Spring Lake Park

Spring Lake Park (officially Spring Lake Regional Park) is a 320-acre Sonoma County Regional Park at 5585 Newanga Ave in northeast Santa Rosa, California. Originally constructed in the 1960s by the Sonoma County Water Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a flood-control reservoir protecting the Santa Rosa Plain, the surrounding oak woodlands and grasslands were transformed into a major public recreation reserve in 1974. Centered around a 72-acre reservoir and a three-acre seasonal swimming lagoon, the park draws walkers, cyclists, paddlers, anglers, and campers seeking immediate access to interconnected trails linking Howarth Park and Trione-Annadel State Park.

What to Expect at Spring Lake Park

The centerpiece of Spring Lake Regional Park is the 72-acre lake, encircled by a 2.3-mile paved Class I multi-use trail that climbs over two earthen flood-control dams and winds through mature coast live oaks, black oaks, and seasonal vernal pools. Because gas-powered boat engines are prohibited on the reservoir, the water remains quiet and well suited for kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, pedal boats, and electric trolling motors. Anglers cast from the shoreline or small watercraft year-round for largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish. Alongside the paved loop, dirt singletrack and gravel fire roads bring the park’s trail network to nearly 10 miles, suitable for hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and equestrians.

From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, the park’s three-acre chlorinated swimming lagoon opens on the western shore, featuring a sandy beach, lifeguarded swim zones, and a floating inflatable water park obstacle course. Just steps from the lagoon, the Environmental Discovery Center houses interactive natural history exhibits, a simulated tidal pool, and classroom programs focused on the Russian River watershed. Overnight visitors can book campsites across two hilltop campground loops offering 31 individual RV and tent sites, three walk-in primitive sites, and rustic sleeping cabins shaded by native oaks.

• Paved 2.3-Mile Lake Loop Trail: A wide, paved multi-use path circling the 72-acre reservoir, popular with joggers, families with strollers, road cyclists, and dog walkers on leash.
• Seasonal Swimming Lagoon & Water Bark: A three-acre filtered swimming lagoon with a sandy beach and inflatable floating obstacle course in summer, which converts into the off-leash “Water Bark” dog swim event on select autumn weekends.
• Environmental Discovery Center: An indoor interactive nature museum near the Violetti Road entrance featuring hands-on watershed displays, native wildlife exhibits, and family educational programs.
• Non-Motorized Boating & Fishing: A concrete boat launch ramp and seasonal watercraft rental concession providing kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes on calm, gas-motor-free waters stocked with bass and catfish.
• Trail Connections to Howarth & Trione-Annadel Parks: Direct trail junctions on the western and southern borders leading into Santa Rosa’s 152-acre Howarth Park and the 5,092-acre Trione-Annadel State Park for extended backcountry hikes and mountain bike rides.

Spring Lake Park at a Glance

Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings

Spring Lake Park has three primary vehicular entrances: the main campground and boat launch entrance at 5585 Newanga Avenue, the swimming lagoon and Environmental Discovery Center entrance off Violetti Road, and the southern trailhead off Channel Drive near Montgomery Drive. Walking or cycling into the park is free, while motor vehicles pay a $7 day-use parking fee at the entry kiosks or automated pay stations (free for Sonoma County Regional Parks annual passholders). On warm summer weekends, the Violetti Road parking lots near the swimming lagoon fill by 11:00 AM, so arriving before 9:30 AM is smart. For wheelchair users and strollers, the paved lakeside path, picnic areas, restrooms, and the Environmental Discovery Center are step-free and ADA accessible, though the two dam ascents on the full lake loop involve moderate inclines.

You can easily combine a morning loop around Spring Lake with two immediately adjacent parks. Crossing the footbridge on the western edge brings you directly into Howarth Memorial Park on Summerfield Road, which features Lake Ralphine, a miniature train, a carousel, and a children’s playground. Heading south across Channel Drive connects directly onto the Cobblestone and Warren Richardson trails inside Trione-Annadel State Park, leading up to rough volcanic cobble singletrack and Lake Ilsanjo. For lunch or coffee after a hike, the open-air Montgomery Village Shopping Center at Sonoma Avenue and Farmers Lane is a five-minute drive west, offering bakeries, cafes, and patio dining.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the operating hours and best times to visit Spring Lake Park?

Spring Lake Park opens daily at 7:00 AM, closing at 5:00 PM during late autumn and winter and staying open until sunset during spring and summer. Early mornings between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM offer glassy water for kayakers, active birdlife along the tule marshes, and cool temperatures on the exposed dam climbs. Spring brings green hillsides and wildflowers, while October and November showcase bright autumn foliage among the black oaks.

How much does it cost to visit or camp at Spring Lake Park?

Pedestrians and cyclists enter the park for free, while day-use vehicle parking costs $7 per car. Entry to the Environmental Discovery Center is free, though the seasonal swimming lagoon charges a small per-person fee for the inflatable water park. Campsites and sleeping cabins require advance online reservations through the Sonoma County Regional Parks portal, especially for Friday and Saturday nights from May through October.

How much time should I budget for a visit?

Walking the 2.3-mile paved loop around the lake takes 45 to 60 minutes at a relaxed pace. Visitors planning to rent a kayak or paddleboard, tour the Environmental Discovery Center, picnic by the oaks, or swim in the summer lagoon should budget 2.5 to 4 hours.

Are dogs allowed at Spring Lake Park?

Yes, dogs are welcome throughout the park’s paved and dirt trails as well as in the campground and picnic areas, provided they remain on a leash no longer than six feet. Dogs are not permitted inside the swimming lagoon or the Environmental Discovery Center during regular summer operations, except during the annual off-leash “Water Bark” weekends held in the lagoon each fall.

When planning your Santa Rosa travel guide or comparing verified attractions and parks in Santa Rosa, pair this stop with standout local spots including Safari West, Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, The Petrified Forest, and Trione-Annadel State Park (1.3 km away).