The cool hiking season
Published: Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 14, 2011 at 10:37 p.m.
The resolutions have been made. It's time to get off the sofa and hike away those holiday pounds. Between storms, Sonoma County in winter gurgles with waterfalls, sparkles with winter light and glows with green moss and budding life.
If you need more motivation — and people to hike with — here are some local resources:
Landpaths offers an array of outings at all levels, including work days and permit orientations. Don't miss the Taylor Mountain Permit Orientation at 11 a.m. Jan. 22, providing access to the 1,100-acre regional park overlooking Santa Rosa, Petaluma and the Sonoma Valley. To register: landpaths.org.
Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club offers hikes around the North Coast and beyond nearly every weekend. redwood.sierraclub.org.
Dave & Bill is a hiking club that tromps through Sonoma County regional and state parks year-round, including Sugarloaf Ridge, Hood Mountain and Shiloh Ranch. sonic.net/~fmi/daveandbill.html.
North Bay Hikes is a volunteer group that organizes hikes and other outdoor expeditions in Sonoma, Marin Napa and Lake counties. northbayhikes.com.
Meet-up.com is a web-based network of like-minded activity groups, including hiking, walking, biking and skiing. meetup.com.
For hikers who prefer to pick their time, place and pace, there's an easy alternative to joining a club or signing for a scheduled trek. You can go your own way.
One low-stress choice for casual hikers is the 850-acre Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, 5750 Faught Road, Windsor, which offers more than three miles of trails through natural woodlands.
For walkers with limited time, who want a great view of the Sonoma Valley, the Sonoma Overlook Trail is a smart option. The gentle two-mile loop starts from the Sonoma Plaza downtown and leads upward.
Take it easy, or get a bit more ambitious. It's your choice at Riverfront Regional Park, 7821 Eastside Road, Healdsburg, which offers both a two-mile multi-use trail around Lake Benoist and a half-mile-long trail over Redwood Hill.
Whether you go out walking on your own, or join fellow hikers, you're likely to find that fresh air, a change of scenery and some honest exercise will perk up your outlook.
After a good hike, it might even be easier to head back to work on Monday morning.
— Diane Peterson, Dan Taylor
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