Warm Springs Arm of Lake Sonoma!!! 24 miles 4500 2 days Hike one day or two!!

Backpack and camp at Old Sawmill campsite, if you like or do a car shuttle on each day with me!!

We are headed around Lake Sonoma. We will be going counterclockwise starting from The Ranch parking lot. We will do 13 miles and 2500 ft. the first day and then 12 miles and 2200 ft. to finish the loop and come back to our cars.

Those of you that want to backpack, and camp ...can at Old Sawmill Campground!!! Those that want to hike with me, can and shuttle back to our cars in the afternoon! The next morning we will shuttle back to the access point closest to Old Sawmill and we will hike in to meet you and start the second day! If you aren't from the area of Lake Sonoma and don't want to backpack, you still can opt to stay in Healdsburg. Hotel Vinea is offering rooms for $111 for the night~
I had previously collected $100 checks from some of you when it was going to be a boat supported back packing trip. I have shredded all of the checks.
I will have the Old Sawmill campground reserved for Monday night.

For those of you that haven't enjoyed visiting Lake Sonoma, here is the info!! Lake Sonoma is a man-made reservoir in northern California, that was created by the construction of Warm Springs Dam on Dry Creek. Completed in 1983 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the dam was built to provide water supply, flood control, and recreational opportunities for the surrounding area. Towering 319 feet high and stretching 3,000 feet across, the dam helped transform the landscape, creating a beautiful reservoir that serves as a valuable resource for the region. Lake Sonoma's location in Dry Creek Valley, a fertile region renowned for its vineyards and agricultural heritage, only adds to its charm, blending nature with the area's deep-rooted wine culture.
Before the valley was flooded to form Lake Sonoma, the region was a patchwork of farms, ranches, and vineyards. Dry Creek Valley remains famous for its world-class Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, and though the reservoir altered part of the landscape, it also added new dimensions to the area's appeal. Today, Lake Sonoma serves as an important water resource and a habitat for wildlife, including steelhead and coho salmon, supported by the fish hatchery built nearby.
Hiking the Warm Springs arm of Lake Sonoma offers a special way to experience the area’s natural beauty. This arm of the lake extends into the scenic, forested hills and provides hikers with a variety of trails that wind through oak woodlands, manzanita groves, and chaparral-covered ridges. The trails often offer stunning views of the lake’s deep blue waters below, framed by rugged hillsides. Hikers can also spot local wildlife such as deer, wild turkeys, and a variety of birds as they trek through the quiet, shaded paths. The terrain can be steep in places, but the rewards are plentiful, with overlooks providing panoramic views of both the lake and the surrounding Dry Creek Valley. This section of Lake Sonoma is perfect for those seeking a mix of challenge and tranquility in a setting that showcases the natural beauty of Sonoma County. It will take us two days to do the entire hike!