Cycling Through Sonoma County

When it comes to cycling, Sonoma County, California, is one of the best destinations on the planet. Come peddle along the Pacific Ocean coastline, cruise through world-famous vineyards, coast past farm stands with just-picked produce, and stop at the quaint villages and exceptional eateries along the way.

Bike routes in Sonoma Wine Country offer something for everyone, from easy trails for beginning bikers and families with kids to routes so challenging that some of the top competitive cycling events are held right here.

Here’s an overview of how you can explore and enjoy Sonoma County by bicycle.

Rent a Bike or Bring Your Own

If you don’t want to pack your own bike, there are plenty of places to rent one in Sonoma County. BikePartners.net has all kinds of cycles, including folding bikes you can pop in your trunk to take to any trailhead.

For other options, search our listing of bike rentals in Sonoma County.

Guided Bike Tours in Sonoma County

If you like the idea of riding with a touring company, you’re in luck! Sonoma County is home to lots of fun, guided bike tours. Leave the planning to the professionals when you book a memorable experience with these partners:

• Ace It Bike Tours
• Adventures in Cycling
• Getaway Adventures 
• Sonoma Valley Bike Tours
• BikePartners.net

Search the listing of all bike touring companies in Sonoma County.

Annual Biking Events in Sonoma Wine Country

Sonoma County is home to dozens of biking events each year, appealing to everyone from casual cyclists to international competitors. Typically, these popular events conclude with a party at the finish line, featuring music, food, wine, craft beer, and more. Most events also donate proceeds to local charities. Here are a few of the yearly cycling events in Sonoma County:

• Levi’s GrandFondo (Spring): Numerous routes range in length and difficulty from the 8.8-mile family route to the steep 114-miler
• Giro Bello (Summer): Four beautiful cycling routes through the wine country and redwoods, all start and finish in Sebastopol with a fun event featuring live bands, food, and beer. Limited to the first 1,000 riders.

For dates and more, see the Sonoma County events calendar.

Sonoma County Bike Routes

Bicycling in Sonoma County offers plenty for everyone, and to help you embark on your adventure, we offer this handy breakdown of the types of trails you can explore, including: Family/Easy, Intermediate/Casual, Winery Bike Routes, and Gonzo Cycling.

Biking for Families / Taking it Easy

Many of Sonoma County’s cities and towns have bike-friendly routes, paths, and parks. Here are a few favorites:

Santa Rosa offers an extensive system of popular bike trails. The 2.14-mile Santa Rosa Creek Trail connects to the 0.5-mile Prince Memorial Greenway, and these paved trails meander along the creek through a tree-shaded corridor loaded with birds.

The town of Sonoma has walking/biking paths that run past vineyards, parks, historic buildings, and the lively town plaza.

The West County Regional Trail runs between the towns of Sebastopol and Forestville, with a few gentle climbs and beautiful farm and agricultural views.

Intermediate & Casual Touring

If you ride regularly, you’ll find many moderate trails ranging from 20 to 50 miles in Sonoma County. Here are two of our favorites:

A 26-mile ride through the historic Valley of the Moon (otherwise known as Sonoma Valley). Begin and end at the market in the tiny town of Glen Ellen. Follow backroads out of town, around Sonoma Mountain, then circle through the nearby village of Kenwood. There’s an optional out-and-back route up Adobe Canyon Road to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park (a seven-mile round-trip) with a different return route to Glen Ellen.

Another outstanding moderate loop is the scenic 30-mile Spring Hill-Chileno Valley route, which begins and ends in Petaluma. It wends along quiet back roads and through the bucolic dairy lands between Sonoma and Marin Counties.

Wine Touring Bike Routes

“Sip and cycle” rides are extremely popular in Sonoma County, where you can take in the scenery, get exercise, and stop at wineries to sample the region’s famous wine. You’ll also find scenic places to stop along the way to linger with a picnic of local artisan breads, olive oil, fruit, cheese, and chocolates.

One of the most famous wine country bike routes in the world is the 30-mile Dry Creek Valley & Alexander Valley loop, which starts and ends in Healdsburg. The scenery is breathtaking, the wineries are superb, and you’ll come away with memories to last a lifetime. Find details for this moderate bike route to Sonoma County wineries. (You can also bike a shorter portion of this route on scenic West Dry Creek Road.)

Another great winery bike route is on the Red Winery Road, between Healdsburg and Geyserville. It’s peaceful and flat with little traffic, as it winds past beautiful oak-covered hills and miles of vineyards in scenic Alexander Valley.

Gonzo Cycling

Sonoma County offers plenty of challenging bicycle routes, too. One of the most popular starts off in the small seaside village of Jenner and winds into the mountains for a 4,500-foot elevation gain. Find details for this expert bike ride in Sonoma Wine Country.

Another expert cycling route runs along the Russian River and Pacific Ocean on a 36-mile loop from Occidental, along Highway 116 and Highway 1, to Bodega Bay, and returns to Occidental. Highway 1 can get busy, so this ride is best done early in the morning before traffic picks up.

Accommodations in Sonoma County

Find the best place to stay with this helpful listing of all Sonoma County Hotels & Lodging, including vacation rentals and campgrounds.

Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez