Shiloh Ranch Regional Park,
Sonoma County
Regional Parks,
Sonoma County
In brief:
3.7 mile loop
through oaks and grassland at a park on the edge of wine
country.
Getting there:
From US 101 in Windsor (Sonoma County),
exit Shiloh Road. Drive east on Shiloh about 1.3 miles, then turn right onto
Faught. Drive about 0.1 mile, and turn left into the parking
lot.
Trailhead details:
$4 entrance fee (self-register near the
entrance gate). Plenty of parking in one paved and one gravel lot, and a few
spots on the the side of the road across from the park entrance. There's a map
under glass at the trailhead, but none to take with you. There are two
designated handicapped parking spots, and wheelchair accessible toilets on site.
Trails are not well-suited to wheelchairs, but the picnic area is. Pay phone and
drinking water at trailhead. There is no direct public transportation to the
park, although Sonoma County Transit bus #66 stops at Old Redwood Highway and
Shiloh, about 1 mile from the park.
Gas, food, and
lodging:
Gas, stores, and restaurant back off of Shiloh near 101; more
choices a few miles south around Santa Rosa. No camping.
Distance,
category, and difficulty:
This 3.7 mile loop hike is easy,
with about 600 feet in elevation change. Park elevation ranges from about 275 to
715 feet. Although none of the trails are flat, the park is
small.
Rules:
Park is open from sunrise to sunset. All trails
are multi-use. Dogs are not permitted on the trails, but they are allowed in the
picnic area.
The Official Story:
Sonoma
County's Shiloh page
Park info: 707-433-1625
Map
Choices:
• Use AAA's Mendocino and Sonoma Coast map to get
there.
• Afoot and Afield: San Francisco Bay Area, by David Weintraub
(order this book from Amazon.com) has a great map and
descriptions of a Shiloh Ranch hike.
• North Bay Trails, by David
Weintraub (order this book from Amazon.com) has a decent map and trail
descriptions.
• View photos from this
hike.
When I visited Shiloh Ranch
Regional Park on the last day of summer, autumn was
impatiently waiting for its cue, like a 4th grade kid behind the curtain at a
school play. Black oaks and big leaf maples, their leaves tinged with vibrant
red and orange, were conspicuous throughout the park, both in dry grassland and
along the creeks. Conditions were perfect for a stroll; trails were cool and
breezy, yet bathed in autumn's warm glow. Indian summer is a great time of year
to explore Sonoma's little-known county parks. Although they are overshadowed
the large, sprawling wine country wilderness destinations (Sugarloaf, Mount St.
Helena, and Annadel), a handful
of small parks scattered on both sides of Highway 101 provide alternate
recreation opportunities. Many of the parks boast picnic areas, restrooms, and
easy access, making them ideal for families with small children, equestrians,
local runners, and folks employed along the Santa Rosa Highway 101 corridor.
Shiloh Ranch, although one of the larger parks,
offers only a few trails throughout 845 acres of grassland,
oak savannah, and mixed creekside woodland. The sparse yet effective
trail network allows for three loop possibilities (two short and one medium
length) through the different regions of the park. For a thorough tour of
Shiloh, make the full 3.7 mile circuit on Bigleaf, Ridge, Pond, and
Creekside Trails. Two shorter loops use Ridge Trail and either Creekside
and Pond or Bigleaf Trails. You can also hike out and back on Creekside Trail to
a picnic area near a small pond, a 2.4 mile roundtrip walk that makes a nice
lunchtime stroll. Since the seasons are so dramatically different at Shiloh, you
may want to design a hike based on the weather. Summer sun bakes the exposed
stretches of Ridge Trail, but Creekside is well-shaded. Winter rains swell
streams and (helped by horse traffic) create muddy conditions on narrow
Creekside, while wider Ridge Trail stays more dry. Autumn and spring are mild,
encouraging hikers to take the longest loop.
Start at the information board on the
edge
of the equestrian (gravel) parking lot.
Begin walking south on a broad nearly level path, parallel to Faught Road
(the trail is unsigned, but obvious). Coast live oak are dominant on the left
side of the trail, but on the right you might notice poison oak, coyote brush,
fennel, yellow star thistle, and even a few madrone and manzanita. At 0.13 mile,
the trail veers left and reaches an unsigned junction. Bear right onto
Bigleaf Trail.
Multi-use Bigleaf Trail
maintains an easy pace as it sweeps through grassland lined with coast live
oaks, but soon the grade picks up near the park boundary and a vineyard. Douglas
fir, madrone, California bay, manzanita, black oak, and coast live oak shade the
trail. A few bigleaf maples are incorporated into the mixed woodland, with
hazelnut and creambush thriving in the understory. As Bigleaf Trail continues to
climb at an easy pace, there are a 
few really large maples that will probably
stop you in your tracks when their leaves reach full orange glory in autumn. The
trail turns sharply right, ascends, then straightens out. The maples fade away,
replaced with a pretty woodland of blue, black, Oregon, and coast live oaks. At
0.68 mile, you'll reach the end of Bigleaf Trail at a signed junction and bench.
The trail to the right heads out of the park, so stay to the left on Ridge
Trail.
There are Sonoma Valley views to the
south and west as Ridge Trail climbs through oak woodland. The broad trail, open
to hikers, equestrians, and cyclists, may be well marked with deer prints; there
are lots of deer at Shiloh, and they seem to prefer this part of the park. Just
past a closed trail at 0.74 mile, chamise and monkeyflower suggest a transition
to chaparral, but instead Ridge Trail settles on an 
eclectic blend of Douglas fir, madrone, hazelnut, California bay,
oaks (Oregon, coast live, and black), manzanita, toyon, coyote brush, buckeye,
and ceanothus. A power line, also headed uphill, follows a discrete distance
from the trail. Muted traffic noise from the highway and nearby ranches is
omnipresent. The trail veers left, skirting a hill, and the grade stiffens.
Sparse tree cover on the left permits views back down to Bigleaf Trail, and
further west toward Windsor. At 1.17 miles, you'll reach a (barely) signed
junction. Turn left and walk on an arm of the ridge to the end of the path
and a bench at 1.23 miles. If it's not too hot, this is a nice spot for a
lunch break. There are long unobstructed views west, north, and even east to
Mount St. Helena. When you're ready, retrace your steps back to the previous
junction, at 1.29 miles, and turn left, continuing on Ridge
Trail.
Manzanita, madrone, coast live oak,
buckeye, Douglas fir, bigleaf maple, and poison oak comprise the
trailside vegetation as the broad path descends a bit. Ridge Trail curves left
and heads back uphill, at a moderate pace. Rocky stretches may remind seasoned
Sonoma County hikers of similar sections of Annadel Park. It's easy to see why
rockcutters chose to quarry near here. At 1.62 miles, Ridge Trail crests and
reaches a signed junction. Turn right on Pond Trail (if you want to
shorten your hike, continue downhill to the trailhead on Ridge
Trail).
Multi-use Pond Trail begins a descent,
under a canopy of bigleaf maples, Douglas fir, and coast live oak. This cool
shade fosters creambush, hazelnut, snowberry, and monkeyflower. Look to the left
for a glimpse of Mount St. Helena where there are breaks in the tree cover.
Broad Pond Trail steps out of the woods into one of park's prettiest sections, a
rolling oak Savannah This area must be stunning in spring, 
but it's hard to top the autumn black oak
foliage displays. Traffic noise fades, replaced by the twitter of bluejays and
shrieks from airborne hawks. A well-worn path breaks off to the right at 1.95
miles; continue straight on Pond Trail. After a short somewhat steep
downhill, a grassy valley comes into view to the left. At 2.11 miles, you'll
reach an undersigned and easy-to-miss junction (the only sign is a generic
"trail" marker down the path to the left). Turn
left.
The narrow multi-use trail leaves the
trees behind as it descends through grassland. Sweeping left, the trail draws
near a damp area lined with willows, which screen from view a small pond. At
2.32, a path departs to the right at an undersigned junction. Turn right if you
want to spend some time near the pond (there are a few picnic tables), otherwise
continue straight.
Tiny Creekside
Trail,
open to hikers, equestrians, and cyclists, follows along a
seasonal stream, and soon seeks shelter under cover of black oak, madrone,
Douglas fir, bigleaf maple, and coast live oak. As the trail easily descends,
you might notice more moisture-loving plants, such as creambush and hazelnut.
California bays perfume the air with a spicy scent, and gnarled buckeyes grace
the hillsides. Look for a one-seat bench carved out of a tree stump on the left.
The trail dips down to cross the creekbed, then climbs a few feet, but for the
most part the trail profile remains one of a steady descent. At 3.49 miles,
Creekside Trail ascends a few steps and reaches another undersigned junction.
Turn right.
The wide multi-use trail
(hard to tell if it's a continuation of Creekside or Ridge Trail on the park
map) descends steadily under heavy tree canopy. Ignore a trail curving right
at 3.54 miles, and continue to the left. The trail keeps a mostly level
course along the park boundary, drops down to a creek crossing, then reaches an
unsigned junction at 3.66 miles. Bear right, walk through the edge of a
picnic area, and you'll reach the end of the trail and the parking
lot.
Total distance: 3.71 miles
Last hiked:
Friday, September 21, 2001
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
Regional Park on the last day of summer, autumn was
impatiently waiting for its cue, like a 4th grade kid behind the curtain at a
school play. Black oaks and big leaf maples, their leaves tinged with vibrant
red and orange, were conspicuous throughout the park, both in dry grassland and
along the creeks. Conditions were perfect for a stroll; trails were cool and
breezy, yet bathed in autumn's warm glow. Indian summer is a great time of year
to explore Sonoma's little-known county parks. Although they are overshadowed
the large, sprawling wine country wilderness destinations (Sugarloaf, Mount St.
Helena, and Annadel), a handful
of small parks scattered on both sides of Highway 101 provide alternate
recreation opportunities. Many of the parks boast picnic areas, restrooms, and
easy access, making them ideal for families with small children, equestrians,
local runners, and folks employed along the Santa Rosa Highway 101 corridor.
Shiloh Ranch, although one of the larger parks,
offers only a few trails throughout 845 acres of grassland,
oak savannah, and mixed creekside woodland. The sparse yet effective
trail network allows for three loop possibilities (two short and one medium
length) through the different regions of the park. For a thorough tour of
Shiloh, make the full 3.7 mile circuit on Bigleaf, Ridge, Pond, and
Creekside Trails. Two shorter loops use Ridge Trail and either Creekside
and Pond or Bigleaf Trails. You can also hike out and back on Creekside Trail to
a picnic area near a small pond, a 2.4 mile roundtrip walk that makes a nice
lunchtime stroll. Since the seasons are so dramatically different at Shiloh, you
may want to design a hike based on the weather. Summer sun bakes the exposed
stretches of Ridge Trail, but Creekside is well-shaded. Winter rains swell
streams and (helped by horse traffic) create muddy conditions on narrow
Creekside, while wider Ridge Trail stays more dry. Autumn and spring are mild,
encouraging hikers to take the longest loop.
of the equestrian (gravel) parking lot.
Begin walking south on a broad nearly level path, parallel to Faught Road
(the trail is unsigned, but obvious). Coast live oak are dominant on the left
side of the trail, but on the right you might notice poison oak, coyote brush,
fennel, yellow star thistle, and even a few madrone and manzanita. At 0.13 mile,
the trail veers left and reaches an unsigned junction. Bear right onto
Bigleaf Trail.
few really large maples that will probably
stop you in your tracks when their leaves reach full orange glory in autumn. The
trail turns sharply right, ascends, then straightens out. The maples fade away,
replaced with a pretty woodland of blue, black, Oregon, and coast live oaks. At
0.68 mile, you'll reach the end of Bigleaf Trail at a signed junction and bench.
The trail to the right heads out of the park, so stay to the left on Ridge
Trail.
eclectic blend of Douglas fir, madrone, hazelnut, California bay,
oaks (Oregon, coast live, and black), manzanita, toyon, coyote brush, buckeye,
and ceanothus. A power line, also headed uphill, follows a discrete distance
from the trail. Muted traffic noise from the highway and nearby ranches is
omnipresent. The trail veers left, skirting a hill, and the grade stiffens.
Sparse tree cover on the left permits views back down to Bigleaf Trail, and
further west toward Windsor. At 1.17 miles, you'll reach a (barely) signed
junction. Turn left and walk on an arm of the ridge to the end of the path
and a bench at 1.23 miles. If it's not too hot, this is a nice spot for a
lunch break. There are long unobstructed views west, north, and even east to
Mount St. Helena. When you're ready, retrace your steps back to the previous
junction, at 1.29 miles, and turn left, continuing on Ridge
Trail.
buckeye, Douglas fir, bigleaf maple, and poison oak comprise the
trailside vegetation as the broad path descends a bit. Ridge Trail curves left
and heads back uphill, at a moderate pace. Rocky stretches may remind seasoned
Sonoma County hikers of similar sections of Annadel Park. It's easy to see why
rockcutters chose to quarry near here. At 1.62 miles, Ridge Trail crests and
reaches a signed junction. Turn right on Pond Trail (if you want to
shorten your hike, continue downhill to the trailhead on Ridge
Trail).
but it's hard to top the autumn black oak
foliage displays. Traffic noise fades, replaced by the twitter of bluejays and
shrieks from airborne hawks. A well-worn path breaks off to the right at 1.95
miles; continue straight on Pond Trail. After a short somewhat steep
downhill, a grassy valley comes into view to the left. At 2.11 miles, you'll
reach an undersigned and easy-to-miss junction (the only sign is a generic
"trail" marker down the path to the left). Turn
left.
open to hikers, equestrians, and cyclists, follows along a
seasonal stream, and soon seeks shelter under cover of black oak, madrone,
Douglas fir, bigleaf maple, and coast live oak. As the trail easily descends,
you might notice more moisture-loving plants, such as creambush and hazelnut.
California bays perfume the air with a spicy scent, and gnarled buckeyes grace
the hillsides. Look for a one-seat bench carved out of a tree stump on the left.
The trail dips down to cross the creekbed, then climbs a few feet, but for the
most part the trail profile remains one of a steady descent. At 3.49 miles,
Creekside Trail ascends a few steps and reaches another undersigned junction.
Turn right.