Hello to all of you beautiful people,
Just moved to Sebastopol, having relocated from Alaska but I am originally from Vermont.
So far I love the area, the culture and the level of spirituality are positively enlightening! I was obviously called here for a reason. However I am having some difficulty getting used to the fact that you can't just hop out of you car anywhere to go for a walk in the woods. In fact, it's been difficult to even find a place to go for a walk or hike where I don't have to pay $6. Of course, I am very new to the area and have only done a small amount of exploring thus far, so who knows what I've yet to discover.
I also have two dogs and am now aware of the leash laws in Sonoma county. I am absolutely dying for a place to go for a long walk in the woods, where I can let my dogs off the leash and feel the peace and freedom of the forest.
Does such a place exist here?
Maybe someone reading this happens to have a lot of land, with or without trails, and would let us come and walk there in exchange for some help in the garden or some trail maintenance work or something? I am open to anything!
Namaste, a million thanks for reading this and for any advice you can give!
babaruss
12-05-2009, 10:21 PM
I'm not sure about the dogs, but Armstrong woods in Guerneville allows you to come in free if you park outside the entrance.
Going up hill towards the bull frog pond and then following the left down hill path from that road will get you plenty lost.
Baba
Hello to all of you beautiful people,
Just moved to Sebastopol, having relocated from Alaska but I am originally from Vermont.
So far I love the area, the culture and the level of spirituality are positively enlightening! I was obviously called here for a reason. However I am having some difficulty getting used to the fact that you can't just hop out of you car anywhere to go for a walk in the woods. In fact, it's been difficult to even find a place to go for a walk or hike where I don't have to pay $6. Of course, I am very new to the area and have only done a small amount of exploring thus far, so who knows what I've yet to discover.
I also have two dogs and am now aware of the leash laws in Sonoma county. I am absolutely dying for a place to go for a long walk in the woods, where I can let my dogs off the leash and feel the peace and freedom of the forest.
Does such a place exist here?
Maybe someone reading this happens to have a lot of land, with or without trails, and would let us come and walk there in exchange for some help in the garden or some trail maintenance work or something? I am open to anything!
Namaste, a million thanks for reading this and for any advice you can give!
Hot Compost
12-06-2009, 05:45 AM
Hello to all of you beautiful people,
Just moved to Sebastopol, having relocated from Alaska but I am originally from Vermont.
So far I love the area, the culture and the level of spirituality are positively enlightening! I was obviously called here for a reason. However I am having some difficulty getting used to the fact that you can't just hop out of you car anywhere to go for a walk in the woods. In fact, it's been difficult to even find a place to go for a walk or hike where I don't have to pay $6. Of course, I am very new to the area and have only done a small amount of exploring thus far, so who knows what I've yet to discover.
it sound like you may have discovered Ragle Park. you can park in the neighborhood across the street, i've done that several times. you're still walking on paved trails - unless you leave the trail.
if you can find Shone Farm, which is part of Santa Rosa Junior College but located near Forestville, it's bounded by some forests which seem to go on for quite a ways. the part of the forest where i walked didn't have much underbrush.
Ragle Park does not allow dogs off leash. Armstrong Woods, like all California State Parks, allows leashed dogs only in developed areas like picnic grounds and campgrounds. Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails. Best to know this beforehand as citations are issued at both parks for violations of their dog regulations.
chaimossclearlight
12-06-2009, 10:51 AM
I recently heard about some old logging roads in Occidental, possibly an Audubon, does that sound familiar to anyone?
thank you so very much for the replies!
Hello to all of you beautiful people,
Just moved to Sebastopol, having relocated from Alaska but I am originally from Vermont.
So far I love the area, the culture and the level of spirituality are positively enlightening! I was obviously called here for a reason. However I am having some difficulty getting used to the fact that you can't just hop out of you car anywhere to go for a walk in the woods. In fact, it's been difficult to even find a place to go for a walk or hike where I don't have to pay $6. Of course, I am very new to the area and have only done a small amount of exploring thus far, so who knows what I've yet to discover.
I also have two dogs and am now aware of the leash laws in Sonoma county. I am absolutely dying for a place to go for a long walk in the woods, where I can let my dogs off the leash and feel the peace and freedom of the forest.
Does such a place exist here?
Maybe someone reading this happens to have a lot of land, with or without trails, and would let us come and walk there in exchange for some help in the garden or some trail maintenance work or something? I am open to anything!
Namaste, a million thanks for reading this and for any advice you can give!
Imagery
12-06-2009, 08:02 PM
If you're willing to drive north an hour or two you might want to check out Mendocino Nat'l Forest: Mendocino National Forest - About Us (https://www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/aboutus/)
Your dogs will have to be on leash in developed recreation sites, but are allowed off-leash in Nat'l Forest wilderness areas.
Hotspring 44
12-06-2009, 08:29 PM
you might want to check out this area: Go West in Hwy 116 to Hwy 1 turn left South Hwy 1 go over the bridge then take the first road to the left. I am told that somewhere down that road there is a bike / walking trail (access road) with a gate that is public access. that goes to somewhere onto Freeze out canyon road or thereabouts. maybe someone here knows more than I do about the specifics.
I recently heard about some old logging roads in Occidental, possibly an Audubon, does that sound familiar to anyone?
thank you so very much for the replies!
babaruss
12-06-2009, 08:49 PM
That's the old logging road which runs way to hell and gone from freeze out road which indeed is an immediate left off the Duncan's mills bridge which is on Moscow Rd just before you get to Duncan's Mills.
The biggest draw back would be those areas which were recently logged and are mostly stumps. Fortunately the area is not all that way.
Can't recall where that road comes out...maybe somewhere in Monte Rio.
Hall road off Guerneville Rd. going towards Santa Rosa has some wet land areas that while they are not huge, provide a sense of isolation, free run for dogs (unless laws have recently been changed) and a chance to view many varieties of birds....from hawks, water birds, etc.
Baba
you might want to check out this area: Go West in Hwy 116 to Hwy 1 turn left South Hwy 1 go over the bridge then take the first road to the left. I am told that somewhere down that road there is a bike / walking trail (access road) with a gate that is public access. that goes to somewhere onto Freeze out canyon road or thereabouts. maybe someone here knows more than I do about the specifics.
Cheingrand
12-06-2009, 09:05 PM
you might want to check out this area: Go West in Hwy 116 to Hwy 1 turn left South Hwy 1 go over the bridge then take the first road to the left. I am told that somewhere down that road there is a bike / walking trail (access road) with a gate that is public access. that goes to somewhere onto Freeze out canyon road or thereabouts. maybe someone here knows more than I do about the specifics.
That road leads back into part of the lands of Sonoma Coast State Beach. It includes some of the Willow Creek property owned by California State Parks and, as in all lands administered by state parks, dogs are not allowed on any trails. Great place to hike without dogs, though.
Hotspring 44
12-06-2009, 09:08 PM
I think the trail access road is south off of Freezeout road. Maybe called Willow Creek road?
That's the old logging road which runs way to hell and gone from freeze out road which indeed is an immediate left off the Duncan's mills bridge which is on Moscow Rd just before you get to Duncan's Mills.
The biggest draw back would be those areas which were recently logged and are mostly stumps. Fortunately the area is not all that way.
Can't recall where that road comes out...maybe somewhere in Monte Rio.
Hall road off Guerneville Rd. going towards Santa Rosa has some wet land areas that while they are not huge, provide a sense of isolation, free run for dogs (unless laws have recently been changed) and a chance to view many varieties of birds....from hawks, water birds, etc.
Baba
sambacat
12-06-2009, 09:10 PM
You could volunteer to be a Sonoma Land Paths volunteer to monitor some amazingly beautiful areas that have been purchased by the land trust, but are not yet available to public access.
One area, Willow Creek, has extraordinary forests and rolling ridge top meadows. Carrington Ranch overlooks the coast just south of Coleman Valley Road and Highway One. Sadly, no dogs are allowed due to the abundance of wildlife, but if you want some stellar hikes for yourself, check it out:
https://www.landpaths.org/index.cfm/page/Volunteer-Patrol-Trail-Watch
Hotspring 44
12-06-2009, 09:12 PM
:): Thanks Cheingrand, you answered my Q before I posted it :thumbsup:.
That road leads back into part of the lands of Sonoma Coast State Beach. It includes some of the Willow Creek property owned by California State Parks and, as in all lands administered by state parks, dogs are not allowed on any trails. Great place to hike without dogs, though.
photolite
12-06-2009, 09:54 PM
I myself moved here about 10 years ago from an area of true wilderness and for all there is here to be thankful for, true wilderness isn't among the blessings. Sonoma County, as is most of Calif., is rather dog unfriendly. I'm familiar with all the places posted here and sadly none of them will approximate the wilderness experience you've become accustomed to. Go to the Sierra or the Trinity Alps to find what you're craving.
Hello to all of you beautiful people,
Just moved to Sebastopol, having relocated from Alaska but I am originally from Vermont.
So far I love the area, the culture and the level of spirituality are positively enlightening! I was obviously called here for a reason. However I am having some difficulty getting used to the fact that you can't just hop out of you car anywhere to go for a walk in the woods. In fact, it's been difficult to even find a place to go for a walk or hike where I don't have to pay $6. Of course, I am very new to the area and have only done a small amount of exploring thus far, so who knows what I've yet to discover.
I also have two dogs and am now aware of the leash laws in Sonoma county. I am absolutely dying for a place to go for a long walk in the woods, where I can let my dogs off the leash and feel the peace and freedom of the forest.
Does such a place exist here?
Maybe someone reading this happens to have a lot of land, with or without trails, and would let us come and walk there in exchange for some help in the garden or some trail maintenance work or something? I am open to anything!
Namaste, a million thanks for reading this and for any advice you can give!
Shazam
12-07-2009, 09:20 PM
As a fellow dog owner, I've been struggling with this issue for two decades. Try Lake Sonoma west of Healdsburg: You'll find that while some trails and campsites require leashes, there are some nice areas in open and wooded areas where dogs can run free. And I second the recommendation re. Mendo. National Forest. Marin County has dozens of dogs-run-free properties in watershed areas---mostly in western Marin. There's a nice little book available giving locations and trail information (I think "Marin Open Space" is in the title. Point Reyes National Seashore also has a (very) few locations where dogs can be off-leash, but pay attention to the alerts about certain bird breeding seasons---Kehoe Beach in the northwest is one of these. We've kind of given up on off-leash walking (except in dog parks) and accept that we have to use the leash; what ticks us off are the state-owned properties that don't allow dogs at all. There are a lot of human adults and children that are much more offensive park users than a leashed dog. Grrrrr.
Peace Voyager
12-08-2009, 09:32 AM
There is a nice 2 + mile trail from Pomo Campgrounds to Shell Beach. This campground felt like an enchanted forest to me; just watch out for poison oak on this trail.
The road to Pomo Campground is next to the Sizzling Tandoor in Jenner. This road does not hold up well when the storms get heavy and may be closed for winter; though I think the trail is still open year round from the Shell Beach side.
Shell Beach is great for careful tide pool observation.
Happy hiking,
Colleen
paulswetdog
12-08-2009, 12:45 PM
Sonoma County is pretty dog unfriendly. Marin is better. There are some water agency lands out near Nicasio that allow dogs off leash, but I have not gone out there. I have taken my old geezerpup up to the Mount Burdell Openspace, though, and they can run off leash on the fireroads up there. Check out the Marin Openspace website, they have several dog friendly places. I think the Nicasio stuff is listed there too.
Annadel SP is really pretty nice, too, but no dogs allowed. That kept me away for a long time, but the trailrunning up there is just too good to miss. Plus, my old girl is getting along in years and doesn't do the longer runs much anymore.
CadFactor
12-22-2009, 07:33 AM
Does anyone know the reasoning behind excluding dogs (leashed) on trails?
What are the chances of lobbying the state agencies to change the rules/laws?
paulswetdog
12-22-2009, 10:34 AM
Does anyone know the reasoning behind excluding dogs (leashed) on trails?
What are the chances of lobbying the state agencies to change the rules/laws?
Dogs are predators and disrupt wildlife. They leave smelly piles that cause prey animals (deer &etc) to change their habits to avoid those areas. They shit, bark, and they often are off leash (I know, not your dog, but someone's), which makes them even more disruptive. The state parks are a refuge for many species, and I have to say, it is better our dogs not be there. I am thinking of the coyotes and mountain lions in Annadel, and wondering what would happen if dogs were up there. The coyotes and lions would move out. Not good.
I love dogs, especially mine, and I wish there were more places for them to run and swim. My old girl would love to run up to Lake Ilsanjo for a swim. Unfortunately, those other people's dogs ruin it for us, because of course my dog is more special than those dogs.
I doubt the state is interested in changing the rules, though of course you could try. I would have to vote against any dogs except mine being allowed.