May has arrived, and with it a little bit of rain in Sonoma County! Buds are breaking on the vines and cherry blossoms have come and gone; mustard’s brightness still calls to us from every hillside and every vineyard; the rain has brought forth that emerald green of the fields that we love so much. Sonoma County is thriving in its natural beauty, despite the difficult times that the whole world is facing. And while staying inside is important, getting outside and breathing the fresh natural air of the world is also vital to our emotional and physical health these days! So, get ready to lace up your running, walking, or hiking shoes. Sonoma County is waiting for you to get out and see it fully blossom this Spring. 

With a plethora of regional and state parks in the area, it is not difficult to find the perfect outdoor exercise for your visit to Sonoma County. Whether you’re seeking a heart-pounding, sweat-inducing hike or a leisurely stroll by the lake or a walk boasting spectacular views, we have it all here. Quieter than ever, now is the time to embrace the gorgeous natural landscapes that Sonoma County has to offer. Below are some of the best parks to experience in Sonoma County this spring!

For Light Walkers

—Spring Lake Regional Park is the perfect morning excursion for a light, flat walk. Grab a latte from Allegro Coffee Company nearby and enjoy a perfect two-mile stroll around Spring Lake. The path is paved all the way around the lake, but if you are looking for a little more wildness, there are plenty of smaller dirt trails that sprout off of the main pathway. And if you want even more adventure (or maybe just adventure-watching) there are plenty of paddle-boarders, kayakers, and fishermen strewn around this gorgeous lake. Mostly shaded and tree-lined, this is an ideal location for a light stroll with friends or family. 

—Crane Creek Regional Park is another ideal spot for an easy walk or hike. Spotted with gloriously old oak trees and miles and miles of bright green grass, Crane Creek is an amazing place to see a Sonoma County springtime at its finest. Just a few minutes east of the freeway in Rohnert Park, this gorgeous landscape offers plenty of trails, benches, and solitude. An amazing getaway, no doubt. 

For Moderate Hikers

–Before you get into the amazing downtown Healdsburg winery scene, you can head just two miles north to the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve. It is quite the mouthful to say, but worth every letter. The Healdsburg Ridge’s primary trailhead begins in Parkland Farms, a sweet neighborhood north of downtown. With many different trails, all of which cross and zig zag around the Ridge, you are always in for an exciting and new adventure every time you come visit. Not to mention the various overlooks that the Healdsburg Ridge is so well known for: the Russian River Overlook, the Mayacama Overlook, and Fox Pond Overlook are all incredible spots to stare out at those bright green hills and mustard-dotted vineyards, and to think about your wonderful place in this extraordinary world. 

–Just a few freeway exits to the south of sweet downtown Healdsburg lies Windsor, and within Windsor lies Foothill Regional Park. This park is a lovely place to get the heart rate up a little bit and feel the wind soar across your face and hear the birds twitter through the air. With plenty of well-maintained and clearly-marked trails, Foothill Park is an excellent place to spend a morning or afternoon in wine country. Since the fires of October 2019, Foothill has made an incredible and beautiful comeback, and it wants you to see all of its charms now more than ever. 

For Serious Hikers

–Imagine Muir Woods without the crowded parking lots, the ticket prices, and the hordes of people. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Good thing we have exactly that right here in Sonoma County. Armstrong Woods, Guerneville’s most popular attraction, has all of the majesty and awe of Muir Woods and other famous redwood parks, without any of the tourist traps, long lines, and expensive fees. Calm and powerful, this State Natural Reserve has both flat and easy walking trails as well as steep and intense hiking trails that will bring you deep into the woods above Guerneville. Armstrong Woods melds into the Austin Creek State Recreation Area, where you can camp at Bullfrog Pond and meditate to the sound of frogs and birds flitting about you. Whether you’re looking for inspiration among the towering redwoods or for sweat-inducing inclines, Armstrong Woods has it all.

— To the coast! This is a hike for those who want views. The Red Hill hike at the Sonoma Coast, on a clear day, is pure magic. The trail head begins directly across from the Shell Beach Parking Lot and takes you straight up for quite some time before flattening out. Almost immediately, you realize how spectacular this section of coastline is, and this hike will just keep giving you more and more of that. You wind through forests and meadows, up and down hills, past viewpoints of Jenner and the spot where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean, and you come to the peak of the hike: Red Hill. If it is clear, the ocean will expand before you like a velvet carpet, smooth and soft to the touch. You will see down the coastline to the north and south, in awe of all the life it contains. For the rest of the hike after Red Hill, you will be in sight of the ocean the entire time, listening to its sweet waves crash mildly against the weathered rocks. 

Of course, after all this walking and hiking, you’ll simply have to come back into downtown Healdsburg for a glass of wine and a delicious meal. And Healdsburg will always be there for that, welcoming you with open arms, some great Pinot Noir, and a handcrafted and locally inspired dinner. Perhaps there is panic out there, and perhaps things are not quite as normal as you’d like them, but natural beauty, the bounty it provides, and the community it fosters will never disappear.