Category Archives: Events

SAVE THE DATE! Our Sonoma Raceway Spring Hike is coming back April 19th, 2026!

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Filed under Events, Fundraising, Hiking, Scenic Views, Spring

YES!!! The Sonoma Overlook Trail Stewards are excited to offer once again our ever-popular, super sellout event this spring,
the Sonoma Raceway Hike!
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SAVE THE DATE!
Sunday, April 19th, 2026 ~ 10 am
Rain Date: Saturday, May 2nd, 2026

A glorious, guided hike overlooking the bay….

Mark your calendar for an unforgettable spring hike through the hills of Sonoma Raceway’s 1,600-acre property on Sun, April 19, 10 am. Enjoy fabulous bay and vineyard views with wildflowers and quite possibly “woolly weeders” hard at work. Choose the three- or five-mile route; a light lunch will follow.

All proceeds will benefit the all-volunteer Sonoma Overlook Trail Stewards to help keep the trail in tip-top shape.  We stewards will be on hand to hike along with you.  This is a great opportunity to support your local trail and take in the panorama of open space along San Pablo Bay.

Ticket cost and details coming soon; we wanted friends of the trail to be the first to know about the return of this beloved event. Please save a spot on your calendar and tell your hiking buddies!

Sonoma Wildflower Hike

Overlook upper trail closed March 5-May 21!

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Filed under Events, Trail Maintenance

Trail closedHello SOT devotees! Heads up: the upper trail on Sonoma Overlook Trail, from the Toyon Trail connection and higher, is closed from March 5th through May 21st as a specialized crew undertakes some dearly needed trail bed maintenance. Some of the remaining rocky sections will be smoothed and additional sections of steps installed, so you can look forward to a much nicer cruise up the trail.

We invite you to continue to use the lower trail system, including Toyon and Rattlesnake trails, as well as Montini Open Space Preserve and other local trail systems. As a reminder, the Valley of the Moon trail on Montini loops up and back down to the main trail and includes luscious, sweeping views down to the Bay and along the Valley.

If you would like to contribute to our trail rehab fund, we’d be thrilled. Thank you!

Day of the Dead Historic Cemetery Walking Tour Frighteningly Successful

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Filed under Events, Hiking, History, Mountain Cemetery

Greeted by an array of fall treats, fifty curious Sonomans were then led by Fred Allebach through the Mountain Cemetery yesterday, the amateur historian sharing stories and lively lore “dug up” throughout the years.  As in years past, the fundraiser was sold out, 100% of the funds raised going directly towards improvements on the Overlook Trail. Join us next year!

Fred Allebach explaining locations of graves
Overlook Stewards: Priscilla Miles, Jess, Fred Allebach, Hope Nissan, Nancy Kirwin
SOT Chair and Hope Nissan, SOT Outreach Committee

Dia de los Muertos • Day of the Dead Cemetery Tour

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Filed under Events, Fall, Fundraising, History, Mountain Cemetery, Stewardship

Tour Sonoma History through Mountain Cemetery

Saturday November 4th, 2023
10 am OR 12:30pm
$40 Suggested Donation
REGISTER

The Sonoma Overlook Trail Stewards invite you to take a lively, informative walk through our historic cemetery with our own amateur historian Fred Allebach.

Meet ranchers and ranch hands, real estate tycoons, farmers and farriers, carpenters and stone masons, quarry-men, grocers, butchers, bakers, maybe a candlestick maker, and many more! This fundraising event is limited to 25 participants per hike. We sell out every year, so register early to be sure you get a spot!

We’ll have a hike at 10am and another at 12:30. Your $40 donation includes the walking tour, cookies and cider. All proceeds go toward improvements on the Overlook Trail. The Trail is solely supported by private donations.

Celebrate 20 years of Sonoma Overlook Trail • Save the Date: April 16, 2023

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Filed under Events, History

Please join us for our 20th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, April 16, 2023 • 11 am to 1 pm.


Meet us at the main trailhead to celebrate and…

  • Learn how what once was a city dump was transformed into the beautiful Overlook Trail that now receives over 55,000 visitors a year from all over the world!
  • Hear from trail stewards as well as city and state dignitaries including Senator Bill Dodd, Supervisor Susan Gorin, Sonoma Mayor Sandra Lowe and other honored guests.
  • Enjoy refreshments and meet new hiking friends.
  • Peruse our new book, “The View from Above”, compiled from 20 years of excerpts from our Hiker’s Notebooks.
  • Come along with us on a wildflower hike. The flora and fauna should be spectacular in April!