma made its reputation on wine and gastronomy, but the region also offers exceptionally beautiful hikes. In the mountains, trails often reveal uninterrupted views of the valley below, and even in peak season, finding solitude is possible. Our explorations ranged from easy, level walks to moderate climbs, and one trail ended at a winery, a fitting reward for our efforts.

Spring Lake Regional Park

While many visitors to Sonoma gravitate to the well-known Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen — a great spot to immerse yourself in the literary and agricultural accomplishments of the famous author — we chose a quieter locals’ favorite at the northern edge of the Sonoma Mountains. Spring Lake Regional Park, in Santa Rosa, offers about 10 miles of gentle paths that circle the lake, plus kayaking, fishing and swimming in its quiet separate lagoon. Early in the morning, we set off on an easy 2.3-mile paved loop. Ethereal fog still hovered over the calm water and drifted through diverse woodlands and chaparral. As the sun rose, the mist burned away, and we caught sight of deer grazing near the shoreline and a blue heron gliding low over the lake. Be sure to stop in the small but mighty Environmental Discovery Center, staffed by engaging naturalists who invite hands-on exploration of exhibits devoted to the region’s ecological and cultural history. I recommend driving through the gate on Violetti Road and parking near the swimming lagoon — an ideal jumping-off point to explore both the trails and the lake. For more ambitious hikers, Spring Lake Regional Park connects directly to the 5,000-acre Trione-Annadel State Park, which offers 45 miles of more rigorous trails.

Spring Lake Regional Park 
393 Violetti Road, Santa Rosa. Tel. (707) 539-8092

Sonoma Overlook Trail

Part of the charm of the easy-to-moderate Overlook Trail lies in its proximity to Sonoma Plaza. After just a 15-minute walk from downtown, I found myself amid sweeping vistas of Sonoma’s vineyard tapestry, Mount Tamalpais and, on this unusually clear day, San Francisco Bay shimmering in the distance. Volunteers maintain the trail with care, keeping the inclines and switchbacks effortlessly navigable. Dogs, horses and bikes are not permitted, which preserves the tranquility of this delightful hike through grasslands and mixed-evergreen forests. Beyond the visual rewards, I breathed in the sweet, earthy aromas of bay laurel, sagebrush and manzanitas, the quintessential scents of California chaparral. This hike is a refreshing excursion that’s easy to weave into a schedule of wine tasting, shopping and dining without sacrificing much time. We hit the trail in the late afternoon, savoring the quiet and the shifting light, spotting deer, wild turkeys and red-tailed hawks before leaving to the tune of the songbirds’ dusk chorus. This route is most enchanting in late spring, when wildflowers erupt in color, and fall, when fiery leaves transform the hillsides.

Sonoma Overlook Trail
198 First Street West, Sonoma. No Tel.

Bartholomew Park

I stumbled upon the hiking trails of the 375-acre Bartholomew Park by chance, during a visit to the on-site winery. The property was home to Sonoma’s first private vineyard, planted in 1832, before passing through a series of less romantic incarnations, including a reformatory, a hospital and a convalescent retreat. In 1943, journalist Frank Bartholomew returned the estate to private ownership, and in 1980, he and his wife, Antonia, established a foundation that protects the property from development and directs all winery proceeds to its upkeep. Today, it welcomes the public, encouraging visitors to explore the trails, enjoy the gardens and taste wine, just as the Bartholomews intended. We passed a picturesque duck pond and an old windmill to reach the North Gate trailhead, then set out on the Grape Stomp Trail, a well-kept path that climbs in gentle zigzags toward Benicia’s Lake. Thoughtfully placed benches face vineyard vistas and views of Mount Tamalpais. We also discovered stands of towering redwoods, mature oaks and madrones, along with gurgling creeks and open meadows. The trails are relatively short, making this estate a rewarding stop even if you have limited time. Bartholomew draws a devoted local crowd, from birders and plein-air painters to picnickers whose baskets suggested a happily unhurried afternoon.

Bartholomew Park
1695 Castle Rd., Sonoma. Tel. (707) 938-2244