The pace of the Russian River sets the leisurely tempo of west Sonoma County life. In this laid-back enclave of eccentric cabins, nestled among redwoods and fir-covered hills, you are bound to find your own rhythm.
Float down the river with us to discover where to stay, play and dine in relaxed Russian River style.
Getting Here
Access the Russian River area by flying into Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz airport, or drive up Highway 1 from San Francisco. If you’re driving, make a few stops along the coast — Stinson Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay. Do some Birds’ watching in Bodega, then ride up the scenic Bohemian Highway.
Settle In
Make Guerneville the jumping off point for your Russian River expedition — the longtime bohemian refuge of Forestville is just a stone’s throw away, as is the “vacation wonderland” of Monte Rio. Guerneville’s comforting early morning fog, the rolling river and its proximity to the Sonoma Coast make the place a dream destination for those wanting to kick back and get pleasantly lost. Guerneville’s colorful collection of residents, its eclectic variation of visitors and varied array of storefronts reflect the archaeology of the town’s recent history: timber town, then hippie haven, then gay retreat and hip getaway.
Camp in style at AutoCamp, Guerneville
Promising “no-fuss” hospitality, AutoCamp’s mid-century modern glamping site features 24 custom Airstream trailers, 10 fully equipped luxury tents and a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired pavilion. Guests can enjoy art installations, bocce courts and other outdoor games, along with specialty bikes, canoes and tennis.
14120 Old Cazadero Road, 855-942-0792, autocamp.com
Stay in an eco-friendly oasis at Boon Hotel + Spa, Guerneville
Named after owner Crista Luedtke’s canine companion, Boon offers quintessential Guerneville lodgings — a tasteful blend of old and new. The hotel grounds once housed the local mercury miner community; the hotel has gone through a series of transformations since the 1970s. In 2008, Luedtke created an eco-friendly oasis of minimalist modern cottages that promises to “unclutter your mind and allow your body to rest.”
14711 Armstrong Woods Road, 707-869-2721, boonhotels.com
Sleep in luxury at Dawn Ranch, Guerneville
This classic river resort reopened Memorial Day weekend after a luxury revamp in 2023, and in the spring of 2024 it was named in Esquire’s “41 Best New Hotels in North America and Europe.”
16467 Highway 116, 707-869-0656, dawnranch.com
Get five-star treatment with a family feel at Farmhouse Inn, Forestville
Run by brother-and-sister team Catherine and Joe Bartolomei, the Farmhouse Inn offers all the warmth and hospitality of a family-owned B&B while providing the high-end services and amenities of a five-star luxury hotel. Located just 8 miles east of Guerneville, the inn houses a Michelin-starred restaurant and offers a variety of accommodations, from high-ceiling barn rooms to bungalow-style heritage rooms.
7871 River Road, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com
Camp riverside at Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville
Johnson’s Beach, a Sonoma County summer destination for nearly 100 years, offers a variety of rental accommodations: a four-bedroom, two-bathroom main lodge overlooking the river, or rustic cabins dating to the 1920s. “Urban camping” at the beach is another popular option.
16215 and 16217 First St., johnsonsbeach.com
Relax on the Russian River
If your idea of a river experience is strenuous rafting, you’ve come to the wrong place. The Russian River is best enjoyed by lying lazily back in a canoe, kayak or float tube. Bring a beach blanket and stop to savor the sun at one of the many hidden beaches along the river. For rental river requirements and recommendations, visit Burke’s Canoe Trips in Forestville or King’s Sport and Tackle in Guerneville. Beaches along the Russian River, in west Sonoma County, include Steelhead Beach Regional Park in Forestville, Forestville River Access (Mom’s Beach) and Sunset Beach River Park. In Healdsburg, the Veterans Memorial Beach has lifeguards on duty and picnic areas.
Browse Guerneville Main Street stores (and side streets)
Rustic, renovated and retro storefronts line Guerneville’s Main Street and make it an eclectic shopper’s paradise. Start with a visit to Sonoma Nesting Company to pick up some local treasures for your home, then head on to dime store institution 5 & 10 for cheaper “collectibles” and Second’s First for some vintage clothing.
Try famous biscuits at Piknik Town Market, Guerneville
Though Big Bottom Market was sold in 2023 and reopened as Piknik Town Market, new owner Margaret van der Veen assured fans that the Market’s world-famous biscuits are still baked daily. The spot also offers salads, sandwiches, gourmet groceries and picnic provisions, including to-go picnic boxes.
16228 Main St., 707-604-7295, pikniktownmarket.com
Enjoy homemade pastries on the patio at Gold Coast Coffee, Duncans Mills
This cozy coffee shop is located in the historic hamlet Duncans Mills (once a stop on the Northwestern Pacific Railroad to Sausalito). Stop in for a cup of their finest house-roasted coffee and pair it with a homemade pastry baked in the cafe’s wood-fired oven (which also bakes great tasting pizza!) and then enjoy breakfast on the deck.
25377 Steelhead Blvd., 707-865-1441, goldcoastcoffeebakery.com
Breakfast at hidden gem Cape Fear Cafe, Duncans Mills
Cape Fear Cafe in Duncans Mills is one of “the best hidden gem restaurants” in Sonoma County, according to dining editor Heather Irwin. If you’re craving some California cuisine with southern flair for breakfast, we recommend pairing the Charleston Benedict — grilled shrimp and prosciutto, two poached eggs and lemon hollandaise — with a classic mimosa.
25191 Main St., 707-865-9246, capefearcafe.com
Enjoy bistro fare, California-style, at Boon Eat + Drink, Guerneville
A year after opening Boon Hotel + Spa, Crista Luedtke launched this Guerneville bistro which pairs modern California cuisine with Boon’s pared-down decor and minimalist philosophy. The proof of her success can be seen in the lines that form on the sidewalk outside the restaurant.
16248 Main St., 707-869-0780, eatatboon.com
Order cannolis at Canneti Roadhouse Italiana, Forestville
Canneti chef Francesco Torre grew up sampling his grandma Fina’s cooking in the Tuscan coastal town of Massa. Like Grandma Fina, Torres puts a lot of love into every plate he prepares; the locally sourced menu showcases food akin to the rustic variety that he enjoyed in his childhood.
Named after Via de Canetti, a winding rural road in Torres’ childhood Tuscany, Canneti’s decor is roadhouse simple, almost industrial: rough brick walls, farmhouse wood tables and chairs. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, and there’s patio in the back for a relaxed meal beneath the trees.
6675 Front St., 707-887-2232, cannetiroadhouse.com
Go foraging through the Forestville Farmers Market
From spring through summer, between 4:30-7:30 p.m. every Tuesday, the Forestville Farmers Market livens up the sleepy downtown with local produce, artisanal products, baked goods, arts, crafts, drinks, live music and dancing. A nice place to relax and recharge after a day on the river, sipping on a local brew under the oak trees.
6990 Front St., forestvillechamber.org/forestville-farmers-market
Have wine and ice cream at Guerneville Bank Club
The restored Guerneville Bank Club (circa 1921) offers an interesting mix of art shows, local wines, housemade ice cream and home accessories. The ice cream is the work of Nimble & Finn’s — flavors include lavender honeycomb and Meyer lemon olive oil with chocolate chunks.
16290 Main St., 707-666-9411, guernevillebankclub.com
Sip on a cold one at Stumptown, Guerneville
The real gem at this Guerneville brewery, aside from the great beers, is the expansive outdoor deck, overlooking the Russian River. Spend a sunny Saturday sipping on a beer sampler or the “Donkey Punch,” a refreshing hoppy lager with a kick and a thick body. A great pit stop on the way to the river or the coast. Plus, they have a wood-fired pizza oven and host trivia nights every Wednesday.
15045 River Road, 707-869-0705, stumptown.com, instagram.com/stumptownbrewery
Find free tours and tastings at Korbel Champagne Cellars, Guerneville
As the only Champagne producers in the Bay Area since the late 1800s, Korbel has earned a reputation in the county for its old world charm and first-class bubbles. The winery’s Champagne even made it to the table at former president Barack Obama’s inaugural luncheon, a Korbel tradition for presidential inaugurations dating back to the 1980s. Korbel offers free walking tours of its historic museum and cellars, which includes a complimentary Champagne tasting.
13250 River Road, 707-824-7000, korbel.com
Stay up late with the locals at Rainbow Cattle Co., Guerneville
“The Rainbow,” as locals call it, has been a Guerneville fixture since the late 1970s. The LGBTQ+ community gathering spot is one of only a few Sonoma County bars that remain open until early morning hours, closing at 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
16220 Main St., 707-869-0206, queersteer.com
Sip some Russian River Valley wine
The Russian River Valley is known for cool climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — favorite wineries to visit include Gary Farrell Winery in Healdsburg, Ryme Cellars in Forestville (actress Elizabeth Olsen’s favorite spot) and Hartford Family Winery, also in Forestville. Here are five more must-visit wineries between Forestville and Sebastopol.
Stroll among gentle giants, Guerneville
Avoid Muir Woods’ Instagramming tourists by experiencing the majesty of the redwoods in Armstrong Woods’ relatively remote location near Guerneville. Magnificent, 1,200-year-old Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as coastal redwoods, tower in a way that makes humans feel very small and very serene.
17000 Armstrong Woods Road, 707-869-2015, parks.ca.gov
Don your Stetson at the River Rodeo, Duncans Mills
Watch cowboys wrestling calfs and riding bulls at the top notch professional Russian River Rodeo held in Duncan Mills every June.
23450 Moscow Road
See natural pieces of art at Goat Rock State Beach, Jenner
Just south of the point where the Russian River meets the Pacific, this Sonoma Coast gem offers the kind of scenic beauty that only the powerful forces of nature can create: wild waves crashing against promontories have carved the rocky coastal landscape into abstract shapes and forms. Among these rugged structures are natural arches formed by the force of water eroding weaker strata of the rock formations.
Goat Rock Road off Highway 1. 707-875-3483, parks.ca.gov
Watch the sunset at River’s End, Jenner
Finally, as a romantic finale to your Russian River retreat, dine in style where the river meets the sea and watch the sun set on the Western horizon. The website URL for River’s End restaurant and inn is, very suitably, ilovesunsets.com.
11048 Highway 1, 707-865-2484
Ready to slow down and soak in the beauty of west Sonoma County? Plan your Russian River getaway today — from forested hikes and riverside floats to farm-to-table dining and boutique stays, your perfect escape is waiting.
