Outdoors in August in Sonoma Valley

August is, on the one hand, the dead of summer, and on the other the beginning of an inevitable fall. Days are slowly but perceptibly getting shorter, and with the return to school immediately pending for most Valley students, families are trying to squeeze in their last holiday outings.

But outings don’t have to be any farther away than Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, or any more memorable than a two-hour Reptiles in Sugarloaf presentation, in Spanish and English, coming on Saturday, Aug. 17. Hobby herpetologist Steve Nielsen will give attendees a half-hour overview of the snakes found at the state park – rattlers, king snakes, racers, garters and others – then lead the group on a hike along Creekside Nature Trail looking for habitat, or their inhabitants. Meet at Robert Ferguson Observatory at 10 a.m.; no charge other than parking, but please sign up at brownpapertickets.com/event/4306708.

“What is the sound of one boot walking?” A bit earlier the same day, you can join certified nature and forest therapist Karen Sapper to explore the benefits and techniques of Forest Therapy (aka Forest Bathing or Shinrin Yoku). It’s $20 ($15 for docents or members) plus parking; meet at 9:30 a.m. at the visitors center, sign up at brownpapertickets.com/event/4090665.

Similarly, a Yoga Hike is scheduled for the next Saturday, Aug. 24, with instructor Susan Topf guiding hiking and asanas, breathing and mediation starting at 9:30 a.m. and concluding around noon. This class is also $20, but like the Forest Therapy hike the previous week fees can be waived if participants have a “Park Rx” from a county medical provider. Ask your doctor for a recommendation, it’ll be good for you. Information and reservations at brownpapertickets.com/event/3913399.

Also Aug. 24, it’s time to elevate your vision to an interstellar perspective at Robert Ferguson Observatory. At the midday Solar Viewing (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) the solar telescopes are set up for safe viewing of our nearest star, the Sun; as the sun goes down around 8 p.m. the Star Party begins, with all three of the observatory’s main telescopes open for public viewing until midnight or later, depending on attendance. The daytime viewing is free, the Star Party is $5, amateur astronomers under 18 are free. Information at rfo.org.

Coming events at Sugarloaf include a special Forest Therapy walk honoring loss and resilience, on Aug. 31; a Hiking for Fitness for Beginners series that begins Sept. 7; Sugarloaf Volunteer Training on Sept. 14; and the annual Brunch on Bald Mountain hike with Bill & Dave, to benefit Team Sugarloaf, on Sept. 21. More information on these events can be found at sonomaecologycenter.org.

Don’t forget there’s also camping at Sugarloaf, 47 alcohol-free family camping spaces surrounded by a large meadow, with sites accessible to wheelchairs and even RVs up to 28 feet long.

Since it’s a state park, reservations are made at reservecalifornia.com, or by calling 800-444-PARK.