Santa Rosa Area

Santa Rosa is another winery center in the area, 25 miles from Sonoma. From downtown, a series of multi-use paths radiates from the center. Our recommendations on the best places to run in Santa Rosa:

Joe Rodota Trail: The Joe Rodota Trail, an 8.5 mile paved multi-use trail to the center of Sebastopol, is one of the best running choices in downtown Santa Rosa. The park surrounding the Prince Memorial Greenway is one of the highlights. Runners can also connect to the sculpture gardens of Juilli 1 Xard Park on the east end, or the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail and West County Regional Trail on the west end. The Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail is a flat gravel 1.8 mile loop around Kelly Pond. Round out your workout with the outdoor fitness equipment at Roseland Village. Trail MAP.

West County Regional Trail: In the corridor of the former Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway, the West County Regional Trail is now a 5.6 mile paved multi-use path between Sebastopol and Forestville. Most of the trail follows along Highway 116, but runners can access the trail at several points, including from the south end at North Main Street, Sebastopool or from the north end at Pajaro Lane in Forrestville. Trail MAP.

Trione-Annadel State Park: The favorite for running in the Santa Rosa area, Annadel State Park, features many miles of paths just to the east of Santa Rosa. With so much varied terrain, runners can find a route to match any comfort level — from fire roads to more rugged trail running. For a moderate, non-technical trail run, many runners use Spring Creek and the Lake Trail out to Lake Ilsanjo. Park MAP. 

Spring Lake/Howarth Park: At the north end of Annadel State Park, the green space continues into Spring Lake Park and Howarth Park, which offer some great running of their own. The Spring Creek Trail follows a 2.2 mile mostly paved loop around the scenery of Spring Lake. Another ~1 mile branch stretches west past Lake Ralphine into Howarth Park. The Spring Creek Trail connects to Annadel Park in the east for more mileage. Spring Lake Loop Route MAP. 

Foothill Regional Park: This 211 acre park in Windsor, about 15 minutes north of Santa Rosa, is a dream for gentle trail running over the undulating foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains. With 7 miles of trails, there are many loop and out and back options to choose from. One favorite is the smooth, accessible Three Lakes Trail. It’s only about 1 mile long, but can be combined with other trails, such as the Alta Vista and Oakwood Trail for a gorgeous but non-technical trail loop. Park MAP with trail options & distances.

Hood Mountain Regional Park: With 1,750 acres just east of Santa Rosa, Hood Mountain includes 19 miles of trails. Popular (but challenging) scenic routes lead to the summit of Hood Mountain and Gunsight Rock, but there are less strenuous options that are better suited to running. One good choice is the Santa Rosa Creek Trail from the Los Alamos Trailhead. Park MAP.

Lake Sonoma Trails: Lake Sonoma is located in Cloverdale, in the northern reaches of Sonoma County. The expansive shoreline of this park offers plenty of recreation activities, including about 40 miles of runnable trails. The South Lake Trail, accessible from the South Lake Trailhead, is one of the best options for an out and back of up to 23 miles. 

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve: This collection of redwoods just north of Guerneville is a spectacular foggy grove with some 20 miles of trails through the forest. The accessible Pioneer Nature Trail and the East Austin Creek Fire Road are some of the best options for running. Park MAP.