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Bartholomew Park

Name: Bartholomew Park
Rating: 4.00

Type: Trail

Length: 2.70 Miles

Elevation Gain: 350 Feet

Cost: Free

Rating:

(4.00)2

Difficulty: 4stars

(4.00)

Solitude:

(3.50)

ADA Accessible: No

Bikes Allowed: No

Dogs Allowed: Yes

Interpretive Guide: No

Address: 1000 Vineyard Ln.

City: Sonoma

County: Sonoma

More Information: More Info

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The Bartholomew Park is a privately owned property that's run as a non-profit entity for the benefit of the citizens of Sonoma. What this means is that visitors can view it much as they would a public park in that admission is free. Unlike a public park, one can also purchase alcoholic beverages in the form of wine!

The trails you'll encounter here are tougher than you'd expect for trails at a winery. Certainly those wanting a more leisurely stroll can choose some perfectly flat paths through some of the vineyards. But heading up into the hills overlooking the property means lots of elevation gain and frequent stairs.

The hills, part of the Mayacamas Mountain range, are heavily forested and so tree cover provides some relief from the Sun. Despite the thick foliage there are still some occasions for getting a look at the surrounding terrain below at periodic vistas.

Bartholomew Park lies adjacent to Buena Vista Winery. A small bridge connects the two along the park's easternmost trail. The gate is not always open and it's unclear what the schedule is for this access.

The gate to the property close at 4:30 PM. There is a proximity censor on the gate though so that late stragglers can exit the property after closing time without letting in any newcomers.

Photos

Coppertone looks back on the trail as we descend back towards the trailhead. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

The Shortcut Trail had one of the wider vista views down into Sonoma Valley. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

A peek into Sonoma Valley from the trails. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Native species are found throughout the hike, including some Redwoods higher up the mountain. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

We had forgotten how many stairs and steep segments were to be found here. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

We used some stepping stones to cross the creek here. Lots of big trees, including what appear to be some Redwoods, kept us in the shade most of the hike. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

The heavy tree cover of the hilly sections of the trail provide good shelter from the Sun. However, they don't provide many vistas. But there are still a few places with good views. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Part of the Bartholomew Park trails are more steep than one might think. Lots of stairs help in places. (Photo by Austin Explorer)

Log Entries

Hiking and Wine - the Wine Country Experience
By Austin Explorer on 11/13/2016
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 4.45 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 38 minutes

Our second trip to Bartholomew Park and we had somewhat forgotten how roush some of the trails are here. Much of our walking recently has been on the sidewalks of Sonoma, so the elevation gain here was a rude reminder that we had better keep up our trail outings lest we lose whatever we've gained over the years.

This time we completed the loop including the outermost You Walk Miwok Trail, which means we've hiked them all.

We found more people on the trails this time around and most seemed to have dogs, all well behaved. At the winery near the park trailhead there were enough dog owners to create an impromptu a dog social.

Unlike our first visit to the park, we had plenty of time to look through the winery museum on the site and take in a wine tasting of 5 varietals from grapes grown here on the grounds and elsewhere in Sonoma County. We ended up buying a bottle and even picked up a longhorn decantor that reminded us of our time back in Texas.

Much more than expected
By Austin Explorer on 1/18/2015
Rating:

Difficulty:

Solitude:

Distance: 2.77 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 44 minutes

Coppertone and I decided to try out this trail system towards the end of the day without knowing too much about it. Turns out we were only about an hour and a half before closing time, so we were only able to do one of the two possible loops. We'll have to come back for the rest later.

The hike turned out to be far more strenuous that expected. There's lots of ups and downs along the trail, often with stairs. We only encountered a couple of people on the trail in the upper elevations with a few more closer to the trailhead where the trail was more flat.

Recommended Item

Day Hikes Around Sonoma County: 125 Great Hikes
Robert Stone
~~List Price: $21.95~~ Your price: $21.95

Sonoma County is 35 miles north of San Francisco on the Pacific coast. This California county is known for its wineries and a magnificent natural landscape--a picturesque mix of rugged coastline, steep cliffs, forested hillsides, and verdant agricultural valleys. The cities, towns, and villages are as diverse as the geography. Interspersed throughout the landscape are thousands of acres of undeveloped parklands, forests, and open space.

Day Hikes Around Sonoma County is a collection of 125 of the county's best day hikes, providing access to both well-known and out-of-the-way greenspace. Hikes are found along the Pacific Ocean, across the coastal ridges, into wide valleys, and through thick forests. A third of the hikes are located along the coastline, accessed by Highway 1, which connects the coastal towns as it snakes along the oceanfront cliffs and bluffs. Many coastal access points that are not easily recognized from Highway 1 are clearly described. The remaining hikes explore the inland mountains, hillsides, and valleys through numerous state parks, regional parks, and undeveloped land. Highlights include fog-shrouded redwood forests, creekside canyons, wildlife sanctuaries, lakes, tidal bays, wave-pounded coastline, and sweeping panoramic views. A wide range of hikes accommodates amateur to avid hikers, from beachfront strolls to canyon treks. Straight-forward directions and clear maps accompany all hikes. A thorough index includes cities, trails, and points of interest.