Sonoma Valley Trails: May 12-20

Saturday, May 12, 9:30 a.m. finds Susan Topf leading a “Yoga Hike” at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, a mix of hiking and gentle yoga postures, breath work and guided meditation. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing. Hike will probably be 2.5 mile Meadow Trail / Hillside loop. Cost is $20 or free with “ParkRx” from medical provider. Sign up at brownpapertickets.com/event/3237280.

May 12, 10 a.m. to noon is the time for a “Spring Wildflower Walk” to view hillside grasslands with lupines, paintbrush and iris, wet areas with seep-spring monkeyflower, creeks with Western azalea, chaparral areas with ceanothus and chamise, and more. $10 adult, docents or students $5, under 18 free. Sign up at brownpapertickets.com/event/3387574.

May 12, 8 p.m. is the start time for the monthly “Star Party” at Robert Ferguson Observatory at Sugarloaf. Docents and volunteers help amateur sky watchers view celestial objects as near as the moon and as far as the eye can see, through the three telescopes at the observatory. Cost is $3 plus parking fee; under 18 free. For conditions call the observatory at 833-6979. Rfo.org/star-parties.html.

Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13, the “Sugar Shuttle” van will be available to take hikers between Sugarloaf Ridge and Hood Mountain Regional Park (Los Alamos lot), making one-way 7.5-mile hikes possible. Park at your hike’s destination; the shuttle’s first trip is at 9 a.m. from Sugarloaf to Hood Mountain and back again until noon. $10 donation requested.

May 18, 19 and 20 is “Trail Weekend” at Hood Mountain Regional Park, and volunteers are encouraged to join Regional Parks staff and Volunteers for Outdoor California to work on a steep, eroded section of the Nattkemper Trail. It will be replaced with a hiker-friendly sustainable trail on slopes just south of the summit of Hood Mountain and the Gunsight Rock overlook. Tools, gloves, instructions, and delicious food will be provided. Volunteers are welcome to camp onsite for free. Registration is required. No trail building experience is necessary. For more information, visit Volunteers for Outdoor California’s website v-o-cal.org/projects/2018/mthood2018.html.

May 19, 9 a.m. join botanist Peter Warner in a “Fire Follower Flower Walk” at Sugarloaf, a three or four-mile hike until about 1 p.m. Observe and discuss the various effects of fire and its chemical byproducts on the flora (and fauna) across several different habitat types, including grassland, oak woodland and chaparral. Tickets are $10 at brownpapertickets.com/event/3331024

May 19, 10 a.m. meet at Bouverie Preserve for a two-hour guided nature walk, experiencing the rich natural history of this 535-acre preserve. Participants are divided into small groups and paired with a trained Bouverie volunteer to explore the mixed evergreen forest and flower-carpeted oak woodland. Guided nature walks are on Saturdays throughout spring. Suggested donations is $20; for additional information visit egret.org/preserves_bouverie.

May 19, 10 a.m. Caminata de naturaleza (en Español): Vengan todos para una caminata por 1.4 millas de la naturaleza a lado de Sonoma Creek cada tercer sábado del mes. El líder de la caminata le enseñará sobre las plantas, los animales, y la vida acuática de Sonoma Creek. La caminata comenzará en el Centro de Visitantes. La caminata es gratis. Hay cargos de estacionamiento de ocho dólares. (Join us for a 1.4-mile nature hike along the Sonoma Creek every third Saturday of the month. On the hike your leader will teach you about the plants, animals and aquatic life of Sonoma Creek. The hike starts at the visitors center. No fee, but $8 parking charges apply.)