If you’d like to join a group of energetic hikers, come every Wednesday morning at 8:30am for a one-hour round trip hike to the top of the Overlook Trail. We practice social distancing and wear masks. Meet at the trailhead kiosk.

The Sonoma County Health Officer is loosening park restrictions as of Wednesday, May 13, according to this new order. The key takeaway is that you can now drive to local parks, bathrooms may once again be open if the park you are visiting has such. You must continue the practices of social distancing and facial coverings when they are appropriate (for example, when coming close to others such as in parking areas or passing on the trails). Of course, if you have any symptoms of CoViD-19 you should stay home (these are listed in the order, see the link above).

Also, “If the potential Park visitor has had direct contact with a COVID-19 positive individual(s) in the past 14 days that person shall not enter a Park, and should contact their primary health care physician for further instructions.”

Please be smart out there, or else:

“In the event of crowding, widespread non-compliance with the limitations of this Order, or other evidence of activities presenting an unacceptable risk of spread of COVID-19 through Park use, any or all Parks may be closed again in their entirety or on a case-by-case-basis by the Health Officer, or by the individual Park owner, including but not limited to County Parks as determined by the Director of Regional Parks, as needed.”

Many of us deeply value our access to open areas. We’re trusting each other to do the right things.

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.