Cedar Roughs Wilderness
24 mi east · Bureau of Land Management
The Cedar Roughs Wilderness now contains a total of 6,287 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.
Outdoors
Wildlife viewing and birding near Santa Rosa
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near Santa Rosa for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
21places to see wildlife
24 mito the closest
6within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
Closest picks
Lake Sonoma
25 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers
Lake Sonoma is located in the wine-growing region of Sonoma County, CA. A picturesque lake with secluded vehicle and boat-in camping available for the fishing and boating enthusiast.
Oak Shores Day Use Area (Ca)
27 mi east · Bureau of Reclamation
Nestled between Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs east of Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa provides ample public recreation opportunities.
Map of all 21 places
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Within 30 miles (6)
Cedar Roughs Wilderness
The Cedar Roughs Wilderness now contains a total of 6,287 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Lake Sonoma
Lake Sonoma is located in the wine-growing region of Sonoma County, CA. A picturesque lake with secluded vehicle and boat-in camping available for the fishing and boating enthusiast.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Oak Shores Day Use Area (Ca)
Nestled between Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs east of Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa provides ample public recreation opportunities.
- Birding
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Guided Interpretive Walks
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Nature education
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Entirely offshore, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary protects soft seafloor habitat, a rocky bank, deep-sea canyons, and diverse wildlife, while acting as a feeding ground for many marine mammals and seabirds.
- Boating
- Fishing
- Wildlife viewing
Point Reyes National Seashore
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 species of plants and animals to discover.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Point Reyes National Seashore Campground
Point Reyes National Seashore offers four backcountry hike in campgrounds and thirteen boat in campsites along Tomales Bay. Note: For reservation purposes, our campgrounds are organized under the "loop" column of the reservation grid.
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- History
- Horse Camping
30 to 75 miles (15)
Knoxville Management Area
Due to its close proximity to the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area regions, and because of its varied terrain, Knoxville's 17,700 acres attract many off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts each year.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Off-highway vehicles
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
Lake Berryessa
Nestled between Blue Ridge and Cedar Roughs, east of the Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa offers year-round recreation opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Fs Owned
Lake Solano
Lake Solano Park, Solano Project , is located at the base of coastal foothills at the western edge of the Sacramento Valley and offers an array of recreational opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Cache Creek Wilderness
The Cache Creek Wilderness now contains a total of 27,294 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wilderness
Muir Woods National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog.
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Cache Creek Natural Area
This secluded, hilly expanse of oak woodlands, grasslands, and chaparral is a combination of over 70,000 acres of BLM managed lands and 4,700 acres of State and County lands.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Picnicking
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Haypress Campground
Haypress Campground is nestled within the coastal scrub of Tennessee Valley, near Mill Valley. The hike to this campground is 1 mile from the Tennessee Valley Trail head parking lot, which means car or RV camping is not allowed.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Kirby Cove Campground
Kirby Cove is located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at historic Battery Kirby. Visitors are awarded breathtaking views of San Francisco, its famous Golden Gate Bridge, and the rugged Pacific Coast of northern California.
- Birding
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Mountain Biking
- Picnicking
- Water Access
S F Bay Model Regional Visitor Center
The Bay Model was built in 1957 as a research tool to test the impact of proposed changes to San Francisco Bay and its related waterways.
- Boating
- Fishing
- History
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
John Muir National Historic Site
John Muir’s life was a tapestry of roles—fruit rancher, family man, writer—each interwoven with his deep love for nature.
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Aquatic Park Cove, Black Point Overnight Anchoring, Sailing Vessels only (auxiliary engine OK)
Aquatic Park Cove is a vibrantly urban harbor that mimics a natural anchorage and is located on the Pacific shores of one of America's great West Coast cities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
An area of 3,295 square miles off the northern and central California coast, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary protects the wildlife and habitats of one of the most diverse and bountiful marine environments in the world.
- Boating
- Diving
- Fishing
- Paddling
- Photography
- Ranger programs
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Rob Hill Group Campground
As San Francisco's only group campground, Rob Hill offers a national park camping experience just minutes from the city.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- History
Pomo Day Use Area
Pomo Day-Use Area is situated on Lake Mendocino in California's Mendocino Range, where the redwood forests meet California wine country. The lake is formed by the Coyote Dam on the Russian River.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Disc Golf
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Swimming
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Santa Rosa. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Santa Rosa
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Questions
Where is the closest place for wildlife & birding near Santa Rosa?
Cedar Roughs Wilderness (Bureau of Land Management), about 24 miles east of Santa Rosa as the crow flies. Next are Lake Sonoma (25 mi) and Oak Shores Day Use Area (Ca) (27 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Army Corps of Engineers. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.