September 14, 2016
Posted in: News Articles
Pole Mountain on Sonoma Coast set to open to public next year
Angela Hart | THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | September 13, 2016
Pole Mountain on Sonoma Coast set to open to public next year
Come next year, the highest peak on Sonoma County’s coast will be open to hikers, offering the public a spectacular new outdoor destination with incomparable views, officials said Tuesday.
The protected 238-acre property that includes 2,204-foot Pole Mountain north of Jenner is on track to be fully open by fall 2017, along with the 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands preserve to the south, according to conservation officials.
Upon completion of a parking lot at the southern end of Jenner Headlands, expected by November 2017, the two properties will offer a 15-mile loop on new hiking trails and 360-degree views of Sonoma County and beyond.
The properties include coastal grasslands, wetlands and streams, as well as redwood and Douglas fir forests. Together, they serve as critical wildlife habitat for fish, birds and more.
“This is probably one of the most beautiful places you’ve ever seen,” said Supervisor Efren Carrillo, the board chairman.
Supervisors on Tuesday allocated $46,500 from the county Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for the nonprofit Sonoma Land Trust to begin installing new amenities, including a gate at the entrance to Jenner Headlands, new signs and picnic tables.