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    Jenner Headlands Preserve

    4.9 (11 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Sea to Sky trail
    Jillian P.

    Dog friendly trails with gorgeous views! I cannot tell you how hard it is to "discover" dog friendly trails in Sonoma county, but Jenner Headlands is everything I've been looking for. Brought my Aussiedoodle for a 8 mile hike on the Sea to Sky trail. The path takes you through cow grazing areas, so be mindful of cow pies and don't let your dogs off leash! It was pretty foggy when we were here, so no coastal panoramics nor whale sightings, but the temperature was perfect for our extra fluffy dog. The parking lot is paved and very accessible. The facilities ate clean and about a 2 minutes walk from the parking lot. Would definitely return!

    Mandy L.

    One of the prettiest hikes in the area! Such a gorgeous view the entire hike (wildflower loop). I've not taken the trails up to Pole Mountain but I can tell you the sea to sky and raptor ridge trails are spectacular. The views on this hike are stunning including ocean views (duh) all the way along the coastline to the rivers end. For the loop I've done you have nothing but beautiful views the entire time. The loop I do is about 4.5 miles, and if you go up the sea to sky trail you hit the climb first and cruise downhill the rest of the hike. The last few times we've been it's mucky out there so be prepared for some muddy fun. Overall well maintained trails with cattle gates to keep cows where they belong along the trails. If anyone has ever hiked Taylor Mountain these trails can offer the same bovine interaction depending on where they feel like roaming. Keeps it interesting for sure. Great parking lot, maps, and bathrooms. Really well thought out park. Overflow parking available across the highway as needed. Not too steep, nice steady rolling incline with views for days. Just the best!

    Lisa W.

    Simply stunning views from here! One has several options for hikes- depending on how much time and stamina you have. We did an out & back to the barn at the top off a mountain and enjoyed the scenery along the way immensely. Next time I want to choose the hike to Pole Mountain with a much earlier start. Parking can be tough here. But, oh so worth it.

    The start of the trail
    Jennifer N.

    Far up the Sonoma Coast, just past where the Russian River hits the coast, you will arrive at one of the newest parks in the North Bay-the Jenner Headlands Preserve. The Sonoma Land Trust oversees this preserve and have some information as well as a map on their website. This is a beautiful swath of land east of Highway 1 that is now open to the public with over 30 miles of hiking trails, a small picnic area near the parking lot and some of the most scenic hiking views in Sonoma County. From the East Bay it took about 2 hours, but it's a pretty drive so I was able to enjoy the journey en route to the destination. The lot holds about 30 cars and I only saw a handful of spots along Highway 1 that seemed safe to park at. I was lucky to snag a spot in the lot, but it was pretty crowded on a Saturday afternoon-word is getting out! The Sonoma Land Trust has a pretty easy to read map online and I had planned out my route in advance. I decided on Raptor Ridge with a detour to the Wildflower loop and then completed Raptor Ridge, connecting with the Sea to Sky Trail that looped back down to the parking lot. That ended up being 5 miles and gave me a good intro to the park. There are trails that go further up and back, including a route that goes up to Pole Mountain (7..5 miles one way and an all day excursion, most likely.) Raptor Ridge was a narrow trail winding gently up through grassland and full of wildflowers this time of year. Although it was about 2 miles uphill the grade was moderate and the views pay off even when you're not far up. Turning around I had amazing views of the coast and looking ahead beautiful vistas of the still green hills of the Headlands. Reaching a barn, with picnic tables for resting, there was a sign pointing to the Wildflower Loop. It was about a .75 mile detour that paid off with an array of wildflowers (go figure-on a trail named Wildflower Loop!) After that I backtracked to finish Raptor Ridge which opened up to a wider gravel trail. Once it ended, you connect with the Sea to Sky trail, where if you go right you'll go up higher in to the preserve, but go left and that will bring you back to the lot. I opted to finish the loop and go down. The Sea to Sky trail going down to the parking lot has plenty of vistas of the Pacific and more rolling hills. This route had a wider trail and some encounters with friendly grazing cattle. The trails are well maintained and well signed. It's muddy in a few spots from recent rains and has some areas that are rocky with some lose rocks. Definitely wear sturdy shoes and dress for a variety of weather. It was cold and windy nearer the coast and warmer and sunny up the hills. The Sonoma Land Trust did an outstanding job getting this preserve ready for the public-and best of all it's free! They do have a box for donations, so considering dropping in a few dollars to support this scenic new hiking wonderland on the Sonoma Coast.

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    Ask the Community - Jenner Headlands Preserve

    Review Highlights - Jenner Headlands Preserve

    There are trails that go further up and back, including a route that goes up to Pole Mountain (7..

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    Stump Beach Cove - Driftwood Structure

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    4.3(3 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Nice secluded beach. Lots of driftwood lying around. Wonderful opportunity for you artists who like…read moreto build structures with driftwood. We, photography enthusiasts, thank you for your lovely creations which make for great pictures. You can find the entrance to Stump Beach along Hwy 1 at Salt Point State Park. Dirt parking lot. Be careful and watch your step. Maybe not for the elderly to travel. There are steps going down to the beach but they are not maintained well and there are drops along the way. The ground can get uneven in some spots. If you make it down to the beach, the rocks are interesting; smooth and they make for a nice display along the beach.

    I've been lucky over the years to have visited some pretty amazing beaches. Some are sprawling and…read morebustling, some calm, some with crashing waves, big rock formations, caves, etc...some secluded, some on the edge of a city, some in the middle of nowhere. If you love the water, you can appreciate a nice beach regardless of the context or the particular environment. That being said, this is the kind of beach that I love the most. Quiet and secluded, no one around, down a long walkway and away from most everything. I could spend all day in a spot like this just napping and listening to the waves crashing in. If you're coming down this part of the coast it's definitely worth a stop if only just to take it in for a moment. There are a few trails that run around the hills overlooking it if you feel like taking a hike and seeing some amazing views, and a short trail that leads to the beach itself from the small parking lot. The parking lot itself could be easy to miss if you weren't watching for it so be on the lookout. Skip the big places that you've heard of and head here. Have the beach to yourself for a while. You'll be glad you did.

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    Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve - Banana slug

    Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

    4.7(405 reviews)
    9.1 mi

    I was quite surprised to see that I had never reviewed this spectacular Redwood State Park. Being…read morehere is magical, especially when you think the thousands of years the trees have been here. If only they could share their stories. The visitor center is quite helpful in suggesting various hikes, especially when you give them the distance and elevation that you are interested in. They also give you a paper map as often there's no signal in this park for Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the trail to the waterfall was closed and hopefully will be open upon our return. The hike we did today was a little over 5 miles with about 750 feet of climbing. We were happy we brought snacks! My only comment would be that the signage was not sufficient. I know that mostly volunteers make up the staff and perhaps it's not a priority yet we managed to find our way back without too many problems.

    A state park with a good amount of redwood trees albeit mostly smaller/younger ones due to a good…read moreamount of logging done in this area to help build California in the 20th century. It is near the Russian River just outside of Guerneville. Redwood vibes similar to some parts of the Santa Cruz range or Marin Hills, but nothing that compares to the big redwoods in Northern California like near Humbolt Co or Crescent City, those are next level. There's a fee to park inside the park. Think it was about $10. It gets busy during the weekends and spaces can be super limited if you come after 11am. We were with a toddler, so we stayed on the main flat trails that go through redwood groves. It is very shady and well trafficked trails. There are a few loops you can join together, and the circumference may be a 2-3 mile hike. But you can do however long you want it to be. Now the trails that elevate into the hills are much more involved. It can elevate to a 1300 foot gain which is pretty strenuous. I haven't tried those yet but it is on my list to try. But even the easy trails that one day, was still beautiful and relaxing. To majestic red bark trees with healthy ferns all on the ground cover, fallen trees to climb on, large rocks to hop on was just a nice jaunt especially with young kids. We brought a light lunch and refreshments and were able to run into a small area with picnic benches. Perfect way to end a few hours steeped in nature, without having to be totally in the wild. Great intro for those that aren't too versed (yet) and to get them exposed to nature, ecosystems and wildlife. Connect with the world amongst which you live with but rarely see. Weekend mission accomplished!

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    Willow Creek Road Trail - Keep your eye out for fungi!

    Willow Creek Road Trail

    4.7(3 reviews)
    8.2 mi

    Wide dirt path. It's like getting to eat dessert first! Great view when you start with a moderate…read moredownhill grade the whole way. No help for it, you have to eat your veggies some time! All uphill on the way back. Also, a fairly tick rich environment. We even came away with ticks in early January. Use of the area is by permit only. See photo below. However, I have a feeling most people using the area do not have permits. Contact: www.landpaths.org, (707)524-9381. Dogs are permitted on leash. My observation is that most people politely adhere to on leash protocols. I'd recommend first time visitors park at signage which indicates "no turn around beyond this point." The road does continue for another 1/4 mile but it's extremely narrow and really meant for the few residents who live down there. Better to park at the sign and walk that last 1/4 mile the first time to get the lay of the land. So how do you find this place? It's really just a stone's throw up the hill from the town of Occidental. It's easier to just put in these GPS coordinates: 38.422560, -122.996500. Want even more information? We found the AllTrails app really helpful.

    Pretty cool place for a little hike! Decent dirt road for a 6.8 there and back hike. Downhill there…read moreand uphill back. Filled with towering green trees, bright fungi, flowing creek, grassy hills and beautiful views!

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    Duncans Mills Camping Club - Every spot is fabulous

    Duncans Mills Camping Club

    4.1(42 reviews)
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    We purchased a 17ft trailer a couple years ago and want to start using it more but we usually don't…read moreknow far in advance when we can go. We heard about Duncans Mills Camping Club so reached out to the owner for a trial stay. We were able to book a two night stay for the same week. We arrived and were greeted by Tina, who helped us pick a good spot for our trailer that was near the river and close to bathrooms and other amenities. The site was large and flat which made backing our trailer in very easy. It had a fire pit, grill, and picnic table. It was a short walk to the river's edge and beach which also had a huge grass are that you could sit on near the river. We took a great hike which was less than 2 miles from the campground where we hiked up to a ridge and could see the ocean. After the hike my husband used the very large hot tub. We didn't use the family area or adult area but looked at it. It had games, books, pool table and other things to do. The fitness room was on the back side of the building and had enough equipment to do a good workout. We went midweek so there were not very many campers so it was very quiet and peaceful. Only thing we had to watchout for was poison oak. The staff was there cutting it back in many sites. All in all it was a great stay. Staff was friendly and available for questions, facilities were good (bathroom was very clean and spacious), and campsites were large. We got the information while we were there about joining the club and are seriously considering it due to it's close proximity to bay area, amenities, flexibility of booking sites and cost if we will use it as much as we are hoping to.

    We called today wanting more information about the club and do the three day stay they advertise on…read moretheir website. Instead of being given information we were told the stay was for people that are signing up and to try the Rv campground up the street. I was surprised since they have so many great reviews and disappointed we didn't get the opportunity to try it out.

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    Jenner Headlands Preserve - hiking - Updated May 2026

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