Helen Putnam Park
Helen Putnam Park
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
86 reviews
Excellent
57
Very good
23
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Hitcher84
Eureka, CA1,437 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
Lots of hiking trails of varying difficulty. The pastures were very green and the California Poppies were in bloom. It was windy and a little chilly when we got up to the top of the hill. Some nice views. Not too crowded. Some people on horseback. $7 parking.
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aqusite
California1,550 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
Helen Putnam Park, once you get to know the trails, is easily my favorite park in all of Sonoma County. I've probably hiked here forty times over twenty years. It's never crowded, for one thing, and the trails, particularly on the high hill area (if you climb up the hill from the parking lot toward the tree at the top) lends a stunning view. I've seen tons and tons of wildlife here because it's so uninhabited, from football-sized bullfrogs in the pond to deer to bobcats to lots and lots of different types of raptors, quail, redwinged blackbirds, and the occasional turkey, endless lizards, and several types of snakes included rattlesnakes. It is great to come with kids for the playground, the parking isn't too pricey, and if you bring a picnic lunch, you can hike and then laze by the pond for a bit. It is filled with several types of oak, some blackberry bramble, and manzanita trees, so it's just iconic for the Sonoma Valley. Stay well on the beaten path if you are prone to poison oak. If not, there are trails after trails to explore. Very pretty. It's nice to go to the Marin Cheese Factory afterwards since there is a cut-through on Windsor Drive to D street.
Written April 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
700Susan
Petaluma, CA15 contributions
Nov 2012
Nestled in the hills of western Petaluma is this gem of a park. As you enter there is a play ground a nicely designed park and eating area nestled below the road. But the real beauty can be found on the many and varied hiking trails. I am a frequent visitor and the beauty of the land and
the relatively few people always lift my spirits.
the relatively few people always lift my spirits.
Written December 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn L
San Luis Obispo, California, United States27 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
Some steep some wide and some for biking! Park off of D street to save $7 parking fee. Dogs allowed!
Written July 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark H
Sonoma, CA2,572 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
Although not large, the park is criss crossed by trail giving a variety of terrain and look out points from every directions. The initial climb up Arroyo Trail is steep (about a 30% grade), but the top of the hill features more moderate terrain. Park is multiuser, including hikers, dogs, mountain bikes, and horse back riders. Although excellent views are available throughout, don't miss the view from South Loop, one of my favorites. Parking is $7 and you self pay with either cash or credit card from a machine near the parking lot entrance.
Written December 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Y6138LIwilliamc
petaluma, United States5 contributions
Sep 2016 • Solo
I've been hiking here for 9 years and will for as long as I can. There are varying degrees of difficulty in the trails from level to 60 degree incline ( I call it the wall). It is a short 2-3 hundred feet up to the top of the world and flat up top so you can chose many trails ,all down and around the various trails, some short, some a little longer. GREAT place do
it
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Written January 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nvrnrml
belmont, california47 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Favorite family hike for sure. So much so that our son has had his birthday party here twice. Dog loves it, too. Beautiful views and nice open space. Depending on how you access the trails, may have to pay a parking fee - cash only - and they ticket if you don't pay!
Written September 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dwight S
Petaluma, CA24 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
The views are excellent and in the spring, the green hills make for very nice scenery. The other good thing is that the park is close to town. The negatives are that most of the trails are not shaded so the summer hiking is not very pleasant. I guess I am spoiled by the trails near Point Reyes and the many other Sonoma hiking trails that have redwoods, ocean views or both (like Pomo Canyon).
Written September 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip C
29 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
I just got back from a hike in our gem of a park. A mile or so from downtown Petaluma, Helen Putnam regional, lies just to the West. The main entrance is off Chileno Valley Rd. From downtown take Western to Chileno Valley. Parking is $7. There is room for horse trailers, leashed dogs are welcome. There are numerous trails, although a very thorough exploration of the park would only take an hour and a half. It is hilly, but easy walking. There is a paved road section that leads from the parking lot, passes a rangers house, a pond stocked with sunfish and bass, and goes over a ridge, continuing through shady oaks to Oxford court in the Victoria housing development. The trails go from shade to vistas as well. It is a good place to observe raptors and turkey vultures.
Written September 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shamz30
San Francisco, CA211 contributions
Apr 2016 • Friends
In the year that I've moved to Sonoma County, I have gone to several parks, I think Helen Putnam is proving to be a firm favorite. I like the trails, the hilly climb and the spectacular view. I hiked last week in the rain and it was peaceful and serene. There was an air of mystery about the trees covered in moss and the silent drip of the rain. It smelled clean and fresh. We are so lucky in Northern California with some rain coming in, in -spite of still being in a drought, it is lovely to see lush green foliage.
Written April 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is it safe for a female to walk alone
Written August 10, 2018
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