Taylor Made Hike

Hike to the Summit of Santa Rosa's Taylor Mountain

11.30.2017

Hiking during the holiday season is a great way to gain a little perspective … or a big perspective, if you decide to hike at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, where the views are huge. This locals’ favorite near Santa Rosa is worth a visit for anyone in the Bay Area, especially in the cooler months.

With over 1,000 acres and hiking trails leading to a panoramic 1,400-foot summit, Taylor Mountain is gloriously exposed—meaning you get fantastic vistas en route. There are two entry points to the park. We recommend starting from the Petaluma Hill Road entrance. Take the Red Tail Trail either direction from the parking lot, winding up through oak woodlands for about a mile before breaking into an open meadow. The last section is short and steep, and the summit is a sweeping reward of grand views, including the Santa Rosa Plain, Bennett Valley, Hood Mountain, and Mount Saint Helena.

Weekend Sherpa
Taylor Mountain Hike

From this vantage you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the devastation from the wine country wildfires, but you’ll also be heartened to see that there is still so much beauty in the vast landscape of rolling hills that were spared from the fires. Perspective indeed.

BONUS: From the summit of Taylor Mountain you’ll see a vineyard to the south. That’s nearby Matanzas Creek Winery, where the outdoor setting is one of the best in wine country, and that’s not just the wine talking!

This hike starts at Taylor Mountain’s Petaluma Hill Road entrance (3820 Petaluma Hill Rd., Santa Rosa, map). Start by going left on the Redtail Trail, then take the Connector Trail, followed by a right onto the Western Route, and then a right onto the Eastern Route to the summit. Return the way you came. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Perles Beach Angel Island San Francisco Bay

    Secret Beach

    A hidden beach and a killer view? Those are hard to come by, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Perles Beach on Angel Island. Bike or hike to this beautiful pocket cove.

    View

  2. Cinematic Sonoma

    Longer days. Golden light. Wildflowers in bloom. It’s the perfect moment to plan your spring escape to Sonoma for the Sonoma International Film Festival, March 25–29. No fuss. No sprawl. Just films, friends, fresh air, and that unmistakable Sonoma glow.

    View
  3. Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve

    Mellow in the Marsh

    Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.

    View
  4. A man is looking through his binoculars at sunrise at the Bayland Nature Preserve in Palo Alto

    Baylands Bird & Art Loop

    Combine an outdoor art walk and wildlife sightings at the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. This 5-mile loop through Byxbee Park and the Emily Renzel Wetlands features striking installations by artists Peter Richards and Michael Oppenheimer—where the landscape itself becomes part of the canvas.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Tree Town

    Home to an estimated 21,000 trees and 100 acres of parkland, South Pasadena has earned its nickname: the City of Trees. This 2.5-mile neighborhood walk lets you experience its leafy canopy up close, winding through charming streets and three of the city’s beloved parks.

    View

  2. A Better Way to Baldwin

    The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City is one of West L.A.’s most popular hiking spots, but most visitors miss the bigger picture. This 3.5-mile out-and-back along a section of the Park to Playa Trail offers a fuller experience of this gorgeous nature park with sweeping urban views and a few artistic surprises along the way.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  4. A woman standing at the pond's edge at Ernest B Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles. Trees are making reflections on the pond.

    Urban Oasis Loop

    Home to the city’s Audubon Center, Ernest E. Debs' 282-acre park features a robust network of hiking trails and surprising wildlife diversity. More than 140 bird species have been spotted here. Birdwatcher or not, this 2.5-mile route makes for a gorgeous outing.

    View