Tolay Lake Regional Park

NEW! Interim Access to the park with the Day Use Permit Program

The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department acknowledges and thanks all the group and individual contributors and supporters that made this outstanding acquisition possible.

The acquisition of Tolay Lake Ranch establishes a long-awaited regional park in the southern portion of Sonoma County, easily accessible to northern Marin, southern Napa, and Solano Counties. There are opportunities to establish multi-use trails for cycling, hiking and equestrian use. The site also offers opportunities for bird-watching, picnicking, and interpretation of natural and cultural resources. There are several high points on the site that provide spectacular views of the Petaluma River basin, Mt. Tamalpais, San Francisco, Oakland, Mt. Diablo, Mt. St. Helena, as well as other landmarks in the six adjacent counties.

The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District and the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department have worked together to purchase and preserve Tolay Lake Ranch. In April 2005, all their hard work paid off when the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to purchase the land. Now the land’s rich historic and prehistoric past, including vast cultural resources, will be preserved forever.

Restoration of historic Tolay Lake will occur in coordination with interested resource agencies and local partners and neighbors. There will be many opportunities for public input during the park planning process. The development of the site into a Regional Park, including the restoration of Tolay Lake and any restoration of existing structures, requires preparation of a Park Master Plan and environmental document pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).