A magnificent redwood forest 2 miles north of Guerneville, this 805-acre reserve was saved from the saw by a 19th-century lumber magnate. Short interpretive trails lead into magical forests, with old-growth redwoods 30 stories high. Beyond lie 20 miles of backcountry trails through oak woodlands in adjoining Austin Creek State Recreation Area, one of Sonoma County’s last remaining wilderness areas. Walk or cycle in for free; pay only to park.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Russian River Area
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
6.91 MILES
For its creamy and crisp chardonnays and earthy pinots, along with top-notch service and an elegant tasting room, Macrostie is the talk of Wine Country…
13.58 MILES
Prepare to gawk and giggle at the wacky Patrick Amiot sculptures gracing front yards along Florence Ave. Fashioned from recycled materials, a hot-rodding…
29.93 MILES
If you visit one boutique winery in Lake County make it Olof Cellars. The wines are excellent – most are reds aged for a minimum of three years – and the…
17.02 MILES
Stunning 6000-acre Salt Point State Park has sandstone cliffs that drop dramatically into the kelp-strewn sea and hiking trails that crisscross windswept…
16.57 MILES
Giraffes in Wine Country? Whadya know. Safari West sprawls over 400 acres and hosts wildebeests, zebras, cheetahs and other exotic animals, which mostly…
10.81 MILES
The famous movie director's vineyard estate is a self-described 'wine wonderland.' Taking over historic Chateau Souverain, this hillside winery has a bit…
24.43 MILES
Napa’s second-oldest winery, Schramsberg makes some of California’s best brut sparkling wines, and in 1972 was the first domestic wine served at the White…
23.76 MILES
High atop Spring Mountain, cult-favorite Pride straddles the Napa–Sonoma border and bottles vintages under both appellations. The well-structured Cabernet…
Nearby Russian River Area attractions
3.43 MILES
Gorgeous rose gardens (April to October) and a stellar on-site deli make Korbel worth a stop for a free tasting, but the sparkling wine’s just OK. Try the…
6.1 MILES
Surprisingly upscale for West County, Hartford sits in a pastoral valley surrounded by redwood-forested hills, on one of the area’s prettiest back roads…
6.16 MILES
Inside a vintage-1920s garage, Porter Creek’s tasting bar is a former bowling-alley lane, plunked atop barrels. Porter is old-school Northern California,…
6.23 MILES
High on a hilltop overlooking the Russian River, Gary Farrell’s tasting room sits perched among second-growth redwoods. The elegant Chardonnay and long…
6.43 MILES
Pinot Noir is a finicky grape that withers in sun and mildews in fog, yet it thrives in Russian River Valley, including at solar-powered Moshin Vineyards…
6.91 MILES
For its creamy and crisp chardonnays and earthy pinots, along with top-notch service and an elegant tasting room, Macrostie is the talk of Wine Country…
7.05 MILES
This tiny winery, tucked amid vineyards, is known for 17 small-batch varieties made with estate-grown fruit. Viognier, Primitivo, Pinot and Cabernet are…