Jenner's New Views

Hike new trails at Jenner Headlands Preserve in Sonoma County

Two women hiking a trail at Jenner Headlands on the Sonoma Coast

If Big Sur had a little sister, we think it would be the Sonoma Coast … equally beautiful yet less filled with people, especially when you hike the trail system at the Jenner Headlands Preserve in Sonoma County. These beautiful developed trails offer access to quiet stretches of coastal redwood forest and huge views of the Pacific. It’s also a refreshing escape on hot days. Get an early start, as the parking lot fills up. We recommend a wide-sweep hike combining the Sea to Sky Trail, Russian Gulch Trail, and Raptor Ridge Trail.

The first big views come early at Sentinel Point, a stone-tiled lookout with engravings of the types of wildlife you are likely to see, from gray whales to brown pelicans.

Keep going up the coastal prairie grassland, then descend into a quiet shaded forest filled with second-growth redwoods.

Chances are good you’ll be enjoying these redwoods almost all to yourself.

Connect back to the Sea to Sky Trail and enjoy a break at the Red Barn.

Several picnic tables here offer gorgeous views of the Pacific, with the occasional cow looking on casually. Finish your hike by heading down Raptor Ridge Trail and follow it back to the parking area.

POLE MOUNTAIN PEAK: There’s an epic peak hike that also starts at Jenner Headlands Preserve and ends at the peak of Pole Mountain in its namesake preserve. It’s about 15 miles (round-trip) to the peak of Pole Mountain, hiked via the Sea to Sky Trail. It’s doable, but it can be very windy.

TIP: Post hike, head 5 miles south on Highway 1 to Shell Beach. A short flight of stairs takes you to the sand and surf. Afternoon sun and mist mingle here on good days. Keep an eye on the tides!

Dog friendly! Map to parking area.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  3. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  4. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View