A unique walking trail in marshlands that changes scenery throughout the year. During the winter it floods and its hard to imagine people were once walking on the trail before. The trail goes through the Laguna and marsh and grassland and you can catch some birds and backdrops of vineyards and unique views of changing landscapes. Wear good hiking boots (preferably ones you dont mind getting dirty) as depending on the time of year it can get wet. My dog loves zippin along this trail and of course doesnt mind getting dirty :) Its mainly flat with twists and turns and great for daily strolls or a fun adventure. Easy parking on both ends of the trail (either accessed off Hwy 12 or Occidental Road). Catch the Strawberry Man just a quick drive up Hwy 12 for an amazing basket of strawberries on your way out! These pictures were taken on the Fall Solstice during sunset.

Nice quiet spot with good signage to remind you of Covid trail etiquette. The trail is full of lovely trees, sometimes in wind, with kites above, and black crested night herons just moving into the trees along the laguna. They should be there probably through March. Go where the bridge would cross if it were in, and look into the trees. Youll start to see them, and then realize there are many, quietly sitting in plain sight.

Even though I have driven past this trail just outside Sebastopol, California hundreds of times, I had never once stopped to explore the 1.8 mile trail running between Highway 12 and Occidental Road.As I walked the trail in the hot afternoon sun, I was amazed with the scenery that I have missed out on. I will definitely be back. I’m especially looking forward to exploring it this winter when it will transform into a flooded, marshy landscape

Very peaceful walk to the river where we spotted a Green Heron making noise! Picnic tables close to parking lot and a very chill vibe. Can walk all the way to a park with playground and good benches to meditate on.

Peace and quiet...feels like youre miles away from anything.

A great place for a walk for all levels in the nature. Near Santa Rosa and Sebastopol yet feels like a world away. Its mostly in the open but there are a few parts that are nicely shaded by trees.

Nice park but flat and not much variety of things to see. Good birding and people float kayaks in the Laguna in the winter.

Its a pleasant walking trail. I walk my dog there. Its undulating a little bit. A few very mild grades

Great place to have group photos!

Abundant bird viewing opportunities in a flat, dog-friendly setting. Free parking at the hwy 12 trailhead leads to miles of trails spanning the Laguna though patchworks of Marsh and grassland. Vernal pools can be seen in the spring. Wear hats and boots, exposed dirt trails may get muddy in places.

Comfortable and easy hike.

Always a good place to take a sunset walk. From the Occidental Rd entrance the visual perks are the vineyard to to right about a half mile in. Once you get toward the other end (the Hwy 12 entrance) perks include lots of bird watching opps, beautiful swamp life flora and fauna because you are approaching the creek. In the spring and part of summer cute little crayfish are crossing the trail. Respect them and their home by keeping a look out. Local birdwatchers abound. Dogs on leash only - nesting species. The parking lot at Hwy 12 is much better than the Occidental entrance which you can get locked into if parked too late - or get a scolding note on your car if your hike takes you past sunset. Hwy 12 does have a time limit but you can park outside the gate of you like. Beautiful tall grasses and colors as the sun goes down. Horse people like this spot. Porta potty available.

Its simply a quiet, open space which includes shaded lanes and paths. Really a quiet place that feels very private even with others sharing the landscape.

Nice flat trails for those to walk at any pace

The trail is dry now. You can access all sections of trail. The weather is great!

Its calming and very pretty

Love this hiking and bike trail its the perfect size for a little excersize.

Very pretty! Is it weird that I want people to at least pick up after their horses? At least scoop it aside?

The laguna seems to attract lots of birds, including accidental migrants as well as local usual suspects. If youre not a birder, the trails are great for walking and/or jogging. But theres not much shade. At some times of the year, the grass can get high along some of the trails, so be careful to do a tick check upon exit. A treasure close to the urban centers.

Gteat trail!

Nice views. Great avian species!

Its nice that horse owners can ride there horse

Great ocean view. wonderful sightseeing

Great nature trails with lots of options, depending on how far you want to walk with easy difficulty. Trails take you around some lakes and marsh lands. Keep your eyes out for frogs, birds, and other wildlife.

Very scenic views. Very nice near sunset

I love the place, good time with family

Beautiful trail with water on both sides

Nice and quiet trails to walk.

Mostly flat but a bit too dry and featureless. Kids can do it, but on a hot day it becomes more of a work-up-a-sweat routine than an enjoyable bike ride.

Conveniently located off of the Highway 12 between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, plenty of parking and meandering trails through the fields of the Laguna and surrounding marshes. The only thing to consider . is checking your dog consistently for ticks, as the grasses are very tall and there is plenty of Gorse brush. Also, keep your eyes open for folks who walk with their dogs off leash if you have any concerns about dogs running up to you with your leashed dogs.

Nice open space with minimal traffic, but it was flooded in a lot of areas this spring.

Its beautiful but still pretty wet from all the rains right now

Pretty flooded and couldnt access the vineyard. What we could see was nice, but very muddy! Bring good wtprf shoes!

Beautiful

Small, flat trails. Good for beginner hikers. Lots of ticks though.

Nice flat trail..

Beautiful place to just be still n enjoy the outdoors .

Great place to walk the dogs are n the fall when the ticks have let up.

Nice place but it will be close for a while after the flood

I took my dog for a walk on the trail - our first time out to the Laguna since it rained. I am fully aware of the flood prone ecology of this area and expected to run into areas where water was obstructing the trail due to the inch or two of rain recently. What I did NOT expect was how poorly the trail would be shedding water and at least 90% of the length of the trail was either pooling or using the trail as a small creek to funnel water along until there was a natural break in the shoulder of the trail. Most of the trail is a few inches lower than the surrounding terrain and thus the water follows the trail. I have done erosion control and dirt road management in the past, and I must say that this trail is very poorly constructed. There is a layer of packed gravel that appears to be imported, and Im sure it costed taxpayers plenty for this project. Due to how poorly the trail is graded and how much erosion and water damage is happening on such a new trail with such a small amount of rain, I would guess that there will be excessive maintenance costs in the future. If this is how our parks spend the money they receive, it should be apparent that they need better planning and should hire someone who knows what they are doing. Summer time trail only, folks.

Peaceful and beautiful walking and jogging Trail near Wine Country. Suitable for pets on leashes.

I love nature

Great addition to Sonoma County and Sebastopol. My dog loves it !

Ticks everywhere. Took my dog for a walk here still picking ticks off her hours later. Disgusting

Very flat & open. Easy to walk it, particularly if disabled. My friend did it easily with a walker.

Walking in circles is a thing.

Enjoyable walk with a few diversions off the regular trail for little change of scenery. Rains will make trail at spots more challenging and very muddy.

Very pretty and super easy to get to.

Great three flat miles. Dog friendly. Lock valuables up and out of sight.

Quick and easy trail. Careful when it has been raining, the mud is coming quickly.

Nice easy flat walk with a view of Mount Saint Helena

A nice relaxing spot for a quick hike, maybe some bird watching.

Great place for a walk!

A favorite Sonoma County gem!

Great place to walk

Very flat but nice for a walk

Amazing sunsets

Beautiful

Nice

TICKS EVERYWHERE

Nice spot

Ok

Nice walk for the dogs.

Go walking

Nice walk

Lovely nature

Nice open trails for a sunny day.