Cloverdale River Park in Northern Sonoma County
Located in Northern Sonoma County, Cloverdale River Park offers many features and amenities for the entire family. Some of the more notable ones include a paved multi-use trail, an accessible boat ramp, a small beach, and picnic areas for large and small groups. It’s a great place to enjoy a weekend trip with your pup.
The park is open year round. Its most popular time of year is in summer, when it’s a hotbed for visitors and wildlife alike. The Russian River runs through the park, making it a perfect destination for a day of paddling, fishing, and hiking. Some of the amenities include a mildly-sloped access boat ramp, picnic tables, restrooms, and a nifty one-mile paved trail through riparian forest.
The park also features a one-mile paved bicycle path that parallels the river. This is definitely a plus for those who don’t want to take their bikes on the trail. There are several points of interest along the route, including a nice view of the river and a funky little cemetery. However, the biggest draw is the Float Zone, a small docking area where you can rent a floating raft and have a swanky day floating the Russian River.
The park also has a small but sweet looking playground, along with a dog-friendly path and picnic areas. There is a small amount of parking in the park, but if you are lucky enough to spot the best spot you’ll have plenty of space to stretch your legs and take in the scenery. The only stipulation is that dogs must be tagged and on a leash. For more information on the park, visit the Sonoma County website.
The park also boasts the only public access to the Russian River, a mile and a half paved bike path. This paved route is well-lit and a great way to spend an afternoon. The site is located at 31820 McCray Road in Cloverdale, CA. The park is open to the public daily.
The park is not for the faint of heart, though. There have been two fires in the park in the last two weeks. Firefighters have been able to contain both blazes to a quarter acre. It’s also not unusual for the park to have a few “suspicious” occurrences in any given day. This might explain the numerous “foreclosures” that litter the area. Despite its mishaps, Cloverdale River Park has been a staple of the Sonoma County Parks system for decades, and the park will likely remain so in the future.
In short, Cloverdale River Park is the sexiest, most well-rounded park in the Sonoma County region. The park features a boat ramp, a nifty one-mile mapped out trail, a buckeye (named after the state), a one-mile paved bicycle path, a small beach, a large and small willow, and a small parking lot. The park also offers information on riparian plants and wildlife, a nifty one-mile long paved multi-use trail, and an excellent selection of picnic areas for individuals and groups.