HEADWATERS TO HEADWATERS 2025

A fundraiser for Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Mayacamas hiking adventure

Saturday, April 12

Join our annual fundraiser in support of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park—an unforgettable journey through the heart of Sonoma County’s most pristine and breathtaking landscapes. This event features a grand tour of the Mayacamas Mountains in the northern half of Sonoma Valley, followed by a delicious BBQ dinner.

Sonoma Ecology Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, is honored to manage the operations of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. We work to ensure the park remains accessible to the public, that its trails and infrastructure are well-maintained, and that educational programming is available for everyone to enjoy.

Become an event sponsor!

As a business sponsor, you’ll gain visibility with an engaged audience of nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts while directly supporting efforts to conserve Sonoma County’s lands, waters, and wildlife.

Route Details

Classic Route
Participants will arrive at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park by 8:45 am, with shuttle buses departing at 9:00 am for Hood Mountain Regional Park. The hike begins at the Los Alamos parking lot, taking the Santa Rosa Creek Trail to Homestead Meadow and entering Sugarloaf via the McCormick Addition. The route ascends Quercus Trail, passes the former site of the Grandmother Oak, and stops briefly at Red Hill before continuing up Maple Glen Trail. After lunch atop “Hill 2530,” hikers return to Sugarloaf via ascending Bald Mountain, concluding with a barbecue dinner in the day-use area around 3:30 pm. The journey spans roughly 11 miles and climbs 3,200 ft in elevation.

Epic Option (for advanced hikers only)
Meet at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park’s Visitor Center at 6:15 am for a 6:30 am departure via Pony Gate and Goodspeed Trails. Meet up with the group hiking from the Los Alamos parking lot at the Santa Rosa Creek crossing (in Hood Mountain Regional Park) at about 10:00 am, before entering Sugarloaf’s McCormick Addition. Pack a lunch for the stop at Hill 2530, at least half a gallon of water and electrolytes, sun protection, and additional socks. Be prepared to walk 11 or 17 miles (depending on the route you registered for) over steep and sometimes rough terrain, with a stream crossing of minimal depth. Dress appropriately for the weather and the ticks.

Ticket sales end on April 5 to give us an estimate of how many buses we will need for shuttling and how much food to prepare.

Your Impact

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is operated by Sonoma Ecology Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. While Sugarloaf is a California State Park, it does not receive operational funding from the State. It is our visitors, donors, volunteers, and members who make it possible for us to keep Sugarloaf Ridge State Park open for the community to enjoy.

Since 2012, Sonoma Ecology Center has worked to make the park accessible and welcoming to a broader audience through community-focused programs, such as The Senderos Program which engages the Spanish-speaking community, The Slow Journeys Program which offers accessible nature hikes and events on flat, smooth paths, and The ParkRx Program which provides over 1,000 participants annually free access to approximately 90 activities, including fitness hiking series, yoga hikes, Tai Chi classes, and forest therapy sessions, all prescribed by medical providers.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park has earned recognition as a role model in establishing impactful relationships with the local Native American tribe, the Mishewal-Wappo. This relationship is grounded in respect, patience, and courage.