Russian River

The entire Russian River runs more than 110 miles (177 kilometers) from its source in Mendocino County southward to the Pacific Ocean. Wine country towns like Healdsburg, Cloverdale, Santa Rosa, Geyserville, Sebastopol, Jenner, and Bodega Bay are all draws for outdoor recreation, fine dining, and winery visits. From spring through fall, the river itself is a popular place to cool off—whether you want to float down the river via inner tube or paddle in a canoe or kayak. In the surrounding redwood forests travelers can go horseback riding, hiking, or camping.

Wine-tasting tours are a popular Russian River Valley draw, and round-trip transportation from San Francisco or Sonoma means you don't have to worry about drinking and driving. Group tours via bicycle, kayak, and canoe are great ways to explore the river itself, and often involve a picnic lunch. It’s also possible to combine a float down the river with a wine tour of local vineyards.

• The Russian River is a must-see for nature, wine, and food lovers.

• Travelers embarking on kayak or canoe trips should come prepared with sun protection, swimsuits, towels, and water shoes.

• Most kayaking, canoeing, and wine tours are not suitable for small children.

The river runs from Mendocino to its terminus at Goat Rock Beach on the Sonoma Coast, so there are many places to access the water. Be prepared to drive on backcountry roads through forests and farmland. Major highways such as Route 1 and Highway 101 lead to the Russian River from the Bay Area.

The Russian River Valley wine region is popular for wine tours year-round, but during winter months the river is too fast-flowing for boating or swimming. Summer is the most popular time for kayak and canoe tours, when the weather is typically warm and sunny.

The Russian River Valley is famous for its chardonnay, pinot noir, and zinfandel, as well as its bounty of farm-to-table food. Restaurants and wineries in towns along the valley such as Forestville, Healdsburg, and Geyserville typically utilize produce and livestock from the surrounding farmland and are frequently managed by celebrity chefs.

The Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is in the heart of Sonoma County, but the river itself flows through both the Sonoma and Mendocino counties of Northern California. Top Napa wineries source their cool-climate grapes from the Russian River Valley AVA, which produces excellent pinot noir, chardonnay, and zinfandel.

The Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is especially renowned for its award-winning pinot noir and chardonnay wines. There’s enormous soil variety in the valley and the particular composition of the soils (containing volcanic ash, sand, silt, and clay) is ideal for pinot noir grapes in particular, a grape that’s notoriously difficult to grow.

Yes, you can swim in the Russian River and there are many great swimming beaches. Some are only open seasonally, while others can be used at any time—although lifeguards won’t always be present. It’s a good idea to wear a life jacket because the river can be unpredictable.

Yes, motorboats are allowed on the Russian River. However, non-motorized means of travel along the river are more common, such as kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boating. Motorized boats must limit their noise, and a 5-mile (8-kilometer) per hour speed restriction applies when passing swimming beaches, diving platforms, or other places with people moving around.

The Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is home to 70 wineries, which produce 30 different types of wine. The Russian River Valley has some of the oldest grape vines in California and wine has been made there since the 1870s. It now produces gold-standard California pinot noir and chardonnay.

Northern California’s Russian River Valley is best known for its cool-climate wines, particularly pinot noir and chardonnay. Its particular combination of climate and terrain means the conditions are especially good for hard-to-grow pinot-noir grapes. The Russian River Valley also produces good zinfandel, syrah, and sauvignon blanc, among other varieties.