Popular Bike Itineraries: Cycling Through Wine Country

West County Regional Trail

Level: Easy

Built along the route of a former railway line, the trail is flat, paved, and exceedingly scenic (gorgeous vineyards, beautiful red barns, rising hills). Most of the trail is also car-free, and you can make interesting stops along the way. 

This 5.5-mile trail is suitable for everyone, including families with fledgling cyclists. 

The entire loop is 11 miles, but of course you can turn around at any point and return to your starting point. You can also shorten the route by starting in Graton rather than Sebastopol.

The trail officially starts near the intersection of Mill Station Road and Highway 116 in Sebastopol (you’ll find parking on Highway 116 and nearby streets—see the Trails Map). The trail is easy to follow and marked all the way.

Take a rest stop in the picturesque village of Graton, picking up a snack at Willow Wood Market Cafe, a popular general store/café, or browse galleries and check out the work of local artists.

As a definite treat for nature lovers, the Hallberg Butterfly Gardens is a nine-acre non-profit wildlife sanctuary on the southern edge of Graton that provides habitat for dozens of colorful butterfly species. The gardens are only open certain days from April-October, so be sure to make an appointment in advance.

Continuing on for a few miles, you’ll come to Forestville. Despite its small size, this tiny town has numerous eateries to tempt your appetite.

Only a few include the popular coffee shop hangout Tiny Town Cafe, and the delicious, imaginative cuisine at Twist Eatery. And you’re bound to love the incredible wood-fired bakery treats at Nightingale Breads.

When you’ve had your fill of gustatory delights, turn your bikes around and peddle slowly back the way you came.

For more information: West County Regional Trail.

Dry Creek Valley & Alexander Valley

Level: Easy or moderate

This 30-mile loop, starting in Healdsburg, is arguably one of the most famous wine country bike routes in the world.

The scenery alone — vineyard-covered valleys backdropped by rising hills and mountains, well-kept wooden barns and outbuildings, bright blue skies (much of the time, anyway) — is reason enough for this ride.

But add in the possibility of hopping off your bike now and again to sample award-winning wines, perhaps stretching your legs on a flower-bedecked winery patio while taking in killer views … experiences like that become shiny jewels of memory.

For the most part this ride is flat, though you’ll occasionally have to peddle uphill for short distances. If you’re a warrior bicyclist, you’ll eat up this loop without raising a sweat. If you usually don’t cycle more than a few miles, don’t worry. You’ll do fine. Just take it nice ‘n easy. 

The ride starts near Healdsburg’s historic plaza on Grove Street at City Hall (easy parking nearby). Start off going south on Grove and then take a right on Mill Street, which soon becomes Westside Road.

In a mile you’ll turn right onto West Dry Creek Road, where you’ll enjoy expansive views and great natural beauty.

One of the wine country sights you’ll enjoy as you peddle along: tall signposts directing you to nearby wineries. Each winery has its name on its own perpendicular slat attached to the post — and sometimes you’ll see posts with slats from tip to ground. When it’s time for a tasting break, head off and explore a winery of your choice.

After about ten miles, turn right onto Yoakim Bridge Road which crosses over Dry Creek. A few miles northwest, the creek has been dammed to create massive Lake Sonoma.

Turn right — briefly — onto Dry Creek Road; then left onto Canyon Road and a gradual uphill climb. From the top you’ll descend into Alexander Valley. Turn right onto Geyserville Avenue and into the small town of Geyserville, which hasn’t changed much since the late 1800s.

If you want to stop here, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. Delve into excellent Italian/California cuisine at Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria.

If you're in the mood for shopping, stop in at Bosworth & Son General Mercantile, or sample wines at one of the town’s tasting rooms — Ramazzotti Wines, Mercury Geyserville, and Locals Tasting Room (featuring more than 70 wines from 11 boutique wineries).

Head south out of Geyserville on Highway 128. When it turns north, head straight onto Alexander Valley Road, cross the Russian River and eventually turn right onto Lytton Station Road. Turn right a mile later onto Lytton Springs Road, and you’ll travel beneath Highway 101 and begin a small uphill climb. At the top, turn onto Chiquita Road.

Two miles later you’ll enter Healdsburg. Chiquita ends at Grove. Turn right and soon you’ll be back at your starting point.

For more information, the Santa Rosa Cycling Club offers turn-by-turn instructions for a similar route, with a link to a GPS map.

Jenner/King Ridge/Meyers Grade Loop

Level: Expert

At 55-miles and a 4,500’ elevation gain, this ride—which winds along the Pacific Ocean, through redwood forests, and beside the Russian River — is a dream for cyclists who are truly experienced, extremely fit, and aiming for a challenge.

You’ll start your ride in Jenner, a miniscule community that overlooks the ocean slightly north of the Russian River’s mouth.

Then you’ll head south and turn left onto Highway 116 (also called River Road), following the river past a one-time lumber town, Duncans Mills, until turning left onto Austin Creek Road. This is a lovely stretch, with few cars and thick growths of redwood trees.

About six miles along, turn right on Cazadero Highway, and cruise into another former lumber town, Cazadero, where you’ll find a café, general store, and bakery — good places to replenish water, snacks, and other necessities.

Continue along Cazadero Highway to a three-way junction, where you can take one of two routes:

1. King Ridge (the middle fork), which is very steep and tough; or,
2. Fort Ross Road (the left fork), is 19 miles shorter and somewhat easier than King Ridge (the two eventually reconnect at Meyers Grade). So instead of completing a tough 55-mile trek in total, you’ll end up doing a still-pretty-tough 36-mile ride. 

Whichever route you choose — King Ridge or Fort Ross Road (and both are awesomely beautiful) — you’ll eventually wind up at Meyers Grade. You’ll be very high above the ocean, with views that seem to go on and on to the end of the earth. This is a good time to pause and relax.

Back on your bike, get ready for an amazingly steep downhill ride to Highway 1 (depending on your capacity for exciting thrills, you either be ecstatic or jamming on the brakes).

Soon enough you’ll arrive at Jenner, owning bragging rights for a major ride, well ridden. Consider celebrating with an overnight in Jenner. You’ll spend your time soaking up ocean views from a room at the Jenner Inn and watch the sun set over a great meal at cliff-top restaurant River’s End.

The Santa Rosa Cycling Club provides a detailed description of a similar route (we changed the starting point to Jenner), along with a route map and turn-by-turn instructions. British bicyclist Kirby James' biking website offers photos and a wonderful ride description of this route. 

Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriquez.