Crane Creek's mighty fine trails and trees

June 17, 8:03 AMSonoma County ExaminerLaura McHale Holland

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Many afternoons, just before twilight, my husband, Jim, and I have either biked or driven over to Crane Creek Regional Park. We've always gone straight up the slope from the parking lot to catch a view of the Santa Rosa plane as the sun disappeared at the horizon.

But a few days ago, we took the Creek Trail to the right. I wasn't expecting much. When driving by this 128-acre expanse of what is primarily grasslands and meadows along Presley Road near Rohnert Park, I would usually think, boring. I wasn't prepared for the striking beauty of the trees along the trail. I particularly like the black oak, but the mix also includes maple, white alder and California buckeye. Water even trickled in the creek in some places. I can imagine it is luscious earlier in the year.

Picnic tables and benches are appropriately spaced along the route, and designated trails are open to hikers, bikers and those on horseback. Some are wheelchair accessible. There's also a new disc golf course (although a friend who is hooked on the sport said the grass is too high and the ticks too plentiful to make disc golf practical at this time of year since you have to go off trail to play the game).

Parking is $6 per car, but you can buy a pass for all of Sonoma County's regional parks for $60; the price goes up to $63 July 1. If you get the pass this month, you can also collect a host of goodies, including a free night of camping and free one-hour kayak rental.

For more info about our regional parks, visit www.sonoma-county.org/parks.