The Wild Russian River
Forestville, California lies in the heart of Sonoma County and is nestled along the famous Russian River in Northern California.
What put Sonoma County on the map was its vast array of vineyards. With over 425 in the area, this famous county has a variety of wines to suit any taste. Each year thousands of tourists make their way to this part of the north to take in the views and pick out their favorite tastes, but we’re not here just solely for the wine.
If you take your gaze beyond the rolling hills of grapevines and tasting rooms you will see a part of California that is rich in mountainous ridges, abundant in natural wildlife, and sprawling views of enormous pine trees.
And nestled in this stretch of breathtaking country is the famous Russian River.
The river received its name from the Russians of the Russian American Company who settled in Fort Ross. At the time there were heavy Russian settlements in the Alaska area. With a shortage of food during most of the year, many of the early settlers made their way south in search of long-term crop growing areas where they could establish year-round farming. These early trappers followed the path of the Native Americans from the Pacific Ocean and came inland far enough to settle Sebastopol, just outside Santa Rosa. In addition to the names of famous landmarks such as the Russian River in this area, wine growing was also brought here by the Russian colonists.
Today the wine-growing industry is flourishing. And the Russian River is a stand up paddle boarder's dream.
Come with us on this virtual tour of the area, the Russian River, and the outfitter that will take you to exciting new heights in your journey with stand up paddle boarding - Rubicon Adventures.
-Perfect Paddles Travel Brief-
Best Time of Year to Visit:
The best time to visit Sonoma is between June and October when the weather is at its finest, with high temps hovering in the mid-80s in June and the upper 70s in October, unfortunately, this time of year is also when the crowds are the thickest and hotel rates are at their highest. (travel.usnews.com)
Visa: “All travelers entering the United States from all other countries need a passport upon arrival (regardless of their country of citizenship). Permanent residents and foreign nationals may also need a U.S. visa., therefore, you must apply for a visa before you start your trip.” (www.usa.gov)
Flight distances from major cities to San Francisco Bay Area (estimates):
New York City: 6 hrs
Los Angeles: 1.5 hr
London: 14 hrs
Paris: 12 - 14 hrs
Dubai: 21 hrs
Istanbul: 14 hrs
Sydney: 14 - 36 hrs depending on layovers
Featured SUP Shop Along the Route:
Rubicon Adventures, Forestville, California
Top Additional Attractions:
Sonoma Coast State Park: Sonoma Coast State Park is a State of California property in Sonoma County consisting of public access use on lands adjoining the Pacific Ocean. This extent of beach runs from a coastal point about 4 miles north of Jenner and continues for approximately 17 miles to the south to terminate at Bodega Head.
Charles M. Schulz Museum: The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is dedicated to the creator of the Peanuts comic strip. The museum opened on August 17, 2002, two years after Schulz died, and is in Santa Rosa, California.
Safari West: Safari West is a 400-acre private wildlife preserve located 12 miles north of the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California, United States
Armstrong Redwoods State National Reserve: Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is a state park of California in the United States established to preserve 805 acres of coast redwoods. The reserve is located in Sonoma County, just north of Guerneville. The reserve is in a temperate rainforest. The climate is mild and wet.
Buena Vista Winery: Landmark circa-1857 winery with historic buildings, formal gardens, tastings & picnic spots.
Member Deals Reminder:
As a member of Perfect Paddles, you will receive a discount at participating shops on our list. Because you know how to paddle, have skills, and want to spread the stoke of stand up paddleboarding, you deserve a break! Our Featured Buddy Deal Location on this journey is Rubicon Adventures in Forestville! To receive your discount, be sure to sign up at Perfect Paddles. And if you are a member, take advantage of this excellent opportunity to paddle with some of the best people in the SUP community!
Exciting Offers from Rubicon Adventures:
Wohler Bridge Tour Entry
This 1/2 day entry-level course covers land and water training skills and a 2-hour tour of one of the most remote scenic sections of The Russian River.
SUP 101 Down River, Level I
Covers all paddle skills, as in the Wohler Bridge tour but in addition: we cover currents, eddies, riffles, and rapids, how to catch and play in eddies, S turns, river hazards, basics of reading currents, and a six-mile down river tour of the Russian River. This clinic is an introduction to paddling in currents and is a prerequisite for whitewater stand up paddle boarding.
Pinnipeds and Sea Birds, Russian River Estuary Tour
After a short land training on the Boating ramp at Jenner, we will tour the lower Russian river estuary, from the river mouth, stop at Goat rock beach for a short layover, and paddle around Penny Island.
The Russian River Estuary is home to one of the largest concentrations of marine mammals and sea birds. There are over 50 migrating species of sea birds, rocky shore birds, otters and the estuary is a major pinniped rookery.
Whitewater SUP Clinics on the South Fork American River
If you have taken stand up paddle boarding 101 Downriver, have decent balance skills and want more action, this is the clinic to take. Classes take place on the American River. These one day clinics are fun and exciting. We book these clinics through our partner outfitter, Davide Sartoni, The River SUP Guy.
The Guides at Rubicon Adventures
Every journey needs a guide. Someone to show you the way. To keep you safe. And to make sure you are having a great time along the way. Naturally then, our journey begins at Rubicon Adventures.
When it comes to stand up paddle board, the guides at Rubicon are spearheaded by three experts.
Bill Mashek is the owner of Rubicon Adventures.
“Bill started running rivers commercially as a teenager. His rafting experience is international and has run rivers all over the world, including several first descents. Bill Mashek started Rubicon Adventures in 1972 in the beginning of the Golden Years of Rafting. In 2010 he introduced stand up paddle boarding to Sonoma County making Rubicon a leader in the paddle sport industry.”
John Hadley is the stand up paddle boarding lead instructor. John happens to be an elite pro racer and “Red Bull Heavy Water” competitor. In addition, he is a world class big wave surfer.
And new this year, Rubicon Adventures has partnered with Davide. Or as he is more commonly known - The River SUP Guy. Tthe team at Rubicon Adventures is working with Davide to bring you an exciting offering - make your way through higher class rapids of the American River for an adrenaline rush you won’t forget!
Davide is an expert in river stand up paddle boarding. He spends upwards to 100 days per year riding whitewater and is the man who leads adventurers through their whitewater classes.
The Tour
While an adrenaline-packed trip through the whitewater stretches of the American River is tempting - we instead opt for Rubicon Adventures’ Russian River Estuary Tour.
The sun is high overhead as we make our way to the boat ramp in Jenner just outside the lower Russian River estuary.
It is here our guides give us proper instruction on paddling. They go over paddle grip, stroke, how to stop, turning techniques, how to move from kneeling to standing, and answer any questions the group has before entering the water. This short land lesson will serve useful for our time on the water.
After everyone is comfortable, we begin our journey on the water. We begin at the river mouth. The wind is relatively calm but it still offers resistance as we paddle along the coast. The early-going is challenging as we all try to get the proper paddling motion down while still looking towards the coast line.
But the views are incredible. Besides the mountainous landscapes and greenery, the Russian River Estuary is home to one of the largest concentrations of marine animals and sea birds.
As we paddle along the coast we can spot California sea lions, northern elephant seals and northern fur seals. Our guide calls back to us, “Harbor seals have been spotted in this area going back decades.”
It is altogether quite astonishing to see the number of sea lions and seals on the coast. And to see them in their natural habitat is a treat.
As we continue our journey, we make our first rest stop at Goat Rock Beach.
The beach is vast. And almost empty. It’s the perfect spot to rest, take in the views, and soak in some additional rays.
The beach itself is derived its name from goat herds that grazed nearby more than a century ago. Today, there are few goats left. But whales are said to be frequently spotted from the shore.
Penny Island
After a quick re-hydration, we’re back on the water. This time heading to a paddle around Penny Island - a small stretch of land sitting in the middle of the estuary.
The island is made of jagged rocks jutting out of the water's moving current. It’s covered with birds as they rest and relax in the sun. We hug the shoreline and take in the sights. This part of the country is a beautiful sight. The abundance of wildlife contrasts alarmingly with the empty shoreline of the island. It is uninhabited by people. And that is what makes it different, and somewhat special.
As we make our way around the final turn we head back to our starting point at the boat ramp and to the end of our tour.
Conclusion
The next time you are in Sonoma County, California and want to experience life beyond the abundant wineries, explore on the water.
Consequently, the best way to do so is with the team at Rubicon Adventures. Their team has decades of experience on the waters of the Russian River. This will guarantee your safety and that you will have a great time! We cannot recommend it enough.
If you have any questions about this trip, need additional places to go, or wish to check out our featured outfitter, be sure to reach out! Our inbox is always open. Of course, if you wish to see additional articles just like this one, become a Member today! In addition to a wealth of paddling information, you’ll be able to save money on rentals, lessons, and paddling gear from outfitters around the globe. Until next time, keep the stoke for stand up paddle boarding alive and get out there.
About the Author
Share this Post