Get outside with these Sonoma County events

HOOD MOUNTAIN HIKE, MARCH 24

Santa Rosa: Join Bill and Dave Hikes for a moderately strenuous 6.5-mile hike in the extreme northern part of Hood Mountain Regional Park and the McCormick extension of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Meet at the Los Alamos Road parking lot at 9:45 a.m. Parking $7. Visit SonomaCountyParks.org for details.

FIELD TRIP, MARCH 31

Santa Rosa: Tour the vernal pools that are blooming with seasonal plants during a botanical field trip 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Laguna de Santa Rosa, 900 Sanford Road. The tour starts with hot drinks and snacks at Heron Hall. Pre-registration required at lagunafoundation.org. Sliding $25-$50 scale fee. Call 707-527-9277 for information.

FIRE ECOLOGY HIKE, MARCH 31

Windsor: Take a moderate-level, 4-mile guided hike and see the recovery of natural vegetation after the Tubbs Fire burned Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, 5750 Faught Road. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Free, advance registration requested at https://sonomacountyparks.ticketleap.com/shilh-ranch-wildfire-ecology-hike/ Parking $7 Visit SonomaCountyParks.org for details on this and other fire ecology hikes in recovering burn areas.

LUNADA, MARCH 31

Santa Rosa: Celebrate March’s Blue Moon with a twilight walk, campfire with s’mores, songs and stories 7-9 p.m. at Spring Lake Regional Park’s group campground, Newanga entrance, 393 Violetti Road. This is a wheelchair accessible, bilingual event. Parking $7, free to Regional Parks members, Call 707-565-2041 or visit SonomaCountyParks.org for information.

ANNADEL HALF MARATHON, APRIL 7

Santa Rosa: Register now for the Annadel Half Marathon or the family friendly 5K run 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on April 7 at Spring Lake Regional Park, 5585 Newanga Ave. The half marathon is a hilly, technical run for experiences trail runners. It starts near the Spring Lake Oak Knolls picnic area and climbs over 1,700 feet in rocky terrain. Early registration is $75 and goes up to $85 after April 1. The 5K is an out-and-back run on a gravel fire road and starts at Oak Knolls and goes slightly into Trionne-Annadel State Park. Early registration is $40 and $45 after April 1. Register at www.annadelhalf.com/registration.html. Funds help build new trails at Taylor Mountain Regional Park. Parking $7, free for regional parks members. Visit SonomaCountyParks.org for details.

SONOMA RIDGE HIKE, APRIL 7

Glen Ellen: Naturalist John Lynch leads a 12-mile, moderate-pace hike for ages 15 and up along the Eliot Loop of the Sonoma Ridge Trail , 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Jack London State Park, 2400 London Ranch Road. Meet in the parking lot, limit of 20 hikers. $15 per person plus parking. Bring water, lunch and binoculars. Rain cancels the hike. Register at jacklondonpark.com/east-slope-nature-hike.html. Call 707-938-5216 for information.

BICYCLE WORKSHOP, APRIL 7

Petaluma: The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition holds a family bicycle workshop 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the McNear Elementary School, 605 Sunnyslope Ave. A skills and safety instruction session is followed by a supervised family bike ride. For kids ages 7 and up and adults. A functional bike and helmet are required. Visit bikesonoma.org or call 707-545-0153 for information.

SCIENCE SATURDAY, APRIL 7

Santa Rosa: Learn how to write a secret message, practice your secret spy skills and learn how to make disappearing ink out of household items on Science Saturday beginning at 1,2 and 3 p.m. at the Environmental Discovery Center, Spring Lake Regional Park, 393 Violetti Road. Free for all ages. Parking $7. Call 707-539-2865 or visit SonomaCountyParks.org for information.

WILDFLOWER WALK, APRIL 8

Santa Rosa: Take a five-mile Spring wildflower walk led by Shelly Spriggs up the north slope of Sonoma Mountain at North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, 5297 Sonoma Mountain Road 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring a hat, water, sunscreen and lunch. Parking $7. Register at SonomaCountyParks.org. 707-565-2041.

SPRING BIRDING, APRIL 8

Jenner: Join avian expert “Duck” Dave Barry on a free, strenuous birding hike for experienced hikers in the Jenner Headlands 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet at the new parking lot at the Jenner Headlands two miles north of Jenner on Highway 1. Dress warmly, heavy rain may cancel. Visit LandPaths.org for details.

WILDFLOWER WALK, APRIL 13 and 15

Santa Rosa: Guided, slow-pace, one-mile walk through the meadows of Pepperwood Preserve, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Road, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Friday and Sunday. Enjoy a picnic after the hike. Donations accepted. Meet at the lower parking lot.Visit pepperwoodpreserve.org. 707-591-9310.

FAMILY OVERNIGHT, APRIL 14-15

Santa Rosa: Explore Pepperwood Preserve during an overnight stay 2 p.m. Saturday-12 p.m. Sunday, 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Road. Potluck dinner and campfire program Saturday night, then sleep under the stars or at the Bechtel House. The overnight includes a moderate, slow pace 1- 3-mile hike. Meet at the Bechtel House. $25 per person, $20 for members, children under 1 free. 707 591-9310.

WILDFIRE ECOLOGY HIKE, APRIL 14

Santa Rosa: Find out how Hood Mountain Regional Park is recovering from the Nuns fire in October during a free, seven-mile, round trip strenuous trek into the southern section of the park, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet in the upper parking lot at 1450 Pythian Road in the park’s southern entrance. Parking $7, carpooling recommended. Bring a hat and sunscreen. Advance registration required at sonomacountyparks.ticketleap.com/hood-mountain-wildfire-ecology-hikes/.

James Lanaras