Sonoma Canopy Tours – Soar Through the Forest

Don’t just get out into nature, get UP into it at Sonoma Canopy Tours! High-flying, zipline adventures in California’s coastal Redwoods.

There’s nothing quite like ziplining. Flying high above the ground with amazing views, securely harnessed, yet feeling free and alive with excitement and wonder. If you’ve had the experience, you’ll know what I mean. If not, you’re really missing out.

Even if you have ridden a zipline before, was it at Sonoma Canopy Tours? If your answer is no, you’re still missing out. There are zipline courses and then there are ZIPLINE COURSES.

Sonoma Canopy Tours’ (aka Sonoma Zipline Adventures) longest zipline is 1500 feet (457 m) long and can get you flying along at up to 40 mph (64.4 kmh)! Even better, their zipline adventures double as eco tours. Educational experiences that will bring you closer to the beauty and complexity of the unique Coastal Redwood eco-system.

A Variety of Zipline Experiences

Sonoma Zipline Adventures has two unique zipline courses. Both include multiple zip lines, sky bridges, a majestic spiral staircase, and a rappel to the forest floor. Both tours will have you up and flying through the trees for two-and-a-half hours.

The Tree Tops Tour is their fastest, highest, and longest course. Reach speeds of up to 40 mph (64.4 kmh) on a 1500 foot (457 m) long zipline some 250 feet (76.2 m) above the forest floor! Did we mention that the course is 2,907 feet (639 m) long? That’s almost two-thirds of a mile – Wow!

The Forest Flight Tour is a little more sedate – but only a little. It provides speeds of up to 30 mph (48.2 kmh) at 200 feet (61 m). This course is nearly half a mile long at 2,157 feet (657 m) in length.

Both courses include 7 ziplines providing a variety of speeds, 2 skybridges, and a final rappel back down to the forest floor.

For some real adventure, sign up for the Night Flight Tour: the Forest Flight Tour during sunset or even at night! Imagine zipping along through the treetops under the moon and stars. Breathtaking!

Sonoma Canopy Tours

Sonoma Canopy Tours is located at 6250 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, Ca 95465 – an easy 40 minutes or less from Camellia Inn.

It would be easy to make a delightful day-trip out of this adventure. Nearby Occidental, CA is a tiny and friendly bohemian community just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean and the Russian River.

The charming, two-block-long town has lots of nice restaurants and shops and is fun to visit. The surrounding area offers no end of outdoor recreation, including hiking, fishing, and of course, cycling on Coleman Valley Road. Spend the day enjoying the Occidental area, then head back to the comforts of your Camellia Inn guestroom.

Sonoma Zipline Adventures has offered guided, zipline, eco tours through the redwood treetops since 2010. Learn more on the Sonoma Zipline Adventures website. You can also visit them on Facebook.

Discover Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve

Sometimes you just want to get out into the great outdoors. Not too far out but somewhere to clear your head and draw in those big, rejuvenating breaths of fresh country air. Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve is a 155 acre park less than ten minutes from downtown Healdsburg and our Healdsburg inn.

Nothing clears the head and sets your mood like a nice traipse in the countryside. Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve is just one of many places in or near Healdsburg that offers just that.

The Preserve, located just north of downtown near Simi Winery, contains a network of more than 3 miles of hiking trails. Don’t expect a big workout, however. The trails run from easy to moderate, making them perfect for a relaxing stroll or an invigorating run or bike ride.

The network of trails passes through grasslands, oak woodlands, wetlands, and chaparral. These diverse habitats support a wide array of plants and wildlife. Deer, rabbits, bobcats, river otters, over 40 species of birds, and more call the Preserve home.

Visitors to the Preserve are also rewarded with expansive views of Fitch Mountain, the Mayacama Mountains, and the Russian River. Be sure to bring your camera as you never know what eye-popping beauty you’ll be presented with.

Exploring Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve

The Preserve address is Arabian Way, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Don’t get too confused when you end up in a subdivision hunting down the Preserve. If the street is called “Arabian Way” you’re doing just fine. Head to the end of the street, park at the trailhead, and head on up. Soon you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful oak woodlands that flourished here before the time of vineyards and subdivisions.

Trails in the Preserve are loop trails or connect with another in the network to circle back around. Most also lead past a scenic overlook to stop and take in. Mayacama Overlook, Russian River Overlook, and Serpentine Overlook are some of the standouts.

Be sure to look over a Preserve trail map before you set off.

If hitting the trail on two wheels is more your style, Spoke Folk Cyclery and Wine Country Bikes can help get you geared up, so to speak.

Whatever your chosen method of travel, just be sure to take along some water so you don’t get dehydrated. It’s warm and dry here most of the year, even winter. You’ll also want to prepare and watch out or some of the Preserve’s less friendly natural residents, ticks and the occasional rattler.

Let us know what kinds of things you’d like to do during your Sonoma County Wine vacation and we’ll help get you pointed in the right direction. There’s no end to the fun and sun in Healdsburg!

Explore Riverfront Regional Park

Looking to get out and do a little communing with nature? Riverfront Regional Park, a Sonoma County public park on the banks of the Russian River, offers hiking, biking, paddling, and more.

Best of all, it’s just minutes from our Healdsburg bed and breakfast, Camellia Inn!

There are lots of lovely areas in Sonoma County to get out into nature. One of the more popular ones here in Healdsburg is Riverfront Regional Park.

Riverfront Regional Park is around 300 acres of reclaimed river lands along the Russian River, just west of Windsor, CA.

What was once scarred with gravel pits now features a lovely redwood grove and two beautiful lakes surrounded by classic Wine Country scenery.

Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Boating & More

Riverfront Regional Park is a beautiful park and excellent for dogs, kids, or just yourself!

One of the first things you’ll see at the park is a redwood grove at the park entrance. This graceful stand of lovely trees is home to a wonderful picnic area with tables, a large barbecue, volleyball, and a horseshoe pit. Nearby facilities include flush toilets and a drinking fountain.

The park’s main attractions Lake Benoist and Lake Wilson; two former gravel pits now reclaimed as lakes. Both are popular for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. Swimming is prohibited.

The park also offers two nature trails.

Lake Trail (2.18 mile / 3.5km) leads from the parking lot, past Lake Wilson, to loop around Lake Benoist. This trail also features a short spur to a small gravel beach on the Russian River. Horseback riding is allowed on the Lake Trail, which includes equestrian parking and hitching posts.

Redwood Hill Trail (.5 mile / .805km) passes through the redwood grove near the parking lot. It then leads up over a forested ridge to connect to the Lake Trail.

Both walking trails are unpaved but mostly flat and easy to traverse. During wetter weather, a northwest section of the Lake Trail may become impassable.

View a map of the park and trails here.

Riverfront Regional Park

7821 Eastside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Open daily, 7am to Sunset.

Visit the park website for more information. You can also find the park on Facebook.

The park is an easy 10 minute drive south on Eastside Road from our Healdsburg inn. The drive is usually free of traffic and features lots of scenic vineyard vistas, including J Vineyards, Rodney Strong, and Foppiano Vineyards.

In fact, you could (should!) even pick up some wine from one of them for your picnic. Yum!

Get Out On the Water with a Russian River Rafting Trip

Take a ride on the easy waters of the Russian River through the heart of Sonoma County Wine Country with a Russian River rafting trip! Floating down the Russian River in a kayak, canoe, SUP, or inflatable is one of Sonoma County’s most popular summer activities for both visitors and locals alike.

There’s nothing quite like getting out on the river. Soaking up the beauty of the Russian River Valley from the perspective of the water is an experience everyone will enjoy. The peace and quiet, the gentle flow of the waters carrying you along, and so much wildlife! Osprey, heron, kingfisher, egrets, turtles, bass, pike, deer, even eagles and the occasional otter.

Between April and October – boating season – there is little rain and the Russian River becomes amiably gentle. No white water, just a few currents here and there. Perfect conditions for a relaxing paddle, no matter your level of boating experience.

Canoes and kayaks are the boats of choice, though SUP (stand-up paddleboards) are becoming more and more popular. Inner tubes and other inflatables are another fun and common option.

Best of all, you don’t have to bring your own craft along to join in the fun. Sonoma County is home to many outfitters offering a variety of ways to get out onto the water. Below is a short-list of those nearest to our Healdsburg bed and breakfast, Camellia Inn.

Russian River Rafting

Russian River Adventures –
Locally operated Russian River Adventures is currently offering self-guided day trips. 9 miles down the river from Memorial Beach to Wohler Bridge, in SOAR Inflatable canoes. The trip takes between 3.5 to 6 hours, depending on your pace. Enjoy gentle paddling, swimming holes, beaches, swimming, wildlife, and a picnic stop. You can even bring your dog! Visit russianriveradventures.com for more information.

River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe Trips –
River’s Edge, also located in Healdsburg, has a popular 3 to 5 hour “Rio” Trip down a quaint section of a five-mile stretch of the river, starting north of Healdsburg. Choose a canoe or kayak for your self-guided tour – and don’t forget to bring picnic supplies! Learn more at riversedgekayakandcanoe.com.

Rubicon Adventures –
Rubicon, in Forestville CA, offers a variety of paddleboard trips and tours on the Russian River. They also offer clinics and SUP yoga. Their certified instructors will help you learn the ins and outs of SUP (if needed) and get you out on the water for some real fun. Go to rubiconadventures.com for more info.

Burke’s Canoe Trips –
Burke’s Canoe Trips, also located about 30 minutes away in Forestville, offers a ten mile, self-guided canoe trip through redwoods. Pack a picnic lunch, slip on your swimsuit and river shoes, and get ready for up to 5 hours of fun on the water. Collect more details at burkescanoetrips.com.

So Much To Do In Sonoma Wine Country

There is no end to the fun that can be had in the Healdsburg area. Wineries, shopping, art galleries, hiking, biking, touring, and so much more. Just let us know what activities interest you and we’ll be more than happy to get you pointed in the right direction. So go ahead, come explore Sonoma Wine Country – book your stay at Camellia Inn today!