Santa Rosa is located in Sonoma County and is one of the largest cities in California's wine country. It is because Santa Rosa is located in such a beautiful area that it has various vacation rentals such as resorts, bed and breakfasts, hotels and vacation homes for visitors to stay in and relax. As you enjoy all that your Santa Rosa vacation rental has to offer, try to make time to explore the parks and forests near the city as well.
Annadel State Park
Located on Santa Rosa's city edge is the Annadel State Park. The park is 5,000 acres and offers many recreational activities. The Fishing Lake Ilsanjo is one the many activities the park has to offer. This lake is stocked with Black bass and is open during the spring and summer months. The park also has horse and bike riding trails as well as dog walking and jogging trails. The park is open year round.
Hood Mountain Regional Park
Also located on Santa Rosa's city edge is Hood Mountain Regional Park. This park and preserve is a little over 1700 acres of rugged, natural land. Though it has many biking and horseback riding trails, it is best known for its challenging hiking trials. Its hiking trails start of the southeast end of the park, wind through Hood Mountain and end at the Gunfight Rock overlook. On a clear day, hikers can see the Golden Gate Bridge, which is 60 miles north, from this point. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Attached to the Hood Mountain Regional Park is the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. It contains 2 mountain peaks, a 25-foot water fall and 25 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. The Robert Ferguson Observatory is also found within the Sugarloaf Park. This observatory provides astronomy education to its visitors through the use of 3 telescopes and a projection screen. The park charges a small admission fee for the observatory. Just as with all of these parks, a visit to this park and observatory would make a nice day trip from your Santa Rosa vacation home. The observatory closes at 9 p.m.
Las Posadas State Park
A few miles outside of Santa Rosa in Napa County is Las Posadas State Park. An advanced trail system dominates most of the park's land. This track system is made of tunnels, rock climbs and drops. Though hikers are allowed to use the trails, its naturally rugged terrain is most suitable for motor bikers and skiers. However, for those visitors who do not wish to bike or ski, the park has many shaded area in which they can sit, relax or picnic and enjoy the view of the Napa Valley vineyards. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
A few miles north of Santa Rosa is the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. This park was named after the author of "Treasure Island" and "Kidnapped" because in 1880, he spent his honeymoon at the park. Similar to the other parks in the area, the Stevenson Park has a very rugged terrain; it also has acres and acres of evergreen forest. Though it does not have many hiking trails, it does have one 5-mile hiking trail that ends at the top of Mount St. Helena. From this point, hikers can see the whole of California's Bay area. For non-hikers, the park has many picnic areas. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
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