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Alex Alvarado

My explorations are driven by curiosity and guided by my love for the trees and mountains. I go outdoors to recharge my spirit, challenge myself, and have a ton of fun. I hope to see you on the trails!

I visited this park and this trail a couple of times when I lived in Yuba City. It is pretty far from any big town (or small one), but is worth the drive. Since it’s remote there are usually only a few people out on the trail and I generally didn’t see anyone while hiking. I get all those sweeping views and big blue sky to myself! Make sure to visit on a cool day/during cooler months as the trail is very exposed. There is very little shade or tree coverage for most of the hike. Also best to bring a map as the trails aren’t very well marked. This is more if you want to make a loop route and not just the out and back. A hike with great hills, great views, and great solitude.

My first trip to Sonoma Valley Regional Park occurred on a quiet, rainy Sunday. There were only a few other people out on the trails, which made for a great solitude walk before the start of a hectic week. I began the loop on Cougar Trail, opting to take the long route around. At the outset I saw a Red-tailed hawk hunting for its dinner about fifty feet away. Amazing! The trail was single track and well draining, with little to no mud even with the wet conditions. From Cougar trail I hooked up to Black Canyon and then to Valley of the Moon. All trails were well marked and I found orientation easy. The route cut back across the park on the Woodland Star trail, which wound up the hill and provided views of Sonoma Valley on both the north and south side. This last segment was my favorite part of the loop! The views and vegetation are delightful. In all the trip was 3.5 miles, great for an easy walk in the woods. I highly recommend.

I have now visited Crane Creek twice, once of the weekend and once on my commute home from work. Both were fun and very relaxing. The parking lot does get packed quickly, this is a popular spot! But, the walk and bird song are worth it. I went last night and watched the sunset from one of the many benches and listened to the meadowlarks sing out the day. The trails are well marked and all are appropriate for all skill levels. The trails are mostly exposed so make sure to wear a hat or some other form of shade cover. This is definitely a place I will visit again after work!

This route marks my first exploration of Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, a Sonoma County park located in the town of Windsor, about 5 miles north of Santa Rosa, CA. I pulled into the parking lot on a cool December morning and easily found a spot in the large gravel lot. There is also a smaller paved lot near a picnic area and restrooms. Remember to feed the kiosk at the park entrance, as a day fee is required. All of the trails within the park were excellently marked with easy-to-read posts at each trail junction. I love not needing to guess my way around a route! For today's hike, I traveled clockwise starting and ending at the Ridge Trail trailhead, which you'll find to the right of the restrooms. Creekside Trail begins about a quarter mile from the trailhead. The first 1/3 of the route is very shady with a lot of tree cover and sun/wind protection from the hillside. The trail winds through oak forests, small and large hills, and passes through portions of the park burned in the Tubbs Fire of 2017. On Canyon Trail, you'll experience more sun and open area exposure. Some of the trails were slick and muddy from recent rain, so bear this in mind if trekking after a storm. The loop gives plenty of opportunities for vistas and wildlife sightings: I saw squirrels, deer, and a lovely reddish-brown coyote. The altitude gain is closer to 1,000 feet (per my map download), so walk this loop with the knowledge that you're going to hike up. My verdict: I'd take this hike again and would love to come back for more at Shiloh Ranch.

A great place for a day hike. Plenty of trails to loop together to make a long trek in the redwoods. Hills and streams keep your feet and mind focused on the surroundings.

Fabulous and fun. It's a hike that can be done in as few as two days, but you should give yourself more. Beautiful views and a comfortable trail. Watch out for mosquitos in the summer!

A friend and I ended up doing this loop when we went to Big Basin for my birthday a couple of years ago. We had a planned a short hike, but felt inspired by the landscape to keep going. It was a fantastic hike that takes you past really big trees, up some crazy stairs, and gives a good workout. I suggest getting there early in the morning for the cool air, and to miss the larger crowds. The store is a great treat afterward, for sandwiches and wraps.

I walk, hike, run on this trail several times a week. I work just up the hill at the VA and love to come here after work for some exercise. I prefer to take this trail sometime Monday through Friday, as it gets really packed on the weekends. It is even fun on a rainy day! For more cardio you can hike down to Mile Rock Beach and then back up. Those stairs are tough.

I did this trip in 2015, but still think about how much fun I had. The terrain is difficult, great for conditioning, and pretty spectacular to look upon. It is surreal to think we can have this vast open space so close to the Bay Area. I highly recommend this trip! I did it in two days, but wish I'd stayed longer. I had fun walking uphill, saw a mountain lion, and enjoyed gazing at the stars.