Regional Parks E-News
The Wild Diversity of Sonoma County's Oaks
Taylor Mountain Regional Park
Where is your favorite spot to enjoy Sonoma County's magnificent oak woodlands? Is it a stretch along your morning commute, a park you often visit, or the trees in your yard? Oak trees are perhaps the single most iconic element of our landscape. So what do we know about them? Natural Resources Manager Melanie Parker explains the stories Sonoma County's oaks tell and the challenges they face.
Playing It Safe on the Russian River 
Sunset Beach
Summer on the Russian River is an iconic Sonoma County experience, and each year thousands of us look forward to swimming, paddling, and tubing on this gorgeous, warm-weather playground. However, playing in the river is not without risk. So we're going to risk sounding like your mom and offer some advice for staying safe out there.
17 Things to Know About the Spring Lake Water Park
The Water Park at Spring Lake
In the month since we opened the Water Park at Spring Lake we've answered a lot of good questions from visitors. We appreciate all your interest and feedback and thought it'd be helpful to compile the most-asked questions and answers so you can make the most of your next visit.
Trails to Hike, Memories to Make
Trails Challenge participants
#SonomaCountyParks #TrailsChallenge
Thanks to everyone who's joining this summer's Trails Challenge and tagging us in your adventures. We just gave away our first special monthly prizes - a parks membership and a CamelBak hydration pack and REI hiking poles to two of June's finishers. Just getting started? No worries. Download your free trails guidebook, explore your parks anytime between now and September and share your photos. (Thanks to Trails Challenge hiker Sue Fleenor for the trail photo from Foothill Regional Park at the very top of the page.)
Discover Your Inner Race Car Driver
Bike the Track - Thursday_ July 14_ 2016 from 5 - 8 p.m. Adults and teens 13 plus years of age are _25 in advance and _30 at the gate. Children are _10 in advance and at the gate.
How often are you invited to ride your bike on a track reserved for Nascar and IndyCar drivers? Never, right? So don't pass up this chance to bike Sonoma Raceway's 2.3-mile loop. The money raised will help the Regional Parks Foundation meet a $50,000 matching grant from an anonymous fan of Helen Putnam Regional Park.  
What Will You See on Winged Wednesdays?
A rose-breasted grosbeak at Spring Lake/Tom Reynolds
Let your interest in birding take flight by joining us for the first of our "Winging it Wednesday" birdwatching walks on July 27. Planned for the last Wednesday of each month, the series kicks off at Spring Lake Regional Park with a morning walk led by our own birding expert Dave LaCasse. On Aug. 24 we'll explore the excellent birding habitat of Atascadero Creek at Ragle Ranch. 
Healdsburg Water Carnival's Old-Time Fun is Back
Wine barrel races go way back in Healdsburg
The Healdsburg Water Carnival was on hiatus for the past two years because of construction on the Veterans Memorial Beach dam and bridge. Everything's fixed now, and the Water Carnival will return Saturday, Aug. 13 with floating wine barrel races and other vintage fun. The Carnival itself is a revival of the early 20th Century festivals held on the Russian River and is one of those only-in-Sonoma events to put on your summer list. 
More Outings & Events

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Sonoma County Regional Parks
(707) 565-2041
parks@sonoma-county.org
http://www.sonomacountyparks.org