Details
Features
About this place
Nearly 4.5-miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails meander through grasslands and oak savannah. In springtime, there is an abundance of native wildflowers too. Picnic area and large pond are located near the park's south entrance, just three miles from downtown Petaluma.
A 216-acre park, Helen Putnam offers 9 trails that are relatively short but can be combined however you wish. Go 2 miles or 10 miles. Loop in and out, up or around. I take a different route every time I hike here.
For a good 4.8-mile hike, begin at the southwest corner, where the parking lot and restrooms are located. Veer right to get on the Ridge Trail and wind up and around the pond, and then continue to the South Loop Trail. Turn right onto the South Loop trail, which will eventually bring you back to the Ridge Trail.
From the Ridge Trail, turn right to continue onto the Fillaree Trail and head to the overlook. Turn around and backtrack on the Fillaree Trail until you reach the Pomo Trail. Turn left to take Pomo trail, then right to take the Panorama Trail. Follow it down and around becoming the Pomo Trail.
From here you will quickly reach the Arroyo Trail. Veer left to take Arroyo back up to the Panorama Trail. When you get back to the Panorama trail, turn right, and then soon after turn right again to take the Savannah Trail. It will loop you back down near the parking lot, at which point you get back on the Ridge Trail and the parking lot. If you have more energy, continue meandering and looping through the park until you've had enough!
PARKING FEE:
There is a $7 parking fee for parking at the south entrance lot. (Fees are subject to change. Check parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov for updates.)
Leave No Trace
