Petaluma 2020-2021 Visitor Magazine - 71

OUTDOORS
The Petaluma Trailhead is a great spot
to kick off exploration
of Santa Rosa's stunning, 1,100-acre Taylor
Mountain Regional
Park and Open Space
Preserve, or stick to
its 2.1-mile loop. The
entrance is located off
Petaluma Hill Road
and Yolanda Avenue,
and has parking and
amenities. Most of
these trails are dog- and
horse-friendly. Local
stables offer classes,
tours, and horses for a
relaxing ride.
Petaluma also
serves as a gateway
to the area's other
epic hikes, including
Alamere Falls, by way
of the Coast Trail from
Palomarin Trailhead at
Point Reyes National
Seashore, and Hood
Mountain Regional
State Park in Sonoma.
Need to gear up?
Head to Athletic Soles
and peruse a top-line
selection of athletic
footwear, apparel, accessories, and more.

INSIDER'S TIP:
PETALUMA RIVER
LET YOUR CARES
FLOAT AWAY AS YOU
EXPLORE THE TOWN'S
TRANQUIL WATERWAY.

2
3

1: Escape to the outdoors at one of Petaluma's many parks; 2: Explore the area on two
wheels in biker-friendly Petaluma; 3: Helen Putnam Regional Park offers several scenic
hiking trails; 4: Go paddleboarding on the Petaluma River.

RIDE ON
While many of the state parks make great grounds
for mountain bikers, road cyclists will enjoy the
scenic routes that wind through Petaluma and surrounding cities. Starting from Petaluma Boulevard,
head out on easy loops that range from 10 to 20
miles, like the locally beloved Spring Hill-Chileno
Loop. Experienced cyclists can zip along more challenging courses to Occidental or Sebastopol. Don't
forget to grab a cycling map at the Visitors Center.
2 & 4: MICHAEL WOOLSEY; 3: SCOTT HESS

ROLL ON THE RIVER
From kayaking to guided tours, the Petaluma River's
serene surface gives active adventurers plenty of
reasons to cruise at their preferred speed. Soak up
the sun, enjoy the quiet marshlands, or join one of
the annual races. Clavey Paddlesports, Petaluma
Stand Up Paddle, and Floathouse Small Craft

Rental Center (opening later this year) rent SUP
boards, kayaks, rafts, and supplies and offer tours
and classes. On most Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
small vessels of all stripes set sail via Friends of the
Petaluma River's Boating at the Barn. The program
supplies canoes, rowboats, kayaks, and a sailboat -
all free to use after a brief safety demonstration. ❖

Sustainable Tourism:
Bikeshare

Coming this year to Petaluma, environmentally
friendly bikeshare stations will make it easy for
you to get around town with a clean (and green)
conscience.

"It's a lucky community
that can claim a river
in its backyard, and we
view the Petaluma River
as one of our largest,
most beautiful, and
most important open
spaces - a linear park in
the heart of our community. Well-established
local outrigger canoe
clubs like the North
Bay Rowing Club, River
Town Racers, He'e Nalu,
and Lokahi provide
myriad opportunities
to get on the water,
and businesses such as
Clavey Paddlesports
offer affordable boat
and board rentals and
sales for you and the
family. Meanwhile,
organizations such as
the Petaluma Small
Craft Center (PSCC)
and Friends of the
Petaluma River are
working hard to improve access to this
unique resource and
make this great river
town of ours that much
better."
- Greg Sabourin,
Executive Director,
Petaluma Small Craft
Center

VisitPetaluma.com | 2020-2021

http://www.VisitPetaluma.com

Petaluma 2020-2021 Visitor Magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Petaluma 2020-2021 Visitor Magazine