Headwaters to Headwaters Hike

Join Sonoma Ecology Center and Team Sugarloaf on this fundraiser for our beloved Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

This event will be a grand tour of the Mayacamas Mountains in the northern half of Sonoma Valley, where we will pass close to the headwaters of Santa Rosa and Sonoma Creeks. The Perry family has generously given permission to hike through their property, allowing our adventure to go the back way along the Napa/Sonoma County line. Sonoma County Regional Parks has also kindly allowed us to use the Los Alamos parking lot as a drop-off point.

The route will take participants through some of the wildest and most beautiful sections of Sonoma County filled with massive trees and lovely wildflowers. The terrain also holds history of the McCormick and Hurd families. Please bring a lunch, water, sun protection, electrolytes, and be prepared to walk over the steep and sometimes rough terrain, with a stream crossing of minimal depth. Dress appropriately for the weather and the ticks. At the end of the 11-mile hike, join your fellow adventurers for a delicious tri-tip BBQ meal at the Sugarloaf day-use picnic area. Beer and wine are included.

This adventure has two routes:

1. Original Route  – from Los Alamos parking lot in Hood Mountain Regional Park to Sugarloaf’s day use picnic area via the McCormick Addition and Bald Mountain. 11 miles; 3,200 ft. of elevation gain.
2. Epic Option – Sugarloaf’s Goodspeed trail into Hood Mt. down to McCormick and joining the rest of the group. 17 miles; 5,600 ft. of elevation gain. This is a rigorous hike for advanced hikers (limited to 15 tickets).

Original route: Participants should arrive at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park no later than 8:45 a.m. Shuttle buses will leave at 9:00 a.m. to the Los Alamos parking lot of Hood Mountain Regional Park. From there, hikers will follow Santa Rosa Creek Trail down to Homestead Meadow and then cross into the McCormick addition of Sugarloaf. We will work our way up Quercus Trail, to the former location of the Grandmother Oak overlooking the former Spaulding Property, and have a brief stop at Red Hill. Continuing up Maple Glen Trail, with permission from landowner Jim Perry, our group will hike southeast along the county line and enjoy lunch at the top of ‘Hill 2530’ (named for its elevation). We will enter Sugarloaf and take a break at the Red Barn where snacks and cold drinks will be provided by Team Sugarloaf. The group will then proceed up to Bald Mountain and finally work its way back down to the day-use area at Sugarloaf for a barbecue dinner. The route covers approximately 11 miles with an elevation gain of about 3,200 ft. We expect to arrive at the barbecue at about 3:30 p.m.

Epic Option: Meet at Sugarloaf’s Visitor Center at 6:15 a.m. for a 6:30 a.m. departure.  Hike down Pony Gate Trail and up Goodspeed Trail to meet up with the group hiking from Los Alamos at Santa Rosa Creek at about 10 a.m.

Ticket price: $80 each. Tickets include transportation, snacks, drinks, and BBQ.
Underwriting options: Help us defray the event’s costs and make it an actual fundraiser!
Event Sponsor: $5000 (includes a ticket to the hike – tax-deductible)
Feast Funder: $500 (includes a ticket to the hike – tax-deductible)
School Bus Sponsor: $250 (includes a ticket to the hike – tax-deductible)

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For more events at Sugarloaf, visit our calendar.