Shollenberger Park — Attraction in Petaluma

Welcome to Shollenberger Park located in the city of Petaluma, CA!

More specifically, the address is 1400 Cader Lane. The entrance to the parking lot is narrow so I would just be aware when pulling in. The location is right next to Petaluma river and people refer to this park sometimes as “Petaluma wetlands.” It is one of the last wetlands of its kind in the country.

This park has a 2 mile loop good for walking. On average, it’s about a 38 minute walk. This trail is also good for cycling, and nature watching. There are benches along the trail as well as a picnic bench in the beginning of the trail.

This a family-friendly park. The trail is stroller friendly for those who have little ones. I enjoyed watching kiddos running around their families, everyone smiling and laughing even with no playground around. Sometimes schools will plan field trips here for the kids. They have a unique ecosystem and have had 231 different types of birds hanging around here so it’s a good environment to learn and enjoy the view.

In the beginning of the trail there are restrooms for both men and women. By these restrooms there is a water fountain for both people and dogs. There are also trash cans so there’s no reason to litter! Especially at Petaluma’s largest and most visited park.

There is a fishing pier for those of you who are looking for some fishing spots. As long as you have the proper licensing as well!

Dogs are welcome as long as you clean up after them and they are on a leash.

There is handicapped parking and the trail is wheel chair accessible since it is a mostly paved concrete road.

When I visited this park I enjoyed the views. Although the water was low it is still just as beautiful and scenic. I love how lively this trail is with not only the nature and wildlife, but the people around both locals and visitors. If you’re looking for an easy hiking trail that is kid, pet, and nature friendly I would come here! To the beautiful people of Sonoma county and visitors abroad, whether you’re in it for the sights to see or some exercise, Shollenberger Park is...

Lovely flat walking trail that can be, I believe, a little over two miles depending on which paths you take. The biggest loop is, I would say, maybe 2/5 pavement and 3/5 gravel. Feel free to explore, because you can see the entrance from almost anywhere in the park! You'll always find your way back, and the thoughtful placement of many benches means you can stop for a breather any time, and take in the view. Lots of wonderful birdies living their best lives. They're not terrified of humans, but they keep their distance, as should you. Lots of people walking their dogs (most are well-behaved and leashed in my experience), plus a decent amount of runners and some cyclists. The trail is wide, so as long as you are staying on the right side as traffic would dictate, you likely won't need to make room. Finally, there is a restroom and human/dog water fountain at the entrance. The parking lot is a bit small, but I've always been able to find a spot (helps that my car is 4WD and can park in dirt a and lumpy areas. My only complaint about this trail is that the rocks in the gravel are BIG and often poke at the soles of my feet through my shoes, but honestly I probably need to get better shoes anyway. I endure it to traverse this...

This is a great park and trail in Petaluma near the wetlands. It is mostly well managed, with pertinent information about each section of the trail along the way. The sections are called stations, and you can scan the barcodes at those stations to know more about it. It was fascinating to read about all of it.

We came here on a sunny Saturday afternoon, and the trail was moderately busy. Some sections are quite muddy, and it can be a little difficult to navigate them, however it’s nothing that one can’t handle. We saw a lot of birds along the trail, and ducks swimming in the river. It took us 2 hours to complete the trail and the cutoff trail that runs over the iron bridge. The cutoff trail leads through Alman Marsh to the Petaluma Marina.The park hours are from sunrise to sunset. While on the trail, we could see the mountains which made for a great viewing. We also saw a few picnic tables near the start of the trail, however they didn’t seem very inviting to sit on. We also saw signs for docent-led tours at Shollenberger and Ellis creek ponds.

I’d recommend bringing water and exploring this trail. A light jacket would also be good. A great way to spend your weekend and get...