Sonoma High

The Bay Area Ridge Trail will one day connect over 500 miles of trail along the hills and ridgelines to make one big Bay Area loop. So far, over 350 miles have been completed, and the North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park is one of the newest pieces to this impressive puzzle. The gorgeous park just north of Jack London State Park has some of the richest biodiversity in Sonoma County. Explore the terrain and enjoy the vistas on a 4-mile (round-trip) hike. Early on you'll pass a small redwood grove with two picnic tables set close to a burbling creek. Cross a wooden bridge and begin a gentle ascent up a trail clearly demarcated by large stones lining the pathway. Also lining the landscape right now: wildflowers! Get your Easter colors when you pass by newly blooming beauties like shooting stars, Douglas iris, and California poppies. As you start onto switchbacks there's a small pond with a few lucky ducks quacking about. You'll feel like a lucky duck too, walking under a canopy of live oaks, valley oaks, buckeys, madrones, and Douglas firs. Parts of this trail seem designed by an artist, as the arms of oak trees twist overhead and lush spring greenery runs from ground to tree. The main trail is the Ridge Trail, and it connects all the way to Jack London State Park. For the 4-mile (round-trip) hike, ascend to the Bennett Valley Overlook, which will be your turnaround point. Just don't turn around until you've taken in the views first! From 1,720 feet at the vista point, look west and north toward to the Santa Rosa Plain and the surrounding beautiful green galloping hills. You can also see distant Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Hood Mountain. Good as new!

BONUS: The next level after organic? Biodynamic! Check out one of wine country's pioneers down the road at Benziger Family Winery. Their biodynamic tram tour takes you around the property and teaches a bit about the process−tasting included!

North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park is southeast of Santa Rosa (map). Print out a park map to bring with you. There's a $7 parking fee. No dogs.