✨ New Year🚗 Road Trip + 🌊Waterfall Hike 🥾Sugarloaf Ridge State Park🏞️

Hello Nature Lovers and Weekend Explorers!
Let’s enjoy a fun, relaxing Saturday with a beautiful road trip, a new city for lunch, and a refreshing waterfall hike. This is a wonderful way to start the new year with adventure, good company, and gorgeous scenery in beautiful Sonoma County.

We’ll begin the day with a peaceful drive to American Canyon, widely known as the “Gateway to Napa Valley.”
✨ Fun Facts About American Canyon:
It welcomes visitors into the world-famous Napa Valley region.
It is one of California’s newer cities, incorporated on January 1, 1992.
Before incorporation, the area was known as Napa Junction.
We’ll enjoy a nice lunch here to fuel up before our afternoon adventure. 🍽️

🚗 1. 9:30am start Morning Road Trip to American Canyon + Lunch
A "Gateway" City: American Canyon is widely known by its official nickname, the "Gateway to the Napa Valley," as it serves as the San Francisco Bay Area's entry point to the renowned wine region.

A New City: The city is one of California's newer incorporated cities, officially establishing its city status on January 1, 1992, after years of community efforts.

Formerly "Napa Junction": Before its incorporation and name change, the area was previously known as Napa Junction.

Environmental Leader: American Canyon prides itself on its environmental sustainability initiatives. It was the first city in Napa County to ban new gas stations and required solar panels on new home construction before it was mandated by state law.

Zero Water Footprint Policy: The city adopted a "Zero Water Footprint" policy, meaning all new developments must implement water-saving practices to balance their additional potable water

🌿 2. 1pm 🌊Waterfall Hike 🥾Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park contains the headwaters of Sonoma Creek. It runs through gorge and canyon, across the meadow floor, beneath scenic rock outcroppings, and is surrounded at times by redwoods and ferns.

A 25-foot waterfall flows after the winter rains. There is a self-guided nature trail along Sonoma Creek that starts near the picnic area. Dogs must be on a leash under your control at all times. Dogs are not allowed on trails. Dogs must be in a tent, camper or enclosed vehicle during the night.

Within the oak woodland and chaparral, the park has 25 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding.

Deer, gray foxes, the occasional bobcat and coyote can be seen in the park. In spring, wildflowers provide a colorful palette across the green hills. Note that all plants and wildlife within the park are protected. Collecting or destroying anything in the park, including mushrooms, is prohibited.

On a clear day, visitors can see views of the Sierra Nevada and the Golden Gate bridge from the 2729-foot summit of Bald Mountain.

Canyon and Pony Gate Loop:
This loop trail takes you through peaceful forest and leads to a beautiful waterfall. For the best viewing experience, the waterfall is strongest after heavy rain or in spring. The trail can be muddy, so please bring sturdy footwear.
Trail Details:
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 652 ft
Route: Loop
Dogs: Not allowed
Optional: Additional 3-mile hike for those who want more miles
This forested loop features a classic 25-foot waterfall in Kenwood. January is a perfect time to visit — water flow is strong and dramatic after rain.
🚨 Trail Tip: Muddy conditions possible — wear shoes with traction.
🌲 Nature Bonus: Peaceful forest, creek sounds, mossy rocks — winter beauty at its best.

⏰ Meet place coming soon... • Hike Start 1:30pm
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
GPS: coming soon...
Parking $10 Fee
*Free State Park car parking pass available to pick up at any city Library.

*Encouraging carpooling if you know each other well for everyone's safety. Please contact each other in a private message, NOT on the message board, Thanks! https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/hz6ixr

🍽️ 3. Optional Social Dinner (Restaurant TBA)
After the hike, we’ll head into a nearby town for a relaxing dinner together.
Details will be posted soon.
🌙 Flexibility for Everyone
This weekend is designed to be easy and enjoyable:
✅ Join just Saturday’s road trip + waterfall hike
✅ Join Sunday’s Jack London State Historic Park hike (already posted)
✅ Or make it a Sonoma weekend and enjoy both days
✅ Stay overnight or return to the Bay Area the same day — your choice
✅ If booking a hotel, please choose one cancelable before Dec 20–25, in case the weather changes
🌄 Sunday, January 11 (Already Posted)
✨ Jack London State Historic Park Hike
Check the event calendar and get ready for another beautiful day of nature, history, and peace.

💛 Contribution this weekend road trip
To support planning, organization, and event coordination, a $10 contribution per day is kindly requested.
Thank you so much for helping keep our group active and enjoyable for everyone.

*Requested contribution suggested amount of $10-$20 keep the club going!
​*Note: Thanks for joining our wellness club event, it does take time and money to make it happen. To support/keep our group alive and active, You can help! Dr.Heidi kindly asks for a contribution, accepting in person.
Your contribution will help us cover our costs and make our Meetups going even better.

Our meetup events have a very positive impact on people's lives, people meet, fall in love💘 meet new friends, HAPPY, better health, less stress, anxiety, depression, isolate being alone and got extra bonus for LOVE ​💞

Wear Hiking Shoes
Bring Smiles for Miles, Water, Jacket, Snacks, Hiking Poles...

⚠️ Please Read Before Joining:
These hikes and group dinners are hosted voluntarily and with love for the outdoors and community. Participation is completely voluntary, and everyone joins at their own risk and responsibility.
👉 We kindly ask you to review the event details carefully — including directions, trail descriptions, and dinner spots — before joining.
Trails are part of nature and may not match everyone’s preferences. Dinner venues are selected based on group size, availability, and location. We do our best but can’t guarantee personal favorites.
🧡 Most importantly, come with an open heart, positive energy, and kindness. Let’s enjoy what we can control — good company, fresh air, and meaningful connections.

*DO NOT ATTEND if you're experiencing any cold or flu symptoms, have a compromised immune system.

We are an intermediate hike group. Please be ready to keep up hiking with us from 5 miles to 8 miles without any health issues. If you don't workout, hiking a minimum of 5 miles regularly, this hiking event may not be a good fit for you.

*LIABILITY WAIVER: The event host/organizer is not for everyone's emergency or medical services. By signing up for the wellness hiking event, you hereby release its organizers, hosts, and participants from any and all liability, claims, demands or causes of action that you now have, or may have in the future, for illness, injuries, damages, and/or economic loss of any kind or nature, arising in whole or in part out of the activities, advice, or information contained herein. You agree to full responsibility for your own health issues.

*Hike at YOUR OWN RISK. Open trails aren't necessarily free of hazards--by entering the wilderness, you assume responsibility for your safety and must use good judgment.

*Participation in this event is strictly voluntary! The event host/organizer assumes no responsibility for any injury, damage, or loss you may incur. You join and hike entirely at your own risk.

*DISCLAIMER: By participating in this wellness hiking event, you understand that Meetup event Host/Organizer assumes ABSOLUTELY NO responsibility and you have to assume all at your own risk of injury, damage, and economic loss, without limitation, and release host/Organizer of all liability.

If anyone wishes to join our hike team, please answer the RSVP question every time for everyone's safety in the group. If you are unable to send me a message confirming that you are in good health and you are able to hike 5-8 miles without health issues we CANNOT approve you come to the hiking event.
*Please don't just walk in Thank you for your cooperation!

I'm looking forward to meeting, hiking with you and making good memories together.
Yours in good health! Dr. Heidi💝

❤️American Heart Association BLS-CPR, Heartsaver CPR, First Aid Courses -Learn and Live!❤️
*Three courses available upon request:
https://visibook.com/ahacprfirstaid
*By taking this course, you're contributing to the safety and well-being of those around you.
*These skills are crucial for everyone to know, as they can help save the lives of loved ones, friends, or even strangers in the community.