The acquisition of Tolay Lake Ranch establishes a long-awaited regional park in the southern portion of Sonoma County, easily accessible to northern Marin, southern Napa, and Solano Counties. This 1,769-acre preserve, formerly the Cardoza Ranch, consists of ridges, grasslands, wetlands and a historic homestead that many Bay Area residents know as the site of an annual pumpkin festival that draws as many as 30,000 people.

To visit with your dog, you’ll need to obtain a day-use permit through an orientation session that takes about an hour. Dogs must be leashed (six-foot maximum) and licensed throughout the park, with the exception of marsh areas where they’re not permitted at all. Once you’re set up, all of the park’s 8.6 miles of trails originate from the Park Center complex, which includes picnic areas and ranch infrastructure.

The most popular hike is the 5-mile out-and-back route to Three Bridges Vista Point. This trail follows the Causeway Trail across seasonal Tolay Lake and climbs through oak woodland to join the East Ridge Trail. When you reach the vista point, you’ll see sweeping views across the entire park and out to San Pablo Bay, including the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Bay Bridge, and Highway 37 overpass. You can also combine several trails to form a loop, or take shorter trips along Tolay Creek and visit several ponds if you prefer less ambitious outings.

Keep in mind that most of the trails run through open grassland with limited shade, so bring plenty of water and wear sun protection, especially during warmer months. Parking is free and easy to find. Hours vary seasonally—the park closes as early as 5pm November through January but stays open until 9pm during summer. The open grassland means you’ll get good views throughout your hike, but those exposed sections can feel pretty exposed on a hot day, so aim for earlier morning or later afternoon visits during peak season.