Expanding Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park: A Historic Conservation Win
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In early 2025, Sonoma County Regional Parks announced a significant expansion of Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park, furthering their commitment to protecting natural resources, enhancing public access, and promoting forest health.
Thanks to the efforts of Save the Redwoods League, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and other conservation partners, 1,517 acres of stunning redwood forest in western Sonoma County will soon be permanently protected. Save the Redwoods League is acquiring this property from Mendocino Redwood Company for $24 million and will transfer it to Sonoma County Regional Parks. |
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The acquisition connects over 22,000 acres of public land, stretching from the Bohemian Highway to the Sonoma Coast, safeguarding critical wildlife corridors, watersheds, redwood habitats, vital carbon storage areas, and significantly enhancing public access and recreational opportunities.
The property is adjacent to Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park to the east and Sonoma Coast State Park to the west. With approximately 20 miles of existing trails, this addition will provide an expanded network for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers to explore. |
Why This Expansion MattersThis land is part of the ancestral territory of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. While mid 1800s logging cleared much of the old-growth forest, this property still holds remarkable natural treasures, including a 14-foot-wide ancient redwood with a natural tunnel at its base. Today, 1,287 acres of coast redwood forest, primarily second- and third-growth stands, offer immense potential for restoration and preservation.
This acquisition is a game-changing moment for conservation in Sonoma County. We welcome your contributions to help support this exciting park expansion! |
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Key benefits of this park expansion include:
- Breathtaking Scenic Views – The property features extraordinary landscapes of the Russian River valley, coastal mountain ridges, and ancient redwood and Douglas fir forests.
- Wildlife Connectivity – A crucial link in a wildlife corridor spanning from Marin to Mendocino counties, the property will enable wildlife to continue to move between habitats.
- Redwood Forest Protection – Sustainable management will promote long-term forest health and resilience against climate change impacts, including for approximately 50 old-growth redwoods.
- Preservation of Unique Conifers – Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park will preserve habitat not only for redwood trees, but also for Douglas fir and Sargent’s cypress. The property also hosts the more unusual California nutmeg trees, a species in the yew family that is considered “vulnerable” due to logging that eliminated the tree in portions of its historic range.
- Improved Public Access – Monte Rio, a community with fewer outdoor recreation opportunities, will gain greater connectivity to the Sonoma Coast.
- Watershed and Salmon Habitat Protection – The land includes vital spawning streams for coho salmon and steelhead trout, essential to local biodiversity.
- A Conservation Milestone – This expansion represents the culmination of decades of work by dedicated conservation organizations and supporters.
What's Next?
How You Can Help
The Parks Foundation is eager to support this magnificent property following its transfer to Sonoma County Regional Parks. Your donation will ensure that this land is protected for generations to come, providing a haven for wildlife, a refuge for outdoor enthusiasts, and a sustainable, thriving redwood forest.
The Parks Foundation will provide support to refine and maintain the trail system at Monte Rio Redwoods Park & Preserve, to promote redwood forest conservation efforts, and to manage vegetation for fire resilience. In addition, fundraising in 2025-26 will support Regional Parks’ planning efforts for the future of the park. We welcome your donation today and invite you to stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to contribute to this exciting project!
The Parks Foundation is eager to support this magnificent property following its transfer to Sonoma County Regional Parks. Your donation will ensure that this land is protected for generations to come, providing a haven for wildlife, a refuge for outdoor enthusiasts, and a sustainable, thriving redwood forest.
The Parks Foundation will provide support to refine and maintain the trail system at Monte Rio Redwoods Park & Preserve, to promote redwood forest conservation efforts, and to manage vegetation for fire resilience. In addition, fundraising in 2025-26 will support Regional Parks’ planning efforts for the future of the park. We welcome your donation today and invite you to stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to contribute to this exciting project!
