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Ridgeline Ramblers

Bald Mountain — Sugarloaf Ridge

A sunny Sonoma summit with views linking Mount Tam, Diablo, and Saint Helena.

2,729 ftCA • NorCal / Sonoma • Summit hike

Quest challenge 3/10 · Worthy Quest

Quest estimate for the described approach: endurance, altitude, and technical terrain combined. Conditions can change the difficulty. This is not an AllTrails or climbing grade.

A summit story waiting to happen.

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Meet the mountain

The approach: Lower Bald Mountain Trail and Bald Mountain Trail from the main day-use area

Summit finish: Bald Mountain’s summit in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

A sunny Sonoma summit with views linking Mount Tamalpais, Diablo, and Saint Helena. The park operator lists the out-and-back as 5.6 miles with 1,529 feet of gain. Longer loop options are available, but this rating uses the direct return hike. Much of the route is exposed to the sun.

TRAILCRAFT TO PRACTICE

Choose a comfortable weather window and carry enough water for the open climb.

A SUMMIT QUEST TALL TALE · FICTION

The missing wig

The mountain ordered a grass wig for a formal occasion. The wind tried it on first and left town. The mountain now insists the bare look was a bold personal choice.

Explore the Field Guide’s peak legends →

Before you set out

Every good quest starts with a little map time. Explore these route guides and check the latest updates before setting a date.

Sources reviewed 2026-09-08. Check the links for current conditions. The approach above explains our challenge rating; logging this peak does not assign that route to your outing.

Sugarloaf Ridge hiking guide ↗

Park operator’s named summit route, measurements, and alternatives.

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Sugarloaf Ridge State Park ↗

Park access and operator information.

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Find AllTrails routes ↗

Search for an approach that matches your plan.

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Find recent trip reports ↗

Check dates and route choices; reports do not replace current land-manager information.

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“Find AllTrails routes” opens a Google search restricted to AllTrails trail pages, not a selected route. Completion is tracked in Summit Quest and does not sync with AllTrails.