Taylor Mountain (Sonoma County, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taylor Mountain |
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Taylor Mountain, viewed from the southwest
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,406 ft (429 m) NAVD 88 |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sonoma County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Sonoma Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Santa Rosa |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | trail |
Taylor Mountain is a mountain peak located in Sonoma County, California. It is part of the Sonoma Mountains. The mountain is named after John Shackleford Taylor. He was a pioneer from the California Gold Rush era. In 1853, he settled on the mountain. He raised dairy cows and planted a vineyard there.
Taylor Mountain is easy to see from many nearby places. You can spot it from Sonoma Mountain and the Santa Rosa Plain. It is also visible from Bennett Valley and even from the Alexander Valley to the north.
The top of Taylor Mountain helps mark the border between two special grape-growing areas. These are the Sonoma Coast AVA and the Sonoma Valley AVA. AVA stands for American Viticultural Area. It means these are official regions for growing grapes to make wine. Grapes grown on the west side of the mountain are used for Sonoma Coast wines. Grapes from the east side are used for Sonoma Valley wines.
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Exploring Taylor Mountain Park
The Taylor Mountain Open Space Preserve is a large park. It covers more than 1,100 acres of Taylor Mountain. This land was bought for public use between 1995 and 2011. It was purchased by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.
Park Opening and Trails
The park first opened to the public on February 23, 2013. It had four miles of dirt trails for hikers. A second entrance opened on June 13, 2015. This new entrance is on Petaluma Hill Road. It has nice features like picnic tables. There is also parking for horse trailers. From this entrance, you can take a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) trail. This trail connects to other parts of the park.
Park Rules and Views
If you have a dog, it is welcome in the park. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The mountain is about 1,400 feet (427 meters) tall. From its sides, you can see amazing views. You can look out over the Santa Rosa Plain to the west. To the north, you can see Bennett Valley and Trione-Annadel State Park.
Access and Fees
You can get to the park from a parking lot. This lot is near the eastern end of Kawana Terrace. It is off Kawana Springs Road. There is a $7 fee per vehicle for day use. The park is open every day from 8 AM until sunset.
