It’s hiking season in Sonoma County

As the days grow longer, the weather warms and the rains that never came, never come - before you know it, hiking season is upon us again.

Just in time to kick the dried mud off your boots and fill up the CamelBak, here’s a look at three new, barely-beaten trails in Sonoma County - one that opens this weekend, one that opened last month and another slotted for late spring.

East Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail

At just over a mile, it’s hardly enough to burn much in the way of calories. But when you consider it’s the culmination of two decades of wrangling, negotiating, lawsuits and private property easements, this weekend’s grand opening of the East Slope trail on Sonoma Mountain is a major victory.

Not to mention the access to epic vistas: “Probably the most amazing thing is the views,” says Sheri Emerson, stewardship manager for Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. “You can see San Pablo Bay, toward Mount St. Helena, the Geysers. It’s phenomenal.”

The trail-opening ceremony kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Jack London State Historic Park (2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen). At noon, a 13-mile hike to the new East Slope trail begins, crossing two private properties and winding through Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District-owned property. More info: www.jacklondonpark.com.

North Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail

Opening in February, this 4.25-mile trail winds along switchbacks up nearly 2,000 feet to stunning views of the Sonoma Valley and the Santa Rosa Plain.

Part of the 820-acre North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, it’s the final puzzle piece in a 12-year master plan involving nearly $20 million in land acquisition.

Look for plenty of picnic tables along the way, a wheel-chair accessible vista and a restroom at the trailhead at Jacobs Ranch (5297 Sonoma Mountain Road, Santa Rosa).

Info: parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Taylor Mountain - Petaluma Hill Entrance

The first phase of trails on this towering Santa Rosa mountain opened in February 2013. Then a popular disc golf course was added. And now a new set of trails, originating along Petaluma Hill Road, is projected to open in late spring or early summer. For updates, check back at parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

More new trails

Also, a new trail at Sonoma Valley Regional Park, featuring plenty of oak woodlands, grasslands and a pond, is expected to open later this spring, said Sonoma County Regional Parks spokesperson Meda Freeman. Last year, former vineyard manager Paul Curreri sold the 29-acre parcel for $1.1 million to the Sonoma Land Trust.

And a widely anticipated leg of the Central Sonoma Valley Trail, near Flowery Elementary School, which was expected to open this summer, has been pushed back at least several months to approve and build a bridge from Larson Park to the school.

For those who would like to support new trail development in Sonoma County, get involved in the Underfoot fund-raising race series, which continues April 11 with a 5K run at Annadel Park and May 30 with a 5K run at Riverfront Park. Info: www.underfootruns.org.

Bay Area freelancer John Beck writes about entertainment for The Press Democrat. You can reach him at 280-8014 or john@beckmediaproductions.com.