Just south of the Russian River, the Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion property is a conservationist’s dream. Its 1,517 acres contain carbon-hungry young redwoods, the headwaters of critical salmon streams, open meadows that host diverse wildlife, and rolling trails that beckon to outdoor enthusiasts. All of this within two hours of San Francisco and the many Bay Area communities seeking to relax, recharge, and connect with nature.

And now this stunning landscape is secured as public land forever. With the help of our supporters, Save the Redwoods League acquired the property in June 2025. We then immediately transferred this land to Sonoma County Regional Parks for ongoing stewardship and public access. The transfer quadrupled the size of Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve, growing the park from 515 acres to 2,032 acres.

One glance at a regional map reveals how this acquisition fills a crucial gap between conserved lands—creating a single protected corridor that stretches across 22,000 acres, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This opens up the potential for trail connections to the beaches and campgrounds at Sonoma Coast State Park. It’s also an opportunity to restore the health and cultural significance of the traditional lands of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians and the Southern Pomo group of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

We’ve worked with our conservation partners and impassioned supporters for decades to assemble this jigsaw puzzle of wild lands and waterways. We’re thrilled to have secured this crucial piece—a property that’s been at high risk for development, given its proximity to Sonoma County communities and tourist destinations. Together, we conserved these mist-cloaked forests, fern-lined streams, sunny meadows, and views that stretch unimpeded toward the horizon and the future.

monte rio map 2026

What we secured

  • 1,517 acres of resilient redwood forest and biodiverse grassland
  • Headwaters of three Russian River tributaries—Dutch Bill Creek, Freezeout Creek, and Willow Creek—where coho salmon and steelhead trout spawn
  • “Missing link” connecting 22,000 acres of habitat for native plant and animal species
  • Increased wildfire and climate resilience in a region at significant risk of megafires
  • Cultural value as the traditional lands of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians and the Southern Pomo group of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
  • Expanded public access to hiking and biking trails between Monte Rio and the coast
Redwoods forest

Securing this expansive redwood forest advanced California’s 30×30 plan to protect 30% of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030 to build climate resilience and support biodiversity. Photo by Max Whittaker.

The hills are alive

Three hikers walk along a narrow trail through a grassy hillside, surrounded by rolling green hills and dense redwood forests.

Roughly 75% of the property borders county and state parks, creating exciting opportunities to link existing hiking trails and expand outdoor access. Photo by Max Whittaker.

Locals have lovingly named one of the property’s scenic overlooks “Sound of Music”—and it’s no surprise why. You could easily imagine Julie Andrews twirling through this redwood-fringed meadow, trilling over panoramic views of Sonoma Coast State Park’s forested ridges. Another inspiring viewpoint, Cassini Overlook, offers a glimpse of the winding Russian River, with Jenner Headlands and the Pacific Ocean in the distance. From this high vantage point, the interconnectedness of these lands—streams running to the river, forest giving way to meadow—is inescapable.

Closer up, individual trees emerge: lofty coast redwoods, with Douglas-fir, tanoak, madrone, coast live oak, and California bay interspersed. A few old-growth redwoods still stand here, including one lightning-scarred giant that measures 14 feet across. But after serving as managed timberland for decades, the property is home to mostly new-growth forest that has sprung up from ancient roots. In a single human lifetime, these resilient young redwoods can grow more than 100 feet as they pull planet-warming carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their heartwood. Not only are these redwoods formidable climate allies, but safeguarding this land has set them on the path toward becoming the big, old-growth trees that can support more types of wildlife.

Where the wild things roam

An American badger stands alert on the forest floor, showcasing its distinctive facial markings and powerful claws, perfect for digging.

The expansion secures a critical link in the Coast Range–Marin Coast wildlife corridor, which provides suitable habitat for American badgers, as well as mountain lions, bobcats, black-tailed deer, and California quail. Photo by Gerald Corsi/iStock.

The expanded park provides habitat for a cast of creatures, from small mammals like the Sonoma tree vole and San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat to winged residents such as northern spotted owl, pallid bat, and western bumble bee. California red-legged frog, foothill yellow-legged frog, and California giant salamander may be found near Dutch Bill Creek, Willow Creek, and Freezeout Creek, which all feed into the Russian River, providing fresh, cool waters for spawning salmon. By expanding Monte Rio Redwoods, we’ve secured the headwaters of all three critical streams for the future.

This haven for native flora and fauna also serves as a critical linkage in the Coast Range–Marin Coast wildlife corridor. Mountain lions, bobcats, California quail, and American badgers are among the fascinating animals that move through this landscape. Connecting this property to other conserved lands will secure and stabilize this potential breeding habitat, while also building wildfire and climate resilience for the benefit of wildlife and local communities.

Securing this property has been part of a larger effort to revive Sonoma County’s legendary redwoods corridor. With this acquisition, Save the Redwoods and our supporters have helped to reconnect more than 24 square miles of forest land in Sonoma County. This builds on our recent acquisitions at Sonoma Coast Redwoods, Armstrong Ridge, and Russian River Redwoods, as well as beloved parks, preserves, and public lands at Fort Ross State Historic Park, Jenner Headlands Preserve, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, and Grove of Old Trees.

Thank you for dreaming big

Redwood Needles

The property’s young coast redwoods collect moisture from fog rolling in off the Pacific Ocean. Securing this forest is a key step in building climate and wildfire resilience in Sonoma County and beyond. Photo by Justin Lewis/Coldwater Collective.

The Monte Rio Redwoods Expansion is more than just a plot of land. It represents a future where everyone can experience the gentle redwood giants in all their glory. Transferring the property to Sonoma County Regional Parks for permanent public access is part of our ongoing work to increase the number of stunning redwood destinations accessible to all.

Together, we filled a key gap in California’s iconic redwood range and expanded parkland for the health and enjoyment of locals and visitors alike. The $24 million needed to secure this incredibly property was generously provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Sonoma Land Trust, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and an anonymous West Sonoma County family. And of course, thousands of individual donors provided crucial support. Right here in our backyard, we conserved these critical 1,517 acres and connected miles of redwood forest, wildlife habitat, and vital waterways for the future. Thank you for your generosity and passionate support for this project.