Hike the Islands in the Sky

Hike Islands in the Sky at Sonoma Coast State Park

Hike Islands in the Sky at Sonoma Coast State Park

Redwoods and ridgelines and phenomenal views of the Pacific: Get to Duncans Mills and hike the Islands in the Sky Vista Loop, a 4-mile charmer in Sonoma Coast State Park.

You’ll start on a fire road alongside a cattle ranch. After a quarter mile take your first right onto the Islands in the Sky Vista Loop Trail and hike up and through the park’s redwoods, with ferns blanketing the forest floor. As you climb, take a right onto the Full Monty Trail towards the Fern Tree Viewpoint, where you emerge to, well, the full monty! Fields sweep across rolling hills dubbed “islands in the sky.”

The beautiful open plains offer wide-open views of the Pacific as you make your way over the ridge. Take the short detour to the Fern Tree Viewpoint to see a gigantic Douglas Fir pine named for the ferns that cover the lower branches like bromeliads in the Amazon. Back on Islands in the Sky Vista Loop Trail, it’s just a quarter mile down the trail deeper into the park.

Hike the Islands in the Sky in Russian River

Your next left will be to continue onto the fire road—still part of the Islands in the Sky Vista Loop—dropping you back into the redwood forest. Take the fire road the rest of the way.

To find the trailhead, head to Duncans Mills and cross the river on Moscow Rd. Take your first right onto Freezeout Rd. The trailhead is located on the left-hand side of the road, about 0.4 mile south of Moscow Rd. You can also use these coordinates in Google Maps (38.449365, -123.050466). No water or restrooms are available at the trailhead. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View