JACK LONDON STATE HISTORIC PARK

Opens new East Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail

Sweeping panoramic views from the top of Sonoma Mountain Extends Bay Area Ridge Trail Ribbon

Jack London State Historic Park
2400 London Ranch Road
Glen Ellen, CA
jacklondonpark.com

Jack London State Historic Park opened the East Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail on land never before accessible to the public in 2015. The project was the culmination of nearly two decades of focused effort to make public the new 1.2-mile East Slope, which adds to 20-plus miles of trails currently accessible within the Park's 1,400 scenic acres. This East Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail extends the Bay Area Ridge Trail along the ridgelines overlooking San Francisco Bay. Over 350 miles of the 550-mile Ridge Trail loop are open in Jack London State Historic Park which serves as the gateway. The natural surface, multi-use trail, located approximately 7 miles northwest of the City of Sonoma, crosses two private properties and a Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District-owned property, meandering along the ridge through oak woodland and open grassland.

Hikers, cyclists, and equestrians can experience sweeping panoramas from the top of Sonoma Mountain, finding different views than ever seen before. A portion of the trail, The Eliot Family Trail, was named to honor of Pat and Ted Eliot who were instrumental in making the trail a reality.

The hike begins in Beauty Ranch and makes its way to the Jack London Lake, circling to Mountain Trail through a bountiful evergreen forest, flush with spring wildflowers to the Ridge Trail trailhead and then onto the new East Slope Ridge Trail. The beautiful Ridge trail is a slow elevation gain by a series of switchbacks through lush green with viewing opportunities of the Sonoma Valley and possibly the San Pablo Bay. At 5 miles the hike reaches the top of this trail and the beginning of the East Slope trail. The hike round-trip is 13-miles, with numerous turn-around points along the way.

Project funding

• The project received a $55,000 planning grant from the Coastal Conservancy and Bay Area Ridge Trail
• $10,000 construction grant from REI
• $5,000 grant from Sonoma Mountain Preservation
• many, many hours of volunteer time from community members led by the Sonoma County Trails Council and Jack London Park Partners

Partners involved in creating the East Slope Trail include:

• Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
• Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
• Sonoma County Trails Council
• Coastal Conservancy
• Jack London Park Partners
• California State Parks and Recreation Department
• Sonoma Mountain Preservation
• Private landowners
• Community volunteers