Regional Parks E-News
A view from North Sonoma Mountain by Ed Kent
Hike Park-to-Park & Camp on Sonoma Mountain
Develop a greater understanding of the protected lands on Sonoma Mountain by joining us on a special Oct. 1 hike and optional campout with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council and Jack London State Historic Park. We'll hike up the Ridge Trail on North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve and down to adjacent Jack London for snacks, drinks and live music at Beauty Ranch. Next we'll shuttle to the regional park to set up camp and enjoy dinner, a night hike, a wilderness skills class, and campfire stories. Camping isn't a regular activity at North Sonoma Mountain, so this is a unique opportunity to experience the park in a new way.  
Finish the Trails Challenge on Gunsight Rock
Gunsight Rock at Hood Mountain Regional Park
Gunsight Rock by Mark Winterlin

September is the final month of the Trails Challenge, and Bill & Dave Hikes are leading us on the most challenging route in the series this Saturday, Sept. 10. We'll hike from the lower lot on Pythian Road to Gunsight Rock on the face of Hood Mountain. We'll climb a total of 2,400 feet to the best view in all of Sonoma Valley and cover 11 miles in about six hours. It'll be strenuous, for sure, but the destination is epic.

Be sure to finish all five of your five Trails Challenge hikes by the end of the month to get your free commemorative pin and be eligible for our biggest prize giveaway yet - a tent, a camp table and two camp chairs all donated by REI.
How Wild Are Your Parks?
Photo by Tom Reynolds
Discover the wild side of your parks at one of two hands-on outings this Saturday. One is a Sept. 10 BioBlitz at Maxwell Farms Regional Park, where we'll partner with the California Academy of Sciences to photograph as many plant and animal species as we can find. The other is a Sept. 10 hike at Tolay Lake Regional Park focusing on the use of wildlife cameras. Hikers can help install a camera and receive emails of the images it may capture. 
One Last Splash at the Water Park
Don't put the sunscreen away just yet. Originally scheduled to close after Labor Day, the new Water Park at Spring Lake will stay open this weekend, Sept. 10 and 11, for what promises to be a splashy end to the summer swim season.
Ballot Measure Identifies Improved Parks, Trails  
Crane Creek oak tree
Voters in unincorporated Sonoma County will have an opportunity in November to create a dedicated source of funding for their Regional Parks for the first time. A key component of "Measure J" is an expenditure plan that describes how we could expand parks and trails, protect watersheds and wildlife, and offer more recreation and education services. This fact sheet offers a brief overview and sampling of projects countywide while a detailed summary is available at sonomacountyparks.org
Let the Dogs Loose at the Water Bark
Dog leapring into the lagoon at the Water Bark
With the Spring Lake swim season closing, the annual "Water Bark" dog swims are returning to the lagoon Sept. 18-19 and 24-25. As usual, unleashed dogs are free to leap, fetch, roll, chase and wag their tails off, and new this year is the option to purchase a professional photo of your pet in action, with proceeds benefitting the Regional Parks. Look for the "big splash" raffle on Sunday, Sept. 18, with dog goodies as prizes, a silent auction, and free treats and toys for the first 200 dogs to enter the lagoon.  
Help the Sonoma Coast & Russian River
Marine debris is a problem for coastal communities worldwide, including ours in Sonoma County. Natural Resources Manager Melanie Parker explains in a Press Democrat column how our summer surf campers gained a larger appreciation for the fragility of the ocean environment and how we all can work toward trash-free seas. One way is to give a few hours Sept. 17 to the International Coastal Cleanup Day projects at Doran and Pinnacle Gulch beaches or the Watershed Cleanups at parks along the Russian River
More Outings & Events