Bay Area Hiker: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Featured hike
Mile:
0.0: Begin from the parking lot on Bald Mountain Trail.
0.1: Connector to Stern Trail on the left. Continue straight. 0.2: Junction with trail to Observatory. Turn left onto Bald Mountain Trail.
0.8: T-junction. Turn right, remaining on Bald Mountain Trail.
1.0: Vista Trail departs on the right, offering an early out for hikers who are discouraged by the grade. Continue uphill on Bald Mountain Trail.
1.7: Junction with Red Mountain Trail. Continue straight on Bald Mountain Trail
2.0: Junction and saddle. Turn right, remaining on Bald Mountain Trail.
2.4: Junction with High Ridge Trail. Turn right onto Gray Pine Trail. After just a few feet, Gray Pine veers left. Turn right and walk uphill a few more feet to the summit. When you're ready to start moving again, return to the Gray Pine Trail and begin to descend.
3.2: Red Mountain Trail ventures off to the right -- you could make an alternate return on Red Mountain, Headwaters, and Vista trails. For this hike, continue straight on Gray Pine Trail.
3.6: Junction with Brushy Peaks Trail. Turn right, remaining on Gray Pine Trail.
4.8: Vista Trail feeds in from the right. Continue to the left on Gray Pine Trail.
5.0: Gray Pine Trail ends. Turn right onto Meadow Trail.
5.7: Hillside Trail breaks off to the left, heading back over Sonoma Creek toward the park's campground. Continue straight, through or around a gate, where you'll emerge in a parking lot. Veer right, passing Ferguson Observatory, and pick up Lower Bald Mountain Trail.
5.8: Junction with Bald Mountain Trail. Turn left, and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.
6.2: Back at the parking lot.

Getting there:
From US 101 in Sonoma County exit #488b onto CA 12. Drive east on CA 12 toward Sonoma for 1.5 miles, then turn left on Farmer's Lane. After about 1 mile, turn right onto Fourth Street/CA 12, drive southeast about 8 miles, and turn left onto Adobe Canyon Road. Drive east 3 miles to the entrance kiosk, pay the fee, and then continue a short distance to the parking lot on the left.

GPS coordinates* for trailhead:
Latitude 38°26'16.79"N
Longitude
122°30'51.08"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/sugarloaf.html


© 2019 Jane Huber/Bay Area Hiker