• Join the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge!
  • Shop
  • California Wildfire Map
  •  

SoCal Hiker

  • Find a Hiking Trail
    • All Areas
    • Los Angeles
    • Orange County
    • Oregon
    • San Francisco Bay
  • Trail Guides
  • Six-Pack of Peaks
    • Colorado Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Bergen Peak
      • Rocky Mountain
      • Birthday Peak
      • Horseshoe Mountain
      • Grays Peak
    • New England Six-Pack of Peaks
    • NorCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mount Umunhum
      • Mount Saint Helena
      • Mount Tamalpais
      • Mount Diablo
      • Mount Sizer
      • Rose Peak
    • Oregon Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Tumalo Mountain
      • Black Butte
      • Black Crater
      • Maiden Peak
      • Mount Bachelor
      • South Sister
    • SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks
      • Mt. Wilson
      • Cucamonga Peak
      • Mt. San Antonio (Mt Baldy)
      • San Bernardino Peak
      • San Jacinto Peak
      • San Gorgonio
  • Backpacking
    • High Sierra Trail
    • John Muir Trail
      • Overview of the John Muir Trail
      • Training
      • Day-by-Day Itinerary
      • Resupply Addresses
      • JMT Discussion Forum
    • Lost Coast Trail
    • North/South Lake Loop
    • Rae Lakes Loop
    • Red Peak Pass Loop
    • Theodore Solomons Trail
    • Trans-Catalina Trail
  • Gear
  • Forums
    • Latest Topics
    • Ask a Question
    • Campfire
    • Hiking the John Muir Trail
    • Trail Reports
    • Gear Wisdom
    • Classifieds
  • Login

Bald Mountain in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

April 22, 2013 By Jeff Hester 6 Comments

Stunning views from Bald Mountain

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is a located in the heart of Sonoma County wine country. Last month, we hit the road to Northern California, spending a few days enjoying Sonoma — my first time visiting. There are many wonderful wineries and restaurants in the area, and of course, one of the wonderful benefits of hiking, is the guilt-free meals that follow. What better way to whet our appetites than a hike up Bald Mountain. Note that this hike is not in Southern California, but within a one day drive.

Trail Details
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation gain: 1,540 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Year-round
Bald Mountain sits 2,729 feet above sea level in a coastal range known as the Mayacamas Mountains. Access to Sugarloaf Ridge is in the western side, at the headwaters of Sonoma Creek. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park charges a day-use fee for parking. At the time of writing, it was $7. The trailhead for Lower Bald Mountain trail begins at the south end of the parking lot.

Lower Bald Mountain Trailhead

We started off by reviewing the map, and decided to weigh our options when we came to the first junction. The trail system at Sugarloaf Ridge offers a number of options, including a great loop with markers that give you some insight into the distance between planets in our solar system (no joke!). As we reached the junction with the Vista Trail, we decided to continue onward and upward to bag the summit of Bald Mountain.

The trail itself winds through beautiful and varied woodland, meadows and chaparral. Some of the trails are single track, and other times, paved or gravel fire roads. But what really stood out was the sheer volume of moss! Nearly every tree was covered with moss, and the moisture hung thick in the air.

Cool and shady slopes

The trails are well marked, with vertical posts at each junction and the names and direction of each trail. We continued uphill, pressing on through a brief hailstorm, followed by a brief downpour a little later. Fortunately the trails never got muddy, and eventually the rain broke. The clouds with patches of blue sky peeking through provided a dramatic backdrop for the views.

Sugarloaf Ridge

As you reach the ridge, the trail to Bald Mountain climbs to your right (the south), winding up and around the crown to the summit. The views from the top are amazing, with Calistoga, Sonoma County, and the Sierras. Even the Bay Bridge and the towers of the Golden Gate bridge are visible — as long as it’s clear out. We could just make out the Bay Bridge, but the Golden Gate towers were shrouded in fog.

Bald Mountain panorama 2

And the view in the other direction:

Bald Mountain panorama

The hike back to the trailhead went quickly, as it was almost entirely downhill. We modified the out-and-back route slightly, taking the main Bald Mountain trail back towards the park entrance (about 100 yards north of the parking lot).

Bonus Hike to Sonoma Creek Falls

Although it’s not on the trail map shown below, the Sonoma Creek runs through here not far from the park entrance. If you ask at the visitor center, they’ll tell you how to get to the trail to the falls — roughly a one mile round trip (in addition to the 6 mile round-trip to Bald Mountain). To get to the falls you’ll hike down, down, and down along the creek. Which means getting back to the trailhead will be up, up and up. ‘Nuff said.

Now to climb back up to the parking lot

The Sonoma Creek Falls are beautiful, but check to see if they are running first. They are seasonal, and will slow to a trickle in the summer. They were flowing well when we hiked this in late March, and the hike through the woods was remarkable. The woods are covered in a thick, green moss that made it seem almost otherworldly.

The Sonoma Creek falls

Bald Mountain Trail Map

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download

Photo Gallery

Click on any photo to view a larger version. You can also leave comments on any photo.

Lower Bald Mountain Trailhead
Beautiful trees
Mossy Manzanita
Lichen
Heading up
Meadows
Wooded trail
Mighty Fisheye
Moss macro
Cool and shady slopes
Moss, moss and more moss
Trail marker
Bay Ridge Trail
Dramatic smooth-bark of the manzanita
Part of the trail is paved
After a brief hailstorm
Nearing the saddle
Looking back down to the valley we started in
The road ahead
Lupen
Sugarloaf Ridge
Stunning views from Bald Mountain
Views from Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain panorama
More views from Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain panorama 2
Layers of rock on the crown of Bald Mountain
Lichen on Bald Mountain
Lichen macro
Moss on Bald Mountain
Moss macro
Dramatic views of wine country
Trail marker
Wild Iris blooming
Sonoma Creek
Bonus trip: 1/2 mile to the falls
Super mossy
Verdant panorama
Enchanting
This way to the waterfall
The Sonoma Creek falls
Team Jeff & Joan
Now to climb back up to the parking lot
Green like you've never seen

More Sugarloaf Ridge Trail Resources

  • Trailhead parking and driving directions via Google Maps
  • Official Sugarloaf Ridge State Park website
  • We stayed in Kenwood at an amazing cottage booked through AirBnB. The hosts were gracious, and the place itself was fantastic. If you are looking for a place to stay in the Sonoma area, I highly recommend the Happy Hound Cottage.
  • More hikes in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park on EveryTrail
  • The Bay Area Ridge Trail – I noticed that portions of the Bald Mountain Trail included markers for something called the Bay Area Ridge Trail. This is a planned 550 mile loop trail that encircles the entire San Francisco Bay. Over 300 miles of the trail are already open, but the loop hasn’t been completed (yet). This will be a fantastic long trail hike that’s easily accessible to everyone in the bay region.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Weather Forecast

The location could not be found.

Postscript

Where did we go for aprés-hike refreshments? To the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, where they have Pliny the Elder on tap, and some pretty awesome pub food to go with it. Highly recommended.

Related

Filed Under: State Parks, Trail Guides Tagged With: 3-6 miles, Bald Mountain, Bald Mountain Trail, hiking, hills, Mayacamas Mountains, moderate, scenic, State Park, Sugarloaf Ridge, Sugarloaf Ridge SP, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, vista, waterfall

Like what you found here at SoCal Hiker? This site is a labor of love. Share your support for the site and help us development of new trail guides and expanded coverage -- make your next outdoor equipment purchase through our advertisers.

You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Jeff H

About Jeff Hester

I'm an avid hiker and backpacker. My wife Joan and I are on the trails every weekend. I started SoCal Hiker to share my passion for outdoor adventure.

Comments

  1. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

    April 22, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    I love, love, love your photos…2 of m favorites are in the article…the trees covered in moss…and the one of the big blue sky…the clouds seem to be moving up as the hills in the fore-ground go down…they would make fantastic wall art! Thanks for sharing them!

    Reply
    • Jeff HJeff Hester says

      April 23, 2013 at 5:30 pm

      Thanks, Nikki! I love taking photos on the trail, and thrilled that you appreciated them. I’ve got a number that I’ve made prints of and framed. I just don’t have enough wall space for them all!

      Reply
  2. Greta Boris (@FitnesInsideOut) says

    April 24, 2013 at 9:48 am

    Do you know if there are any good camp grounds near by? That sounds like a fun weekend. Hiking, wine tasting, two of my favorite things:)

    Reply
  3. Oscar Gonzalez aka @notagrouch says

    April 24, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    I’ve been to Sonoma and the area quite a bit in the past, but never thought about hiking! I love the “trees” picture. I would love to get lost around there. Thanks for sharing this and going to add to my bucket list…. where is my bucket list… now off to find it.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Jeff Hester

I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking trails throughout Southern California--and occasionally beyond. I personally hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more...

Connect with SoCal Hiker

  • 20,410 Fans
  • 11,448 Followers
  • 17,725 Followers
  • 1,510 Followers
  • 5,406 Subscribers
  • 305 Subscribers

Get the SoCal Hiker Newsletter

Sign up to get your weekly trail recommendation and the latest updates from SoCal Hiker.

SoCalHiker was selected one of USA TODAY's 10 Best Hiking and Outdoor Blogs
Get our day-by-day guide to thru-hiking the John Muir Trail
Get up-to-day wildfire status throughout California

Products

  • Gift Certificate Gift Certificate
  • 2017 Six-Pack of Peaks Sticker 2017 Six-Pack of Peaks Sticker $3.00
  • San Gorgonio Benchmark San Gorgonio Benchmark $39.95
  • Cucamonga Peak mug Cucamonga Peak Mug $15.95

Sponsors

Sponsor SoCalHiker and see your banner here

Featured Posts

8 Days Hiking the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge

2019 was the first year for the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, featuring … [Read More...]

Backpacking the Red Peak Pass Loop in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park features some of the most beautiful backcountry in all of the … [Read More...]

What Makes People Go for the Fastest Known Time?

I've thru-hiked the John Muir Trail twice. The first time, back in 1980, I took 25 … [Read More...]

Lastest Comments

  • EXPLORE | Fish Canyon - PetsTrainingExpert on Hiking to Fish Canyon Falls
  • Leslie Petoski on Rae Lakes Loop via Kearsarge Pass
  • SARAH E SPURR on About SoCal Hiker
  • Bob on Hiking to McWay Falls in Big Sur
  • Will Sharpe on Small Peak in Robinson Ranch
Get your SoCalHiker stickers now

Get your SoCalHiker stickers!

Latest Posts

  • 8 Days Hiking the Arizona Winter Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge October 27, 2019
  • Backpacking the Red Peak Pass Loop in Yosemite National Park October 20, 2019
  • What Makes People Go for the Fastest Known Time? September 23, 2019
  • Hiking to Mount Saint Helena August 2, 2019
  • Hiking to Humphreys Peak in the Coconino National Forest July 1, 2019

Recent Forum Topics

  • Celebration party
  • Southern Oregon hiking
  • Vivian Creek Trail to San Gorgonio Vs Mount Whitney
  • Water at Kelly Camp
  • Baden-Powell

SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge

2019 SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge2019 marks the fifth year for the annual SoCal Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge.

Flex your adventure muscles!

Learn more here.

 

Search

Tags

3-6 miles 6-8 miles 8-10 miles 11+ miles Arizona Backpacking coastal dog-friendly easy family-friendly Gear & Tips High Sierra Trail hiking Hiking The John Muir Trail hills hipster inspiration JMT John Muir John Muir Trail Kings Canyon National Park LA County moderate Muir Monday National Forest National Park Orange County Oregon out of bounds Pacific Crest Trail peak peakbagging quote scenic Sequoia National Park Sierra Nevada Six-Pack of Peaks State Park strenuous Thru-hiking Utah vista waterfall wilderness Yosemite

Copyright © 2019 SoCalHiker.net · Metro Theme on Genesis Framework with WPEngine Hosting · Contact SoCal Hiker · Sitemap · Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2019 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in