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Sugarloaf Ridge
Overview
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park offers a rugged and immersive escape in the heart of Sonoma County. Spanning nearly 4,000 acres, this park provides a dramatic contrast to the manicured vineyards found in the valleys below. It features a diverse landscape ranging from chaparral-covered ridges to lush redwood groves along the headwaters of Sonoma Creek. Visitors come here to disconnect and experience a classic California wilderness that feels remarkably remote despite its proximity to major wine regions.
Location & Surroundings
Tucked into the Mayacamas Mountains between Santa Rosa and Kenwood, the park serves as a natural gateway to both the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. The surroundings are characterized by steep canyons and the towering Bald Mountain, which offers panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada peaks on clear days. The transition from the valley floor to high ridges creates a unique microclimate that stays comfortably cool under the ancient oak canopy.
Amenities & Park Features
This is a rustic destination, so RVers should prepare for a true dry camping experience. There are no utility hookups available at the sites, making it best suited for self-contained rigs. The campground provides essential comforts including potable water, flush toilets, and token-operated showers. Each individual site features a picnic table and a fire ring. A standout feature of the park is the Robert Ferguson Observatory, which houses several powerful telescopes and hosts regular public star parties.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Outdoor enthusiasts will find over 25 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. A popular short trek leads to the seasonal 25-foot Sonoma Creek Waterfall, which is particularly impressive after spring rains. Beyond the park boundaries, travelers can explore the world-class tasting rooms of Kenwood and Glen Ellen. For a mix of culture and history, the city of Santa Rosa is a short drive away, offering the Charles M. Schulz Museum and historic rail districts.
Who This Park Is Best For
Sugarloaf Ridge is best suited for travelers seeking a quiet, nature-focused retreat rather than a luxury resort experience. Due to the winding access roads and specific site dimensions, it is most comfortable for small RVs and camper vans under 27 feet. It is a premier choice for astronomy buffs and serious hikers who want direct trail access from their campsite. If your travel style favors dark night skies and morning birdsong over modern digital amenities, this park is an ideal fit.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Stephanie Lorenzini Coleman
Top favorite places to escape to. It’s quiet on the trails. Campgrounds can be lively but a 10pm shut up order helps enjoy the rest of the night. If you see a golf cart heading to your site and you are rowdy, I bet it’s 10pm. The park hosts are awesome. I was helped by Kerri and Sydney. Both were detailed in their information and availability. Kerri is like this awesome Mom who puts things, pets, people back on track without anyone really noticing. She’s the iron fist holding a daisy. Sydney is energetic, almost always smiling. I’ve seen her deal with difficult situations that were not so easy to fix. She’s a golf cart warrior and her pug is the cutest (I personally don’t enjoy pugs but …. I do now!). His name is Biscuit Smushy Bushka Wolf. He can run faster than any other animal that I’ve seen that close to the ground. Oh and the park 👌🏻 gorgeous place. Always has been.
Goldie Gibbon
Gorgeous park that is great for tent campers or small RVs. The rangers were very friendly and informative. The trails are beautiful so plan on doing some of the hikes that lead from the day use areas here. If you are RVing make sure you leave time to come from the North or South on Route 12....or else you will be going over some extremely winding narrow roads from Oakville area. Many of the campsites are incredibly beautiful but not level for a vehicle so choose wisely if you need a flat driveway. The showers are coin operated and even though there were hardly any campers, they were freezing cold.
Stephanie Lorenzini Coleman
Top favorite places to escape to. It’s quiet on the trails. Campgrounds can be lively but a 10pm shut up order helps enjoy the rest of the night. If you see a golf cart heading to your site and you are rowdy, I bet it’s 10pm. The park hosts are awesome. I was helped by Kari and Sydney. Both were detailed in their information and availability. Kari is like this awesome Mom who puts things, pets, people back on track without anyone really noticing. She’s the iron fist holding a daisy. Sydney is energetic, almost always smiling. I’ve seen her deal with difficult situations that were not so easy to fix. She’s a golf cart warrior and her pug is the cutest (I personally don’t enjoy pugs but …. I do now!). His name is Biscuit Smushy Booska Wolf. He can run faster than any other animal that I’ve seen that close to the ground. Oh and the park 👌🏻 gorgeous place. Always has been.
Edward Olkowski
A hidden gem in Sonoma. Hiked to the summit of Bald Mountain. It's a 3 mile trek all up hill or 4 miles if you take the less steep option. Superlative views.
Tino Plank
This is an easily accessible park with a number of hiking trails as well as an observatory. A popular, and easy, hike is to the seasonal waterfall along Sonoma Creek. In 2025, spawning salmon were seen for the first time in many years. For those looking for a longer hike, there are multiple trails leading to the top of Bald Mountain. The reward for tackling this steep climb is a wonderful 360 view of Sonoma, Napa, Marin, and Contra Costa counties. Stargazing is poplar due to low levels of light pollution. And there are often events at the observatory.
David Imach
Beautiful park. Amazing trails for hiking and trail running. Even a waterfall trail. Interesting planet walk with planets spaced out across 5km showing how big the solar system actually is. State Park, so Sonoma Regional Parks pass does not work. Need the State Park pass. Or $10 one-day entry. Day use picnic tables. Great camping here too.
Kevin Petersen
Great hike offering great views of Sonoma valley. Some signs that are still out say some of the trails are closed but they were open when you hiked to them. Very fun way to spend half a day in Sonoma!
MARK MCLOUGHLIN
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is a gem in our own backyard. A fire went through the area a while back, and it's healing nicely. It is an educational experience seeing a burn area recoup after such devastation.
Ala Omer
The area was beautiful with lots of scenery. The hike to the waterfall isn't too bad with a walkable trails available for kids, pets, people with difficulty hiking. You can spot wild animals (deers, squirrels..etc). The road to go there was also very scenic (not the one that goes through the city) Worst part was he restrooms at it's not really equipped for human occupiency.
Take Back Roads
**dogs are not allowed** I love this park. It’s stunning. I’m not sure why the Google listing says dogs are allowed when they are not (at least not on the trails - maybe in campgrounds?) The drive in is beautiful and there are a number of trails to pick from. The observatory has a lot of classes and events throughout the year. I’ve never camped here.