Day Trip From San Francisco to the Russian River Valley

Dip your toes in cool river water surrounded by towering redwoods on this one-day adventure from San Francisco to the Russian River in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. This off-the-beaten-path itinerary through famous vineyards and quirky little towns leads to the scenic Russian River and the joy of splashing, swimming, and paddling just about 60 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Jump right into this fun excursion and soak up the good life in Sonoma County, California.

Morning

Head north from San Francisco to the town of Santa Rosa, and exit on Mark West Springs Road, which becomes River Road. On your way to the Russian River, the inviting tasting rooms of Fogline Vineyards and Martinelli Winery & Vineyards are signs that you’re in Sonoma Wine Country.

Another landmark is the iconic Farmhouse Inn, a boutique hotel offering romantic guest rooms, a spa with pampering treatments, and a Michelin-starred restaurant with acclaimed farm-to-table dinner cuisine.

As River Road winds west, you’ll get your first glimpses of the Russian River, where you’ll find Burke’s Canoe Trips, offering canoe and kayak rentals with shuttle service for a fun and memorable paddle.

You may head south to explore Forestville (pop. 3,293), where coffee shops roast their own beans, eateries serve down-home and gourmet fare, and the hardware store stocks a wide array of practical and giftable treasures. The appropriately named Tiny Town Café is the place for a cup of coffee, good food, and local conversation.

Relax by the river at Steelhead Beach Regional Park, which offers a beach area, picnic tables with barbecues, and a small launch area for drift boats, kayaks, and canoes (open October to May).

Another nearby option is the Forestville River Access, which locals call Mom’s Beach because it’s a great place to take the kids and anyone who wants to splash, swim, and have fun.

Don’t miss nearby Korbel Champagne Cellars, the gorgeous winery established in 1882. In addition to wine tasting and tours, this iconic champagne cellar features an excellent gourmet deli and extensive gardens that include 250 varieties of antique roses.

Continue on River Road through the tiny community of Rio Nido (pop. 522). Here you’ll find the family-friendly Rio Nido Roadhouse, with excellent food and drinks, outdoor music, and a fun swimming pool that makes this lively destination a worthy stop.

Seize your chance to stroll more than 750 acres of magnificent trees at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. You’ll find picnic spots, a visitor center, and self-guided nature paths beneath a soaring canopy of giants — some more than a thousand years old. Trails are relatively short, or you can link them together to make a five- to six-mile hike.

Afternoon

Explore the charming, rustic, and quirky town of Guerneville (pop. 4,634) with its eclectic mix of shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars.

• Guerneville 5 & 10 (founded in 1949) offers a fun selection of nostalgic candy and toys, collectibles, camp supplies, and novelty items.
• Sonoma Nesting Company specializes in antiques, art, curiosities, and collectables for home and garden.
• Glass Images features beautiful stained, leaded, and fused glass art, created in the onsite studio.
• For wine lovers, more than 50 wineries are within a 20-minute drive of Guerneville.

Guerneville also boasts a thriving culinary scene, which includes these favorite eateries:

• Piknik Town Market is a modern-day general store with a popular gourmet deli.
• Main Street Bistro is an uber cool place with thick-crust pizza, pot roast, and a piano bar.
• boon eat + drink serves farm-fresh small plates and seasonal main dishes full of Sonoma County flavor.

For more ideas, check Where to Eat: Guerneville Restaurants or the complete list of Sonoma County Restaurants. 

Within walking distance of downtown Guerneville is Johnson’s Beach, a wide beach for sunning, swimming, and floating from May to September. There’s a roped-off area for kids, and the summer dam provides deeper waters for more adventurous swimmers. Canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, inner tubes, umbrellas, beach chairs, and more are available for rent.

Along your route, you’ll also find Monte Rio (pop. 1,152), where a 1950s-style sign proclaims, ‘Welcome to Monte Rio Vacation Wonderland.’ Stretching along both sides of the river, this laid-back community includes two hotels built in 1906, a mural-decorated World War II-surplus hut that serves as the local movie theater, and the wonderfully sandy Monte Rio Community Beach.

From here, you could retrace your route back to San Francisco. Or, you can head south on the Bohemian Highway, a highly scenic, 10-mile stretch of two-lane roadway that winds through redwoods, pastures, and rocky ravines, attracting anyone who enjoys getting off the beaten path.

As you cruise the Bohemian Highway, stop to take in the small town of Occidental (pop. 1,115) with a two-block-long main street and plenty of charm. It’s home to art galleries, unique shops, and the Occidental Center for the Arts, a performing venue with superb acoustics and an exhibition art gallery.

To see redwood trees from a truly unique perspective, enjoy ziplining at Sonoma Zipline Adventures, where you get panoramic birds-eye-views on this forest course of thrilling ziplines and sky bridges.

Near the end of the Bohemian Highway, discover the tiny village of Freestone (pop. 32), which occupies about a half-mile stretch with a number of classic western-style buildings surrounded by pastoral vistas, rolling hills, and these favorites:

• Wild Flour Bread bakes sourdough loaves, scones, biscotti, and other treats in a wood-fired brick oven that inspires folks to make special trips just to pick up t.
• BlueGoat Art, Cheese, & Wine offers a beautiful and delicious array of handcrafted products and gifts to peruse and sample.
• Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary is ideal for a rejuvenating treatment that your body will thank you for, and is widely regarded as the only day spa in the United States to offer a Japanese-style cedar enzyme bath.

If you’re ready to call it a day, then head through the inviting town of Sebastopol and back to San Francisco. Or, relax and get cozy at Sonoma County Hotels & Lodging.

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Written by Sonoma Insider Patricia Lynn Henley