Paradise
Enjoy the Russian River
The Russian River area boasts a wide range of activities for everyone: fantastic hiking, renowned dining, breweries, wineries and so much more.
Here is a list of the top 10 staff picks:
1. Walk among the majestic old growth redwoods in Armstrong Redwoods.
2. Rent a kayak from Burkes Canoes and float down the river.
3. Soar through the redwood canopy on a zipline.
4. Go wine tasting. Fort Ross Vineyards on 800 acres has amazing views of the ocean.
5. Go beer tasting in Santa Rosa. Henhouse is a small local favorite.
6. Try ocean kayak fishing and crabbing.
7. Or go on a fishing charter out of Bodega Bay.
8. Play golf at Northwood surrounded by tall redwoods.
9. Dine at the mouth of the Russian River looking out at the Pacific Ocean at The Rivers End Restaurant.
10. Finish your day with homemade ice cream at the Nimble and Finn’s Ice Cream in the Bank Building in Guerneville.
RUSSIAN RIVER
BEACH GOING
SWIMMING
CANOEING / KAYAKING
HIKING
Walk on numerous trails along redwoods, between beautiful lakes or in forested hills.
ARMSTRONG PARK
Guerneville
Hike or reserve picnic area in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. Great place to see old growth redwoods!
Kortum Trail
Sonoma Coast State Park (Jenner)
Easy hike along the bluffs overlooking the ocean
Shell Beach to Pomo Camground
Sonoma Coast State Park (Jenner)
Start at the Ocean and walk into the Redwoods.
VISIT NEARBY TOWNS
FOR SHOPPING, DINING AND GALLERIES
MONTE RIO
Starting in the 1870s, Monte Rio was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito, California ferry. Redwood lumber from local sawmills was shipped to build San Francisco. After the sawmills left, the area became known as Vacation Wonderland with trains transporting San Franciscans to summer cabins and even a seven story hotel downtown. Despite heavy logging during the second half of the 19th century, the Sonoma Lumber Company preserved a 160-acre grove of old-growth redwood trees, which was sold to San Francisco’s Bohemian Club in 1899. This private club purchased dozens of other parcels in the area, and now owns 2,712 acres, which it uses for its summer retreats.
The Village Inn & Restaurant, built in 1906 as a private home, served as the site of several scenes in the 1942 Academy Award-winning film Holiday Inn, starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. The Highland Dell Hotel, also built in 1906, hosts the local OktoberFest. Watch a movie at the Monte Rio Movie Theater, housed in a colorful mural-decorated World War II-surplus Quonset hut, or visit the Monte Rio Amphitheater, an outdoor showcase for concerts, theater, and events. During the summer, a concession on the river rents kayaks and paddleboards and serves food. The town has a grocery store and a couple convenience stores as well.
DUNCAN MILLS
Duncans Mills was once part of the Rancho Muniz Mexican land grant. In 1877, Alexander Duncan established a sawmill in what is today Duncans Mills. The mills sent lumber to the growing city of San Francisco. It has an authentic North Pacific Coast Railroad Depot and several original cars from the old railroad line.
A California State Park Ranger Station is located in one of the old railroad buildings as the California State Park Store with a selection of books and maps about the area. There are two restaurants, the Blue Heron Restaurant and Cape Fear, several retail shops and as well as Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery with its wood fired oven.
JENNER
The town is located at the mouth of the Russian River. It boasts a colony of seals who make their home where river flows in the Pacific Ocean. Jenner was part of the Rancho Muniz. In 1867, John Rule bought 4,000 acres of the rancho. When a writer named Charles Jenner moved to the area, Rule encouraged Jenner to build a house in what became known as Jenner Gulch, the site of the town.
Today, the town has a gas station, post office, Café Aquatica with great coffee, the Jenner Inn and Restaurant, The Rivers Ends Restaurant, which has not only rooms and fine dining, but also commanding views of the Pacific Ocean.
GUERNEVILLE IS ALSO A SHORT DRIVE FROM
HEALDSBURG
Healdsburg is centered on a 19th-century plaza that provides an important focal point for tourists and locals. Due to its three most important wine-producing regions (the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valley AVAs), Healdsburg has been continuously awarded one of the top 10 small towns in America.
The town boasts a wide variety of shops, restaurants and tasting rooms along the plaza. Healdsburg is also home to Bear Republic Brewpub, which is one of the largest independent brewers in the United States.
CAZADERO
Cazadero is approximately 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the Sonoma Coast and the mouth of the Russian River. Cazadero receives an average of 85 inches of rain a year, and is reputed to be the second wettest town in California, after Gasquet.
Downtown of Cazadero consists of an old sawmill, two churches, a general store, a post office, a hardware store, an auto repair garage, retail shop, Cazadero Volunteer Fire Department and Willy’s America, which has an amazing outdoor collection of restored Jeeps. Located in the Sonoma Coast AVA, Cazadero is an ideal climate for Pinot Noir and is home to Flowers, Fort Ross Vineyards, Hirsch and Wild Hog Winery. Raymond’s Bakery is a local favorite and a popular destination for music and wood-fired pizza on Friday nights.
FORESTVILLE
The downtown was developed during the 1870s and 1880s. A fire destroyed many of the older structures, and existing buildings date mostly to the early 20th century.
Today businesses in the town consist of one gas station, the Forestville Club bar with 2 pool tables, two grocery stores, two convenience markets, winetasting, a pharmacy, several churches, post office, volunteer-run Youth Park, and restaurants, including Backyard and Canneti Roadhouse.
OCEAN
Enjoy ocean front with crushing waves, rock formations, scattered drift wood and abundant wildlife
PLAY
OBSERVE
