Creekside Trail to Canyon Trail to Ridge Trail Loop

Alex Alvarado

Creekside Trail to Canyon Trail to Ridge Trail Loop

12/14/22

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.

4.0