Stewards of Coast and Redwoods offers many guided hikes and special programs at the Coast, Armstrong Woods and Austin Creek Reserve
Favorite Armstrong Woods Hikes
1.7 mile stroll: Parking lot to Armstrong Tree and then to Picnic Area along Pioneer Trail. Back along road, Redwoods all the way.
2.2 mile loop with a 400 foot climb: Parking lot to Picnic Area by way of the East Ridge along East Ridge Trail. Back along road or Pioneer Trail. A moderate hike along a ridge shaded by Firs, Oaks, and Madrones with a stroll back through Redwoods. Pioneer trail or road and back. A short, easy stroll through the Redwoods.
Favorite Coastal Hikes
Short strolls (approximately 2 hours) – The .7 mile stroll to the Seal Nursery at Goat Rock Beach includes seal watching and local history. The 1.7 mile hike around Bodega Head as well as the .75 mile Vista Overlook Trail can incorporate whale watching and birding in season.
Easy to Moderate ½ Day Hikes – The Kortum Trail stretches for 6 miles along the coast offering beautiful views, fabulous birding, whale watching and wildflower and native plant viewing opportunities in season, and access to sandy beaches and tide pools. A half day excursion could include either Blind Beach – Shell Beach a 4.6 mile out and back or Shell Beach to Wrights Beach a 3.2 mile out and back. The Bodega Head overlook hike is a moderate 3 mile hike incorporating the same topics.
Easy to Moderate Full Day Hike – The entire Kortum Trail can be easily done in a day.
Challenging Full Day Hikes - Shell Beach to Pomo Canyon is a 6.6 mile round trip with a 600 ft elevation gain and offers options of wildflower and native plant viewing, birding, and whale watching in season as well as redwood ecology, watersheds, and local history. A tour of the new Willow Creek extension offers several challenging hikes of varying distances covering the topics of local ecology, watersheds, and local history as well as birding and native plant and wildflower viewing in season.