United States

Sonoma County, California

A Comprehensive Guide to the Best Places to Run in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Tourism

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.


Napa Running Guide

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Some of our favorite runs in Sonoma County, California

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Sonoma County hotels are mainly centered around Sonoma and Santa Rosa, but visitors can also find charming B&Bs and more throughout the countryside. See SonomaCounty.com for info on hotels and lodging.

In Sonoma, The Sonoma Running Club meets at Sonoma Plaza Thursday nights at 6 pm. The Empire Runners Club holds various races and events.

In Santa Rosa, Fleet Feet is the go-to for gear and running groups. They offer weekly training clubs (for a fee) as well as fun events like a Wednesday Night Pub Run (6 pm) and occasional Sunset Winery Runs. Find info at FleetFeetSR.com.

Looking for road or trail races in this area? Find them on RaceRaves, the best online race calendar and reviews community for runners!

Find races in Sonoma County, California

Find info on some of Sonoma County’s top running races at SonomaCounty.com.

Lake Sonoma Race Series. April.