TranslateMarch 2025 Newsletter
Big news for Monte Rio Redwoods
Big plans are in store for Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve! Save the Redwoods League plans to purchase 1,517 acres of adjacent forest and will transfer the land – known as the "Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion" – to us as early as this summer for a major park expansion. With funding support from Sonoma County Ag + Open Space and Sonoma Land Trust, this deal will create a continuous stretch of publicly owned lands between Monte Rio and the Pacific Ocean, and we are so very grateful to our conservation partners.
Shape the future of Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Preserve
We’re working on a master plan to shape the future of the 515 acres that currently make up Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, and we want your input! This plan will guide the development of trails, infrastructure, educational opportunities and stewardship, so take the survey and tell us what you’d like to see. The "Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion" property will undergo a separate planning process at a later date, so stay tuned!
Wildflower season is here
It’s officially wildflower season in Sonoma County! Warm weather means spring blooms and that it's time to hit the trails to look for baby blue eyes, California poppies, Henderson's shooting stars and more. Want to know how to tell a mule's ear from a monkey flower? Download our free Sonoma County Wildflower Guide to have with you while out on the trail.
Also, keep an eye out for #WildflowerWednesday on our social channels for more specifics and remember to share what you're seeing out on the trails by tagging @SonomaCountyParks!
Makahmo Trail at Cloverdale River Park
Springtime – when the grass is green, wildflowers are blooming and creek and river flows are ample – is a great time to visit this short but picturesque trail that parallels the Russian River at Cloverdale River Park. The trail is paved, relatively flat and stroller and wheelchair accessible. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at a riverside picnic table after this mellow 2-mile out-and-back adventure.
Black bear cubs spotted at Hood
For the first time in 9+ years of tracking bear activity at Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, our wildlife cameras captured cubs with their mom. This is proof that bears aren’t just passing through, they’re calling the park home -- and it's a reminder that Sonoma County = bear country. Please help us prevent bears from learning to associate humans with the presence of food. If you're in the area, take precautions to secure your food and trash – and even beehives, and chicken coops, etc. at your residence. Learn more about the history of blacks bears in Sonoma County at SoCoParks.org/BearCountry and how to share the parks with bears at SoCoParks.org/BearAware.
Spring into Parks Photo Contest
Snap, share and win! Capture the beauty of Sonoma County’s 60+ regional parks, beaches and marinas in the Spring into Parks Photo Contest, hosted by the Sonoma County Parks Foundation. Submit your best shots – wildflowers, wildlife, landscapes – for a chance to win prizes and be featured in the 2026 calendar. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on March 31. Proceeds support local regional park projects!
Join our team!
Multiple positions available! Do you enjoy working outdoors? We’re hiring early career Lifeguards (extra-help) to gear up for our busy summer season. Learn more about salaries, benefits and growth opportunities and apply online. You can also register to receive future job opportunities by email.
Featured events
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Native plant workdayOn Saturday, March 8, 9 a.m.-noon, help us tend to the native plants at the new gathering area at Tolay Lake Regional Park. We'll provide all tools and supplies, along with snacks and drinks. Free; registration required. |
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Whale and Seabird WatchWhale Watch Point at Gualala Point Regional Park is a great spot to observe migratory gray whales as well as other cetaceans as they make their way along the Sonoma Coast. Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study researchers will be on hand on Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to provide information on whales, their watery world and to answer your questions. Free; no registration required. |
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Parks and Recreation Advisory CommissionThe five-person advisory commission meets on Wednesday, April 2, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. Agenda and meeting materials are posted 72 hours in advance. |
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Sonoma County Regional Parks
400 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-2041
ParksMarketing@Sonoma-County.org
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