There truly are so many great things to love about the North Bay, which encompasses Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties. Folks travel far and wide to visit our towns and here we are with all sorts of fun things to do right in our very own backyards. I feel so blessed and each weekend my family and I try to venture outside and enjoy the beautiful landscape that surrounds us.

On a recent weekend in January, we decided even though it was cold and foggy, that we would go for a walk/hike in Annadel. Annadel State Park is located in Sonoma County, 60 miles north of San Francisco and on the eastern edge of Santa Rosa.

Once you arrive, there are many parking options: outside parking is free and adds a nice bit of exercise to the trip, or you can pay a $6.00 fee to park inside. Because it was chilly, we chose to park by the entrance and walked round trip for about an hour in areas where the terrain was varied but not too steep. I would feel comfortable taking my kids on this nature walk – feeling that the surroundings would keep their grumbling to a minimum (plus as long as we call it a nature hike instead of a “walk” it seems more like an adventure). On this day, with the fog and the mossy green trees, it felt like a cinematic walk in the woods.

I look forward to going back on a sunny and warm day, but I am guessing the trails will be more crowded. Annadel is also very popular with mountain bikers and horseback riders, so it’s good to be careful on the trails as a pedestrian.

Want to know more about Annadel? Check out these links:

Posted by:Jennifer Masterson