Sugarloaf Ridge State Park opens for camping Feb. 15

The Sonoma Valley park finally opens for overnight campers, though only half the sites are taking reservations.|

The weekend’s promise of clear skies and sunny weather bodes well for hikers, cyclists, ‘shroomers and other lovers of outdoor recreation. In Sonoma Valley, many are welcoming the return of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park – which suffered extensive burning in the October fires, but is slowly getting back into full services.

“We’ve had lots of people coming to see the park since the first of the month” when the park opened for day use, said John Roney, the park’s manager under Team Sugarloaf. “The volunteers have been working hard to make things ready, opening up lots of the park for all to enjoy.” (Anyone wishing to help in that effort can join the “workday” next Saturday, Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on sugarloafpark.org.)

Starting this weekend, 20 of the park’s 48 camping sites are finally opening for overnight stays as well. Though most of the advance reservations have been snapped up, the park retains four campsites for first-come, first-served visitors who “call or show up at 10 a.m. with a credit card,” said Roney.

The rest of the campsites will be open starting April 15, but online reservations can be made now through ReserveAmerica.com. The campgrounds have been closed since the night of Oct. 8, when the advancing fires forced the excavation of all campers and staff from the park.

Ten of the park’s 16 trails are open, but still closed are Bushy Peaks, Red Mountain and Vista Trails. Goodspeed Trail, which wends to the west toward Bald Mountain Regional Park, is closed as well.

Several organized hikes to see the damage the fires wrought, and the regeneration that is nature’s way, have already trekked the open trails. This weekend alone, there are several scheduled hikes – including on Saturday, Feb. 17, with Bill & Dave’s Hikes. They promise “a moderately strenuous hike to the top of Bald Mountain” that will last at least three hours, cover approximately six miles, and involve an elevation gain of about 1,500 feet. Vist billanddavehikes.com for more.

Along the way to Bald Mountain, willing hikers will be given the chance to do their good deed for the day, helping to lift a picnic table from the side of Gray Pine Trail – knocked off during the firefighting efforts – back to its original location.

Hikers should arrive by 9:45 for the 10 a.m. start time, and while there is no charge for the hike, there is an $8 parking fee at the gate.

For many, Monday is Presidents Day holiday, so getting the kids out in nature is a great alternative to “screen time.” Sugarloaf to the rescue: come to the park for a peaceful, two-mile hike through the woods to learn about park plants, animals and history. Start time is 10 a.m. at the visitors center, where it ends two hours later. No reservations needed, and it’s free, but $8 parking fee applies.

The park is holding several Fire Recovery Hikes as well, which began as soon as the trails opened a couple weeks ago and have proven to be quite popular. A guided Spanish-language “Caminata de la Recuperación de los Incendios” is this Saturday, Feb. 17, from 10:30 to 12:30; hikers who need transportation, call Alana Fichman 591-1726, or email her at alana@sonomaecologycenter.org. A van will leave from La Luz Center, 17560 Greger St., at 10 a.m. and will return after the hike at 12:30 pm.

Fire recovery hikes continue next weekend; for more information see the calendars at sonomaecologycenter.org or visit sugarloafpark.org.

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