Sugar Rush

Hike to a Waterfall at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is in the heart of wine country. This 4,000-acre open space straddles the Sonoma and Napa Valleys in the Mayacamas Mountains. And its trails are something special, with wildflowers, waterfalls, and nearby wineries!

Sonoma Creek’s seasonal waterfall is currently on full display, charging through a smattering of boulders. And it’s easy to reach! In 15 minutes you can be lounging in the shaded canyon next to the roaring waterworks and cooling your feet in the crystal stream.

For a longer hike in the park, offering the best view of Sonoma Valley, hike Bald Mountain via its most straightforward route—combining the Stern Trail and Bald Mountain Trail. Get an early start and follow the wide trail as it winds among Sugarloaf’s hills, becoming more exposed the higher you go.

California poppies are strewn along the path and across the hills. From the summit, you get a view of Sonoma Valley’s town of Kenwood and St. Helena in Napa Valley. Pro tip: This is an amazing sunset and full-moon hike (just bring a flashlight for the hike down).

BONUS WINE: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is close to many excellent wineries, so you can’t go wrong for your post-hike tastings. A few we like: Set high in the Mayacamas, lovely Hanzell Vineyards offers tastings by appointment only. The winery is best known for its multiple-award-winning chardonnays and pinots, but they’ve also got an outstanding farm tour with incredible wine-country views, where you’ll see some progressive winemaking philosophies in action, and meet some seriously cute animals, including pigs, sheep, and chickens. Imagery Estate Winery (named 2018 Golden State Winery of the Year) has a scenic outdoor picnic area and equally excellent wines (“rosé all day” types will love it here, but be sure to broaden your palate and give the Sangiovese a try).

BONUS FILM FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND: Just named a Top 10 Film Festival by USA Today, pair your waterfall with some wine and a screening good time at the Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) this weekend (Thursday, March 28 to Sunday, March 31).From shorts and documentaries to feature-length excellence, all of the movie venues are walking distance to Sonoma’s lively plaza. Hang out with the filmmakers, meet the stars, sip wine, eat great food, and—of course—get to those parties!

NOTE: Due to recent storms, be sure to check Sugarloaf's website to see conditions on trails and any closures. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is 11 miles north of Sonoma on Hwy. 12. To reach the waterfall, park at the turnout by the Pony Gate Trail, just before the main entrance to the park. Take the Canyon Trail down. Or, park at the main trailhead by the visitor center and follow the Canyon Trail down from its other end. To reach Bald Mountain from the visitor center, take the Stern Trail and Bald Mountain Trail. 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