Wolf House in the Woods

Hike to Wolf House Ruins in Jack London State Park

Hike to Wolf House Ruins in Jack London State Park

The writer Jack London was known for his adventure stories, not mysteries. And yet his namesake state park in Sonoma Valley is home to a bit of a mystery: the Wolf House ruins. Visit Jack London State Park and do the short walk to the ruins of London's dream home, Wolf House. It burned down just two weeks before Jack London and his wife, Charmian, were to move in. Various theories have emerged about what caused the fire that destroyed the home, and some say the ruins are haunted (though there are skeptics). London died just a few years after this event, and the gravesite is tucked among trees on a nearby knoll.

The hike to it is simple and beautiful during fall as most of it is forested, so leaves turn and flutter to the trailside. The ruins are totally intriguing. Sunlight whispers over the mossy walls and through the surrounding second-growth redwoods. Count the five chimneys among the remains.

EAT + DRINK BONUS: Wine-based organic vodka? Sounds healthy to us! Hanson of Sonoma Distillery (22985 Burndale Road, Sonoma) will definitely have you asking, “Why haven’t we come here before?” The Hansons created a grape-based, gluten-free, and non-GMO vodka, infused with organic ingredients like Meyer lemons, mandarins, and habaneros.

Hanson of Sonoma Distillery

The tasting room is artisanal perfection with a marble bar and reclaimed wood, but nowadays you get to enjoy tastings at an outdoor table on their sprawling lawn surrounding a tranquil pond. Kick back in an Adirondack and taste the creations; or ask for a colorful cocktail surprise—guaranteed to brighten your spirits.

New regulations during Covid mean that to taste and drink here you’ve gotta order food. Lucky you! Hanson's gourmet woodfired pizza is absolutely delicious (the dough is set for 72 hours!). We’ll drink to that. 

Check out these Sonoma County Trip Ideas

Hike to Wolf House Ruins in Jack London State Park

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In the episode "Secrets of Sonoma County" Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss hiking to the Wolf House Ruins at Jack London State Park.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Camp at Goose Lake in the Lakes Basin

    Duck, Duck, Goose!

    Try to get a first-come, first-served campsite at one of the Lakes Basin’s lakeside campgrounds. We love Goose Lake Campground, where there are just 13 sites and no motorized boats.

    View
  2. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  3. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  3. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

    View
  4. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View