According to an order by the County Health Officer, many (not all) parks in Sonoma County, including the Sonoma Overlook Trail and the Montini Preserve are open for hiking as of Wednesday, April 29th, under the following conditions: 

• You must have NO CoViD-19 symptoms.
• You must be able to get there by walking or biking (no driving and parking).
• You must practice social distancing when within 6 feet of others (such as when passing on a trail).
• You must wear a facial covering.

Please be aware that if you don’t comply, the parks could be closed again.

From my experience, people have not gone off the trail in the past to provide social distance. So please do this. It is necessary.

Since hikers have not been observing social distance, the Sonoma County Interim Public Health Officer has ordered the closure of all City, County, and State parks. This even includes the Sonoma Plaza. Therefore, all trails on the Sonoma Overlook and Montini Preserve are closed until further notice. Please observe this order. We will let you know as soon as they are open again.

As volunteers tasked with taking care of our beloved trails, we love anyone who also loves to get out on those trails and experience the beauties of nature. But in these days of a global pandemic, it’s very important that we heed the warnings to stay away from others at least six feet.

I’ve been out on the trail a lot in the past several days, and I’ve been dismayed to see the increased number of hikers simply passing each other on the trail, barely a foot away. Whenever I see someone coming, I get off the trail, and afford us both at least six feet of distance. I implore you all to do the same. If just one party leaves the trail, that’s all we need. Be that party.

Meet at the Overlook Trailhead kiosk every Wednesday morning at 8:30 for a vigorous hike to the top and back (a little over an hour).