Join Certified CA Naturalist John Lynch as we explore Sugarloaf’s trees and plant communities - with a special focus on our Oaks & Redwoods. How many kinds of oaks can we find and what makes them so special? Yes, Sugarloaf does have Redwoods but why are they so rare? Beginning at the Visitor Center, we’ll follow Pony Gate Trail’s grassy slope, into the Oak woodland and through a mixed evergreen forest, along Canyon Trail’s shady riparian corridor lined with redwoods, to the 25-foot dramatic plunge of Sonoma Creek and back to the Visitor Center.
Meet outside the Visitor Center. Tickets are $10 for general audiences, $5 for students, youth, Sugarloaf members, Sugarloaf volunteers, and free for children under 12 years old (must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). Bring at least a quart of water, sun protection, appropriate footwear for rocky/slippery trails, and if desired, a snack.
Ease of access: The main parking lot has one van-designated accessible parking space and a vault toilet. There is no water access or cell phone service at this location. The walk down to the Visitor Center is about ¼-mile on a gently slopped, paved road. From the Visitor Center, is across the road, in the vicinity of the flagpole. Pony Gate Trail is a 1¼-mile narrow foot trail, steep in sections with a descent of 450 ft. A seasonal creek crossing without a bridge is unsafe for crossing immediately after storms. Pony Gate exits on the lower part of Adobe Canyon Rd. A few yards down, across the road, the Canyon Trail is a ¾-mile narrow foot trail with a few steps down into a fairly flat, narrow trail adjacent to Sonoma Creek. There are two very narrow wooden bridges until the detour to Sonoma Creek Falls. There are about 120 steps built into the steep trail between the waterfall detour and upper Canyon trailhead. The upper Canyon trailhead exits on the upper part of Adobe Canyon Rd, about ½-mile away from the main parking lot.
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For more events at Sugarloaf, visit sugarloafpark.org/events
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