Explore oak woodlands and wildflowers at Crane Creek Regional Park

 Crane Creek Regional Park encompasses 128 acres of rolling grasslands and oak woodlands rising up into the foothills east of Rohnert Park. The park’s namesake creek flows through the middle and is lined with willow, alder, buckeye and bay trees. The park also features an 18-hole disc golf course, especially popular with students of nearby Sonoma State University. Crane Creek Regional Park is especially beautiful in the springtime, when the park’s hillsides are green and its meadows covered with bright displays of California poppies, buttercups, milkmaids, and tidy tips and other wildflowers. The park’s many native oaks are also in bloom and we recommend this as one of the best times to visit this park.

To experience the heart of Crane Creek Regional Park in a satisfying 1.4-mile loop, we recommend following this route: begin on the Fiddleneck Trail, transition to the North Loop Trail, and conclude along the serene Creek Trail. This combination offers a balanced experience of the park's diverse features. The Fiddleneck Trail introduces you to the park's open meadows dotted with seasonal wildflowers, while the North Loop Trail gently elevates you, providing stunning panoramic ridge views. Finally, the Creek Trail meanders alongside Crane Creek, offering picturesque waterside scenery and the calming sounds of flowing water. Most of these trails are relatively flat, making them ideal for a casual stroll, though the North Loop includes some gentle inclines that lead to those rewarding vistas. For those seeking a longer hike, a seasonal trail loop extends to the park's southern boundary. This route ensures everyone can enjoy the natural beauty Crane Creek has to offer.

Trail directions

Suggested loop: Fiddleneck Trail to North Loop Trail to Creek Trail.

Note: You can use the interactive map above for reference, or you can download this route to your mobile device via the AllTrails app and follow the route even without cell service. The Fiddleneck, Buckeye, and Northern Loop trails are suitable for equestrians, hikers, and bikers. Many equestrians enjoy riding the seasonal firebreak that follows the southwestern boundary of the park. The remaining trails crossing the interior and running along the creek are suitable for hiking only.

• Take the Fiddleneck Trail from the parking lot. (Pass the map kiosk to the west and head up an open, grassy slope.)
• The trail bends north and you’ll follow it for .7 miles. You’ll pass oaks in the meadows and have a seasonal stream on your left.
• At the junction with North Loop Trail, take North Loop to the left and continue .2 miles to Creek Trail, climbing a short hill
• Take Creek Trail to the right and follow it into the interior of the park, paralleling Crane Creek on your left, where the oak-lined creek environment creates a peaceful and picturesque setting. 

• Stay on Creek Trail for .9 miles to the parking lot.

You can easily extend your hike by taking connecting trails across the interior or along the edges of the park.

Trail details

• Degree of difficulty: Easy
• Elevation gain: 150 feet
• Trail length: 1.4 miles

Know before you go

• Cattle graze seasonally at Crane Creek to reduce fire risk and promote biodiversity. View tips for hiking and biking in parks where cattle graze. Please keep dogs on leash.
• We encourage park visitors to Leave No Trace. Treat wildflowers and other living plants with respect. Picking, carving, hacking or peeling plants and trees can harm or kill them. See SoCoParks.org/Lnt for more information on hwo to Leave No Trace at Sonoma County  Regional Parks. 
• Most trails cross open grasslands and offer limited shade, so they're best explored in spring, winter and fall or during early mornings and late evenings in the summer. Visit the Crane Creek Regional Park webpage for more tips. 
• Parking is $7 or free for Regional Parks members

Published April 2025.