Hood Mountain Trails: The Rugged Paradise
Sonoma County, California, offers spectacular hiking at Hood Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve, where 19 miles of nature trails wind across creeks, through forests, and up challenging peaks with stunning views along the way.
Here’s everything you need to know about hiking Hood Mountain in Santa Rosa, California.
Hiking Hood Mountain in the Mayacamas range is moderately strenuous, and the rugged terrain includes mostly graded trails with occasional rough patches. Wind through forests of mixed oak, Pacific Madrone, ferns, and a pygmy forest of trees only 10-15 feet tall at maturity. Keep an eye out for poison oak. Come equipped with hiking boots, layers of clothing, and plenty of water.
There are also recreational opportunities at Hood Mountain for mountain bikers, equestrians, and casual picnickers. Dogs on a 6-foot leash are allowed on trails.
One rewarding hike is about a six-mile trek to Gunsight Rock, a rocky outcrop near the summit of Hood Mountain. Start about two miles off Highway 12 on the Pythian Road trailhead, where you’ll pay a nominal parking fee.
Follow the signs to the Lower Johnson Ridge trail to walk a steep paved road and then solid dirt on your way to the summit. The route is heavily forested, so the trail is well shaded, but on a bright summer day, expect it to heat up.
After about 1.5 miles, you cross a bridge and arrive at a fork where you’ll turn left, moving uphill onto Pond Trail. In another .5 miles, you’ll reach the Upper Johnson Ridge Trail; turn right. A mile later, you’ll encounter a T-junction; turn right again.
The trail becomes steep. When you reach the Hood Mountain summit, sometimes thick manzanita and pine obscure the view, but don’t turn back — just another quarter-mile the view is magical at Gunsight Rock.
Ah, now that’s a view! Gaze out over the sights: Mount Tamalpais, San Francisco and its Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Oakland. Nearer, you’ll also spot Sonoma Mountain, Taylor Mountain, the city of Santa Rosa, and much more.
Take a well-earned lunch break, hydrate, and stretch out on this steep perch. Gunsight Rock is a majestic promontory consisting of two big rocks above Sonoma Valley. Here at the top, you may not see another soul, since this hike is a bit more than most casual hikers want to tackle. You may, however, spot a turkey vulture or two sunning on a nearby rock. Your route back is downhill!
Tip: Hood Mountain trails connect with adjacent Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, so experienced hikers can make a one-way trek by using the Sugar Shuttle, a van that runs between the two parks on select weekends, September to November. Park your vehicle at the end of your planned route and take the shuttle to the starting trailhead.
Find more Sonoma County Things to Do, Outdoor Activities, Hotels & Lodging, Campgrounds, and Restaurants in Sonoma Wine Country.
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.
Written by Sonoma Insider Suzie Rodriguez
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