Six rainy day hikes in Sonoma County

With the right attitude, destination and choice of gear, the rainy season can be a magical time for experiencing the outdoors.|

With El Niño storms fueling a steady deluge on the North Coast this winter, enjoying a nature hike can be challenging.

Dirt paths become slippery, muddy slogs, while at higher elevations, blustery winds are blinding. The temptation is to put away the boots and stay comfortably confined until better weather returns in the spring.

But that’s no fun.

With the right attitude, destination and choice of gear, the rainy season can be a magical time for experiencing the outdoors. The heavy rains bring seasonal streams and waterfalls, as well as steady plunks descending from the canopies of redwood trees.

One place to enjoy the season’s offerings is at Sonoma Valley Regional Park, a 202-acre gem near Glen Ellen that many longtime visitors cite as the ideal setting for a rainy day jaunt.

“This park is gorgeous in the rain,” Judy Condon said recently while walking her dog there.

Several days of steady rain had created a gurgling stream running alongside the paved path. Condon, of Sonoma, confessed that she likes to dip the toe of her boots in leaf-dams to release the water.

“It’s fun,” she said. “Like being a kid again.”

Hiking in the rain does feel a little like playing. But unless you are a toddler, jumping around in puddles and getting soaked probably is not high on the agenda.

In such conditions, access to a paved path can be a godsend for anyone wishing to avoid muddy messes. Sonoma Valley has just such an amenity in the 1.3-mile Valley of the Moon Trail, the regional park’s main thoroughfare.

The park was acquired in 1974 after 162 acres of the then-Sonoma State Hospital was declared surplus property by the state.

The park’s natural setting belies its proximity to a busy highway, the village of Glen Ellen and the Sonoma Developmental Center. It’s located at the juncture of the Sonoma Valley wildlife corridor, which encompasses more than 9,000 acres of protected land running west to east from Sonoma Mountain to the Mayacamas Mountains.

Deer, mountain lion, coyote and bobcat frequent the site, along with rare species that include northern spotted owl and California red-legged frog. Sonoma Creek, which skirts the park’s western edge, is one of the county’s most significant streams for steelhead trout.

On one recent morning, a lone crow high in an oak tree sought attention with its loud call and a great egret poked along in the grasslands searching for grub.

The Valley of the Moon trail officially begins at the park’s main entrance. From there, it winds gently down through a verdant forest of moss-covered oaks.

The trail, which is accessible to the disabled, has picnic tables along the route. Thanks to recent rains, a seasonal creek that had been all but absent in drought years has returned, winding next to and underneath the path. The bubbling is a melodic joy that adds to the serene setting.

“I can’t tell you the last time I walked down here and heard the water,” Martha Rosenblatt said.

The Glen Ellen woman said even in high season the park never feels crowded. On this day, she was joined by a few dog-walkers, runners and a woman pushing a baby stroller.

Linda Brekken, another frequent park user, said even in a downpour, the park is accessible.

“This is the perfect place when it’s raining,” she said, citing the paved path.

Turning back at Arnold Drive, the path climbs gently back to the Highway 12 parking lot. Some people reverse the route by parking park on Arnold. Park officials, however, encourage use of the main entrance.

The day-use fee, which is $7, can be paid at an unmanned kiosk that accepts debit and credit cards. Portable bathrooms also are available. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails and can play off-leash in a fenced dog park near the Highway 12 entrance.

The Sonoma Valley park also offers miles of unpaved paths for those who don’t mind getting dirty on a rainy day.

The 1.2-mile Woodland Star Trail, formerly the Corridor Ridge Trail, climbs from the parking lot to the top of a small ridge on the park’s southern boundary and follows the wooded ridge before descending near Arnold Drive.

The 0.8-mile Cougar Trail, on the park’s northern side, offers tantalizing views of the valley and the Mayacmas mountains.

For more information, visit parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Get_Outdoors/Parks/Sonoma_Valley_Regional_Park.aspx.

You can reach Staff Writer Derek Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @deadlinederek.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the Valley of the Moon trail as 1/3 miles and included a caption that described Suttonfield Lake as part of the regional park. The trail is actually 1.3 miles, and Suttonfield Lake is on land that belongs to the Sonoma Developmental Center. This story has been updated to correct the descriptions.

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