Location: County: Sonoma. Nearest City: Kenwood.
Campsites, facilities: There are 50 sites for tents
or RVs up to 27 feet long. Picnic tables, fire grills, piped
water, and flush toilets are provided. Leashed pets are permitted,
except on the trails.
Reservations, fees: Reserve by phoning 1-800-444-PARK/7275
($7.50 reservation fee); $12-$16 per night, $1 pet fee. First
come-First served mid-October through mid-March. Reservations
are available for mid-March through mid-October.
Contact: Phone the park at 1-707-833-5712.
Sugarloaf Ridge SP
2605 Adobe Canyon Road
Kenwood CA 95452
Operating hours, seasons: Park hours vary, call for
information, open all year round.
Directions: From Santa Rosa on U.S. 101, turn east
on Highway 12 and drive seven miles to Adobe Canyon Road. Turn
north and drive three miles to the park entrance.
Weather, clothing: The weather can be changeable; layered
clothing is recommended.
Trip notes: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is where the
headwaters of the Sonoma Creek run through gorge and canyon,
then across the meadow floor beneath scenic rock outcroppings.
With 2,700 acres, the park has 25 miles of trails for hiking
and horseback riding. There is also a self-guided nature trail
along Sonoma Creek that starts near the campground. Deer, raccoons
and gray foxes can be seen in the park. From the 2,729-foot summit
of Bald Mountain, on a clear da visitors can see views of the
Sierra Nevada and the Golden Gate. A horseback riding concession
operates year-round. The park also houses one of the largest
public telescopes, a 40" telescope at the Ferguson Observatory
that can be rented, along with the group campground for private
parties. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is a perfect example of a
place that you can't make a final judgment about from your first
glance. Your first glance will lead you to believe that this
is just hot foothill country, with old ranch roads set in oak
woodlands for horseback riding and sweaty hiking or biking. A
little discovery here, however, is that the Canyon Trail (the
trailhead is located on the south side of the park access road)
will deliver you to a rock-studded, 25-foot waterfall, beautifully
set in a canyon, complete with a redwood canopy. It will launch
your perspective and your camping trip into a new dimension.
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
