Water Canyon Recreation Area

Secluded Water Canyon offers a rugged, picturesque setting along the canyon’s upper reaches and a lush riparian area of cottonwood and aspen trees along the stream at the canyon bottom. A few primitive roads travel up into the Sonoma Mountains from the recreation area, offering a variety of back country adventures. A 4-mile trail in Water Canyon links mountain bikers to the 40-mile-long Bloody Shins Trail System within the Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness. The best time to visit is April-October. All roads within the recreation area are made of dirt. Visitors must use four-wheel-drive vehicles to travel past the main recreation area. Roads are only passable in dry weather and are snow-covered in winter months. The stream can dry up during exceptionally arid summers.