Bring a flashlight and your sense of wonder as you explore the park after dark. This hike heads up to the viewpoint on Vista Trail or to the top of Bald Mountain, where we will see the moon rise over the Mayacamas and the sun set over Sonoma Valley.
The Bald Mountain route is a strenuous 6.5 miles with 1500+ of vertical and some steep sections (not recommended for children under 12). It leaves the White Barn parking lot at 5:00pm. The Vista Trail route is a moderate-to-strenuous, 4-mile hike with 700ft of elevation and begins at 5:45pm from the main parking lot. Not recommended for children under 7.
Tickets are $10 general, $5 for students, youth (12-17 year olds), Sugarloaf members, Sugarloaf volunteers, and free for children 7-12 years old. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. You must have a ticket to attend. Be at the meeting location at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the hike for a prompt departure. Bring your flashlight, at least a quart of water, snacks, and extra layers for the evening. Parking fees apply.
Ease of access:
For Vista route: The main parking lot has one van-designated parking spot and an accessible vault toilet. There is no running water in this area. The Lower Bald Mountain trailhead beginning from the main parking lot is a single-track dirt and gravel trail of approximately one mile in length and 500 ft of elevation gain. It has narrow sections with steps and switchbacks, as well as some wider sections in full sun exposure. Bald Mtn Trail is a paved fireroad that connects Lower Bald to Vista Trail. This section is approximately half a mile with 200 ft of elevation. Vista is a single-track dirt trail. It has at least two small seasonal water crossings up to the viewpoint. From there, the route backtracks back Bald Mountain Trail to Stern Trail. Stern Trail is a roughly-paved fireroad with a few steep areas of loose gravel. It is about a mile in length and approximately 500 ft of elevation loss, with the second half of the mile being flatter and sunny.
For Bald Mtn route: The White Barn parking lot has one van-designated parking spot and an accessible porta-potty. There is a 1/4-mile paved road from the Observatory to the Lower Bald Mtn trailhead. Lower Bald Mtn Trail is a single-track dirt and gravel trail with multiple narrow switchbacks and inclines for an elevation gain of approximately 500ft. It merges with Bald Mtn Trail, a paved fire road with elevation of 1,000+ ft of elevation gain. The route backtracks on these same trails.
