5 Best kid friendly hikes in Sonoma County
If you’re looking for a great hike to break up time between wineries or other activities, we have got you covered! There is a huge variety of types of trails in Sonoma County, including a good selection of kid-friendly hikes. Here is a short list of my 5 favorite kid friendly hikes in Sonoma County. Some of the things I look for when choosing a hike with kids are:
- Minimal hazards like cliffs or poison oak to get into
- Mostly flat with a little bit of terrain, but not too much so the kids get worn out and no one has fun
- Under 3 miles total
My kids are 6 and under, so these criteria work for me but can be adjusted according to your preferences.
Planning your hikes
To search for hikes with your own criteria, check out some of my favorite sites:
Sonoma County Regional Parks: you can select by region and check boxes of things that you would like in your hike, such as playgrounds, fishing, etc.
All Trails: All Trails is a website and free App that allows you to search for kid friendly hikes, as well as by feature. For example, if the hike has waterfalls, redwoods, etc. you can filter those preferences here! I would recommend downloading the app and any maps to the park you want to visit, as reception can be spotty in certain areas.
Budget travel tip: If you are visiting a California State Park such as Jack London State Historic Park, be sure to plan ahead and borrow a free pass from a Sonoma County Library!
With that said, here are some of my tried-and-true favorites:
Crane Creek Regional Park
This park is one of our favorites! It’s located on the East side of Rohnert Park/Cotati. This is a Regional Park, so if you don’t have a park pass, the fee is $7 to park. The trails are flat, and there are a few benches and picnic tables throughout the park.
The park is picturesque and surrounded by vineyards and is full of oak trees. In the late summer, open grazing is practiced to reduce fire risk.
What the heck is open grazing?? Local farmers will loan their cows to the parks to graze any long grasses in the area. The cows are usually females with babies, and they keep to themselves. Be sure to give them lots of space and keep cattle gates at the park entrances closed.
In late summer and fall, you can also pick wild blackberries along the creek which is always fun with the kids.
If you have older kids or are a kid at heart, you can also play disc golf here.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Located in Guerneville, this is the absolute best park for toddlers! As far as redwood forests go, this is my favorite in comparison to Muir Woods. If you love Muir Woods, you will love the lack of crowds here.
The entrance and first few miles of trails (1-2 miles) are totally flat, wide, and have gates on the border. Your toddler can run safely along the trails as you enjoy the redwoods.
After they re-opened following a fire, they now charge a small fee for parking ($9). There are lots of benches along this trail as well.
Foothill Regional Park
Located in Windsor, this park is a little hillier and you can do a longer hike here if needed. I would recommend downloading a map before you go if you want to have a quick hike back with small kids. This is also a Sonoma County Regional Park, so the $7 parking fee is assessed here as well.
Jack London State Historic Park
This park is a must see if you are a fan of Jack London! We all read “Call of the Wild” in Elementary school, right? Jack London also is the author of many other books including “Valley of the Moon” which is a reference to this beautiful area that was his home. Be sure to stop by the museum on site to learn more about him and pick up a book.
Jack London State Historic Park is located in Kenwood/Glen Ellen and is steeped in history. In addition to the historical buildings and museum you can visit, this park is stunning and is one of my favorites. Here you will see vineyards, redwoods, a Eucalyptus grove planted by Jack London and Luther Burbank, and there is a great picnic area.
If you feel ambitious, this park connects to Sonoma Mountain and the trails within that park.
Jack London is located next to Benzinger winery, which has wine caves and a stunning tasting room. Bring a designated driver and make a day out of it!
Riverfront Regional Park
Another great place to see redwoods and enjoy a flat trail is Riverfront Regional Park. Next to the parking lot and entrance is a redwood grove and picnic area that is worth visiting.
This trail is a loop that goes around a lake, so fishing is also an option here. This is also a Sonoma County Regional Park, so bring $7 for parking.
If you want to check out a winery or restaurant afterwards, you will be in the Russian River region which has some amazing options!
These are just a few of my favorite hikes for kids around Sonoma County! Be sure to check them out. If you would like other ideas for things to do, check out the blog about 10 things to do with kids in Sonoma County.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best age to start hiking with kids?
There is a huge variation in this answer from family to family, so do what works best for you! Personally, I loved hiking with my kids in a carrier beginning at just a few months old.
The toddler years are a little different, as life overall gets adjusted to their pace. Hiking is no exception! The hikes in this list are toddler approved, and trails that we have hiked with our kids since they were between 1-4 years old.
Adjusting expectations is key, bringing lots of snacks, and making it fun is what works for us.
Is Sonoma Kid Friendly?
The short answer is absolutely, yes! I spent most of my childhood in Sonoma County and am raising my kids here as well.
Wrapping up
Although Sonoma County is known for wine, it has a ton of activities for anyone to enjoy. Trying one of these kid friendly hikes in Sonoma County is a great way to explore a little more of what the area has to offer.
If you need a few ideas, check out this post about other kid friendly activities in Sonoma County: Top 10 things to do with kids in Sonoma County.
If you need help planning an itinerary around any of these hikes, we can help with that too. Happy trails!
