Sonomas 5 Fall Wonders

Sonoma Valleys 5 Best Hikes in Fall

Hike the Trails in Daylight or Moonlight

From redwoods to rolling vineyards, Sonoma Valley’s regional and state parks have miles of magical trails. Hike under redwoods and ancient oaks at Jack London State Park, or go see the splendor of a fall sunset at the locals’ favorite Overlook Trail, just above the Plaza. Soak in the warmth of the lower-sitting sun, or bundle up to see the moon and the stars and listen to the owls on a night hike at Sugarloaf Ridge. For something different, walk the vineyards on a do-it-yourself tour at St. Francis Winery.

FlavorFall!

Sonoma’s food + drink scene is fall of flavor, and great views! Taste your way around the valley, from the restaurants surrounding the historic plaza to wineries nestled among the hills. Reserve a food & wine pairing at Ram’s Gate, where your autumn exploration includes a view overlooking the greater San Pablo watershed. The oasis is part of the Pacific Flyway, where birds of many feathers flock together, making beautiful music with their birdsongs while you taste wines from the valley. Bonus: Steal this fabulous holiday-season recipe and wine pairing of pork rib roast and Cab Franc.

Sonoma Valley

Scenic Drives and Strolls

Ready for some fall colors in wine country? Pick up the map of the local trees at the visitors bureau and stroll Sonoma Plaza’s stunning 8 acres. Surrounded by cafés, tasting rooms, restaurants, and shops, a plaza walk among 30 varieties of trees is a relaxing way to experience the change of season. If scenic drives are more your thing, escape to the Valley of the Moon Scenic Highway. Stop for a mountaintop tasting 1,400 feet above the valley floor, and eat a delicious wood-fired pizza lunch in a gorgeous outdoor courtyard nearby.

Sonoma Valley

Morning Glory!

Morning Glory! Those crisp mornings during harvest in Sonoma Valley are some of the most memorable you’ll ever experience, giving you all the feels of fall. Wake up to the scents of the valley’s bounty—from freshly baked bread and brewed coffee at the Plaza’s Basque Boulangerie Café to the aromas of crushed grapes during the peak of harvest. Bonus: Get up close to the grape crush on the Loxton Crush Pad Tour. It’s a front-row view of how grapes are sorted, crushed, and fermented into wine. Later, enjoy a special cellar tasting of current releases. (No reservations needed, but hurry—this harvest season experience only goes until the end of October.)

Sonoma Valley

Sonoma Valley Now

Fall is a magical time of year, and Sonoma Valley has a gorgeously produced guide to help you make the most of the season. Discover the valley’s top outdoor adventures, find your must-taste food and wine spots, and learn about great places to stay. You can also find good deals and autumn promotions.

Sonoma Valley

Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

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  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

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  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

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  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

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    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

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  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

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  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

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  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

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