Featured hike
Mile:
0.0: Begin at the parking lot, and start on a paved trail near the portable toilets.
0.1: Bear right as a service road continues straight toward water tanks.
0.1: Valley of the Moon Trail veers right. Bear left onto a dirt path, Woodland Star Trail.
0.15: Signed junction. Turn right, continuing on Woodland Star Trail.
0.35: Confusing part of the park, as unofficial paths head off to the left into Lake Suttonfield. Stay to the right.
0.5: Signed junction with Milkmaid Trail. Stay to the left on Woodland Star Trail.
0.8: Signed junction with Buttercup Trail. Stay to the left on Woodland Star Trail.
1.2: Woodland Star Trail ends at a signed junction with Valley of the Moon Trail. Turn right.
1.65: Glen Ellen Trail begins on the left from a signed junction. Turn left.
1.7: Black Canyon Creek Trail begins on the right. This junction was unsigned on my last visit, but obvious. (If you miss this junction you'll soon reach the edge of the park and a paved path leading to a neighborhood.) Turn right onto Black Canyon Creek Trail.
1.9: Black Canyon Creek Trail heads back downhill to the right, from a signed junction. Stay to the straight/left, now on Cougar Trail.
2.3: Trail splits near Damselfly Pond (either leg is fine).
2.35: Paths rejoin.
2.6: Cougar Trail ends at the side of the park road. Turn right and walk along the road to the parking lot. 2.7: Back at the parking lot.
Getting there:
From US 101 in Marin County, exit CA 37. Drive east about 7 miles, then turn north onto CA 121. Drive northeast about 7.3 miles, then turn north onto CA 12. Drive about 3.6 miles north to downtown Sonoma (where CA 12 takes a sharp left at a stop sign), then continue on CA 12 about 6.5 miles to the signed park entrance on the left side of the road.
GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude
Longitude
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/sonoma.html
© 2021 Jane Huber/Bay Area Hiker