Red Hill at Sonoma Coast State Beach

To start, locate the Shell Beach access point just south of Pacific View Drive on HWY 1. It’s approximately 1.6 miles south of the bridge at crossing the Russian River. Leave the car there and the trail head is just across HWY 1.

Start heading up the old ranch road (Pomo Canyon Trail) at the cattle gate and through the coastal coyote brush and grasslands. Stop periodically and enjoy the developing view of the coastline.

At 0.5 miles you will encounter the first intersection. Take the right fork and continue up the Red Hill Trail. Passing between the mounds you’ll ultimately pass into a hidden valley.

Continue up the Red Hill Trail. It appears the other fork is a trail being abandoned for vegetation regrowth.

A first look at the Russian River Valley out to Jenner and the coast.

Panoramic vista of the Russian River and Willow Creek Valley. This area is part of an old ranch that hasn't been grazed in a long time. The coastal chaparral has started taking over.

Up ahead will be an old range fence and gate to cross.

Arrive at upper meadows. The steady upgrade has settled out.

Intersection with overgrown ranch road. Stay on the Red Hill Trail to the right.

These trails are frequently crossed by old ranch roads. In a few spots it's tempting to take them.

Breaking into and ridge top forest of mixed redwood, oak, and bay.

A great shelter when the winds pick up.

Take the right fork to the top of Red Hill. Follow the left fork to continue to Pomo Canyon.

Cross the side trail and keep heading easterly toward Willow Creek.

Into a shallow draw you'll encounter a bridge with running brook.

Vista of Russian River out to the Jenner coast. The trail gently heads downhill toward the ridge separating Red Hill and the Willow Creek watershed.

Breaking into new growth Redwood Forest. Entering the Willow Creek watershed.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INTERSECTION. Red Hill Trail, Pomo Canyon and Shell Beach trails. The Park map looks as though the Pomo Canyon Trail will loop back toward the coast. If that is your desire, take the Shell Beach Route and keep your elevation. We followed Pomo Canyon down into Willow Creek. The route down will take you to the valley floor and campgrounds. The route gets steep in places. To get back you will be coming back up. This is a great opportunity to get in shape.

There is an alternate route out to coming back up- by taking the very long way out. Willow Creek has a road that passes the campground out to the Russian River. Take the road out to the HWY 1 Bridge and then back to the trail head via HWY 1.

That being said, the walk down is gorgeous!
The Pomo trail will start a series of switchbacks into older Fir and Bay forest. The forest floor is packed with beautiful fern ground cover. There are downed trees over the trail forming picturesque arches in places. It’s a wonderful forest.

Spectacular second-growth redwood grove with heavy fern ground cover. Some of the old stumps show signs of the old lumberjack springboards. The trail transitions to what appears to be a carpeted skid trail.

Unmarked trail intersection. Both ultimately head down the hill into the Pomo Campground. We took the right fork on a beautiful and steep avenue down through the grove which shortly landed us in the middle of the campgrounds.

At the floor of Willow Creek.
Pomo Canyon trailhead and parking area. Outhouses, garbage cans, water, and campground self registration available. The campgrounds are nestled up the slope, each tucked into redwood groves on a small flat bench. Most appear fairly private. It's a really nice place.

If you can't bear climbing that hill you've just come down, take Willow Creek Road out to the Russian River. You're better off climbing the hill!

Retrace your route back up the hill to the intersection at WP 15.

Two trails immediately present themselves at the camp entrance. The one you came down and one that looks like it follows the base of the hill. This one provides access to campsites then heads up the hill back to that unmarked junction at Point 17.

Back at Point 15. Take the Shell Beach Trail along the ridge toward the Russian River. The trail follows the ridge line through mixed forests and grasslands.

Still along the ridge, breaking out of forest with a great view of the Russian River and the mouth of the Willow Creek watershed.

Breaking out of the forests and into chaparral lands.

Right fork heads toward Jenner. Left fork heads westerly. Take the left fork.

Bridge. The trail has the look and feel of an old ranch road that is currently used by the park.

Trail flooded in wet weather.

Follow the side trail to the hilltop nose. There you will find a picnic bench and a spectacular vista overlooking the Russian river, the village of Jenner, the coast, and Willow Creek.

One of the nicest vistas on the hike. Better yet, there's a good picnic bench on this knoll.

Returned to Way Point 2. Backtrack down the hill.

Return to trailhead.