Spanning from the Pacific Ocean to the west of the Napa Valley, Sonoma County is a region of California’s northern Bay Area known for its wines and idyllic scenery. Our guide to running in Sonoma County is divided into the county’s major areas, including Sonoma City, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and the Sonoma Coast. Note our coverage of California wine country also covers Napa County.
Highlights in Sonoma include the Bike Path/Lovall Valley Road, the Sonoma Overlook Trail, and the Bartholomew Park & Winery downtown, as well as Jack London and Sonoma Valley parks. In Santa Rosa, runners will find gems like the Joe Rodota and West County Trails, plus a huge selection of state park trails. Runners will also find options further south in Petaluma, and scenic beach and trail running options along the Sonoma County Coast.
Generally a car is needed for exploring Sonoma County. The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) offers great north to south service from Sonoma County Airport, through Santa Rosa and Petaluma, to San Rafael. Sonoma County Transit also provides bus service, mostly within Santa Rosa but reaching into Sonoma, Petaluma, and destinations to the north and west.