Page 37 - Sonoma County Gazette July 2017

HIKE, Kids
Part 2 - Read Part 1 in our June issue and at www.SonomaCountyGazette.com.
Part 1 includes tips for hiking with small children - Helen Putnam Regional Park in Petaluma and Riverfront Regional Park in Headlsburg/Windsor
nal Parks is celebrating their 50th anniversary oin in the celebration by hiking with my kids ble this summer. Kid-friendly hiking trails
Foothill Regional Park, 1351 Arata Lane, Windsor
d there’s nothing worse than being in the th a kid who’s legs won’t move any further d to carry them all the way back to the car!
This is one of my favorite parks to hike, with or without my kids. There are three lovely ponds that you can walk around, several vista points with incredible views, and each trail is unique in its difficulty level. None of the loops are more than 3 miles long, although some are much steeper than others.
ed out several parks in Sonoma County that relatively easy trails that are well suited for
Back before kid #2 was born, my husband and I would jog some
of the trails, as they offer nice gradual elevation changes. There are always ducks in the ponds, which you can fish in as well, and we’ve had a lot of luck hunting for mushrooms here in the winter. This park used to be a gravel mine and is plentiful in Obsidian, so make a game
young children or beginning hikers.
of it and have your kids count how many shiny black stones they see (but please don’t take them home with you).
Steelhead Beach Regional Park,
9000 River Rd., Forestville
I have the advantage of being able to walk to this beautiful
beach from my home, so we’ve wandered the trails many
times. The forest is teeming with life and boasts wide paths
that are fully shaded by cottonwood, maple, black walnut
trees. The short 1 mile loop takes you south to Children’s
Beach, which is a great spot for swimming because the beach is large and the water more shallow than at the main beach. The loop consists of two trails, Willow Trail and Osprey Trail. Along the way you can spot lots of native plants like the Dutchman’s Pipevine, Trillium, Stinging Nettle, California fogwort and blackberries. There are several poisonous plants as well (like Hemlock, which is deadly), so don’t touch unless you know what it is! It’s a popular spot for bird watching, so it’s fun for the kids to bring a pair of binoculars along to see how many different kinds of birds they can identify.
Sonoma Valley Regional Park,
13630 Hwy 12, Glen Ellen
I left the toddler with grandma for this one, since it was forecast to be a 100˚ day. So my 11-year-old and I set off for a quick morning hike before the Sonoma Valley heat set in. We chose
a 2.5 mile loop that varied between flat, smooth
areas to steep climbs and beautiful vistas. The
paved “Valley of the Moon” trail meanders along
a seasonal creek through a valley of Oak forest. It’s
shady, serene, and stunning. Near the end of this
1.3 mile section, we headed up the “Woodland Star” trail, which has some steep inclines and that may be too difficult for young kids. My 11-year-old handled it like a champ, and we got a few laughs from all the lizards that kept scurrying between our legs. There are some lovely views up there, and a couple paths
Part 3 comes in August as we explore more protected land for our use.
that lead down to Sutton Lake, which is very secluded and tranquil. The park entrance has nice shaded picnic areas and a large dog park as well, so bring the dog along and enjoy a picnic lunch after your hike.
Trails for Tots
Join us for a morning of fun and learning at this bilingual, outdoor program designed for children ages 3-4 with an adult. This month at Larson Park, we will read stories, sing songs, go on a short walk, and create a nature-themed craft. Please wear appropriate attire for the weather and bring water and a snack. FREE. INFO: (707) 565-7888, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
• July 21 - Helen Putnam Regional Park, 411 Chileno Cly. Rd, Petaluma
• August 25 - Sunset Beach River Park, 11060 River Rd, Forestville
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