Near Sonoma Overlook Trail
Wildflowers on trail at overlook.
Near Sonoma Overlook Trail
Intense studying on the Sonoma Overlook Trail
Near Sonoma Overlook Trail
Great views over Sonoma
Near Sonoma Overlook Trail
Sonoma from the overlook loop.

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Hike Route

Sonoma Overlook Trail

4.3 (6 Ratings)
Quick and easy trip just above Sonoma with great views.
2.6
mi
Distance
410
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
ViewsWildflowers

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
2.58mi
Distance
410ft
Elevation Gain
410ft
Elevation Loss
30%
Max Grade
532ft
High Point
139ft
Low Point
Path Type
There and Back
Description
Climb up the trail, starting in lovely oak forest and then alongside the old cemetery, which contains headstones of many prominent locals dating back to the 1840's.As you ascend, you enter grasslands with big views, which just get better and better all the way to the top. On a clear day you can see San Francisco.Loop around the top to enjoy the views in all directions and return the way you came.
History & Background
Long ago, this was prime hunting grounds for the Coast Miwok people. By the mid-1800s, a cemetery had been built near the trailhead, which is still exists today. The hill was neglected for decades, being used as a stone quarry and then a trash dump until the 1950s.In the 1990s, a resort hotel was proposed for the site, but a citizen vote rejected it in favor of recreation space, and this trail was built soon after.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
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Contributors
Nick Wilder