Park · Glen Ellen, Sonoma County

Sonoma Valley Regional Park picnic guide

Picnics welcomeWine allowed$8/vehicle

Paved path winding through a grove of oaks, with a picnic table in the distance, at Sonoma Valley Regional Park in winter — Photo: Missvain · CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Can you picnic at Sonoma Valley Regional Park?

Yes — Sonoma Valley Regional Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: $8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks members). Wine and other alcohol are allowed (see the rules below).

Checked September 2026 from parks.sonomacounty.ca.govStated on the venue's own website

Picnic rules at a glance

Picnicking: Picnics welcome
Bring your own food: Allowed
Alcohol: Allowed
Purchase required: No
Reservation: Not required
Fee: $8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks members)
Groups: No reservable group picnic site is listed for this park; tables are first-come, first-served.
Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed on trails; off-leash only inside the fenced Elizabeth Perrone Dog Park next to the Highway 12 parking area.
Hours: Daily 7 a.m. to sunset.
Season: Open year-round; wildflowers in spring.
House rules: Alcohol: Allowed. Sonoma County Code Sec. 20-13 permits alcohol in regional parks unless the park authority posts a ban, and this park is not on the county's list of parks with alcohol restrictions (check for signs on site). Other rules: charcoal and wood BBQs are banned during Red Flag Warnings, high-wind advisories and Spare the Air days (gas BBQs allowed unless noticed), and fires are allowed only in designated BBQs and fire rings; no amplified music or voice; dogs leashed except inside the dog park; open 7 a.m. to sunset.

What the picnic area is like

Right at the Highway 12 entrance, a grassy picnic and barbecue area sits under big old oaks, next to the fenced Elizabeth Perrone Dog Park. From there the paved, accessible Valley of the Moon Trail runs about 1.2 miles through lichen-draped oak woodland beside a seasonal creek to Arnold Drive, with more picnic tables along the way; spring brings poppies and lupine.

The grounds · Missvain · CC BY 4.0

Picnic tables
Lawn
Shade trees
BBQ grills
Restrooms
Parking
Hiking trails
Wheelchair accessible

Good for: Dogs · Families · Budget-friendly · Quiet

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About Sonoma Valley Regional Park

A shady oak-woodland park on Highway 12 at the edge of Glen Ellen, with a grassy picnic and barbecue area at the entrance and an easy paved trail for an after-lunch stroll. Wine is allowed under county rules, and the off-leash dog park next to the lot makes it one of the valley's best picnic stops for dog owners.

Alcohol allowed (county parks allow it unless a ban is posted)
Grassy, oak-shaded picnic and barbecue area at the Hwy 12 entrance
Fenced off-leash dog park by the parking lot
Paved, accessible 1.2-mile trail with tables along it
$8 parking; portable toilets only

More dog-friendly spots in Sonoma County More family-friendly spots in Sonoma County More free spots in Sonoma County More parks that allow wine spots in Sonoma County

Make a day of it

Stock up at a deli nearby, then picnic close by — a short, easy loop.

Glen Ellen Village Market
Deli & market · Glen Ellen · about 0.9 mi away
Sonoma Valley Regional Park (this park)
Park · Glen Ellen
Mayo Family Winery (Glen Ellen Tasting Room)
Winery · Glen Ellen · about 0.6 mi away

Pick up picnic food nearby

Glen Ellen Village Market
Glen Ellen · 0.7 mi
Sonoma Market
Sonoma · 5 mi
Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market
Sonoma · 6 mi

More picnic spots nearby

Winery

Mayo Family Winery (Glen Ellen Tasting Room)

Glen Ellen· 0.5 mi

Bring your own foodPurchase requiredNo reservationDogs OK

The Mayo family's walk-in tasting room at the south edge of Glen Ellen openly invites guests to bring a picnic to its courtyard and buy wine by the glass or bottle. Its 6:30pm closing is one of the latest in the valley.

Mayo Family Winery (Glen Ellen Tasting Room)

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food: yes
Wine purchase: Required
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: Outside
Fee: No fee listed

Nearest picnic food: Glen Ellen Village Market · 0.7 mi

Details

Winery

Imagery Estate Winery

Glen Ellen· 0.6 mi

Bring your own foodPurchase requiredNo reservationDogs OK

An art-driven small-lot winery on Hwy 12 known for its artist-designed labels and on-site gallery, with one of the easiest bring-your-own-picnic setups in Glen Ellen. Weekday picnic tables just need a bottle purchase; weekends add a table fee.

Imagery Estate Winery

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food: yes
Wine purchase: Required
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: Outside
Fee: not confirmed

Nearest picnic food: Glen Ellen Village Market · 1.2 mi

Details

Park

Sonoma Botanical Garden

Glen Ellen· 0.8 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservation

The former Quarryhill Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen actively encourages picnicking, with tables by the parking lot and along its hillside paths. At $17 per adult and with no stated alcohol policy, it suits a quiet garden lunch more than a wine picnic, and dogs must stay home.

Sonoma Botanical Garden

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food: yes
Wine allowed: not confirmed
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: No
Fee: $17 admission

Nearest picnic food: Glen Ellen Village Market · 1.2 mi

Details

Winery

B.R. Cohn Winery

Glen Ellen· 1 mi

Buy food on sitePurchase requiredNo reservationDogs OK

Founded by Doobie Brothers manager Bruce Cohn and famous for its olive groves and rock-and-roll history, B.R. Cohn is now part of Adair Family Wines. It welcomes walk-in 'grab and go' picnics with wine and snacks bought on site, but outside food isn't allowed.

B.R. Cohn Winery

Buy food on siteChecked Sep 2026

Own food: no
Wine purchase: Required
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: Yes
Fee: No picnic fee

Nearest picnic food: Glen Ellen Village Market · 1.6 mi

Details

All picnic spots in Sonoma Valley →

Frequently asked questions

Can you picnic at Sonoma Valley Regional Park?

Can you bring your own food to Sonoma Valley Regional Park?

Yes. Outside food is allowed at Sonoma Valley Regional Park.

Can you drink wine at Sonoma Valley Regional Park?

Yes, alcohol is allowed at Sonoma Valley Regional Park. Alcohol: Allowed. Sonoma County Code Sec. 20-13 permits alcohol in regional parks unless the park authority posts a ban, and this park is not on the county's list of parks with alcohol restrictions (check for signs on site). Other rules: charcoal and wood BBQs are banned during Red Flag Warnings, high-wind advisories and Spare the Air days (gas BBQs allowed unless noticed), and fires are allowed only in designated BBQs and fire rings; no amplified music or voice; dogs leashed except inside the dog park; open 7 a.m. to sunset.

Do you need a reservation to picnic at Sonoma Valley Regional Park?

No reservation is needed to use the picnic area. No reservable group picnic site is listed for this park; tables are first-come, first-served.

Is there a fee to picnic at Sonoma Valley Regional Park?

$8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks members).

Are dogs allowed at Sonoma Valley Regional Park?

Leashed dogs allowed on trails; off-leash only inside the fenced Elizabeth Perrone Dog Park next to the Highway 12 parking area.

Sources & accuracy

We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: Live Regional Parks pages checked Sept 2026 (undated)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Sonoma Valley Regional Park before you go. How we verify.

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