SONOMA COUNTY OPENED EIGHT MILES of new trails at the Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve last week, roughly doubling the size of the park’s trail network.
The expansion through the park, southeast of Santa Rosa, gives access to hundreds of acres of open space and forests of oaks and laurels, according to the Regional Parks agency.
The paths in the northeast section have had limited access since this past spring, when hikers were allowed to start breaking them in. This week the county fully opened the trails to mountain bikers and equestrians.
“This is a wonderful example of what’s possible when we support the long-term planning of our parks and open spaces,” Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Lynda Hopkins said in a statement. “Through partnership and collaboration this land was protected, and in the same spirit, we’re now delivering on the vision to expand access to nature and offer new opportunities for recreation and well-being.”
The land was acquired by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District before being transferred to the county’s Regional Parks.
The purchase was made possible by a $2.16 million grant from the state’s Department of Parks and Recreation, which administers a Recreational Trails Program. Further funding was provided by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, park fees, and revenue from Measure M passed by voters in 2018. The measure added an eighth-of-a-cent sales tax for 10 years to be used to improve county and city parks.
The trail expansion is the largest buildout of the park since it was created in 2013, when it had just 3 miles of trails. The addition brings the total to over 15 miles of trails situated in 1,100 acres of protected space.
Since its opening, the county has restored natural habitat and built trailheads, parking areas, a disc golf course and a children’s play area.
The new trails will give parkgoers a different experience on the land, which is more forested than the open space on the western side, according to the Regional Parks.
Key additions include the Kawana Terrace Trail, which passes an abandoned 19th-century hot springs resort, the Colgan Highlands Trail to the East Knoll overlook 1,140 feet high, with panoramic views of Bennett Valley, and Lower Colgan Loop Trail, an easy journey that crosses Colgan Creek over several bridges.
The project also opened two new walk-in and bike-in entrances at Linwood Drive and Kawana Terrace Road.
Regional Parks Director Bert Whitaker said the park had grown into one of the county’s most popular recreation destinations.
“This expansion adds a whole new way to experience the park, whether you’re out for a quiet walk, a challenging ride or just taking in the views, and reflects our ongoing commitment to creating parks that are welcoming, accessible and sustainable,” Whitaker said.
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