Sonoma County Regional Parks describes the Joe Rodota Trail as an 8.5-mile paved, off-road trail linking downtown Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. It runs parallel to Highway 12, and Wikipedia notes that this keeps people walking and biking away from traffic on the highway. The trail is named after Joe Rodota, the first director of Sonoma County Regional Parks.
Where it runs
In Santa Rosa, the trail begins at the pedestrian and bicycle bridge where it meets the Prince Memorial Greenway, between West 3rd Street and Railroad Street. In Sebastopol, it starts near Mill Station Road and Highway 116. There are access points along the way at Roberts Avenue, Dutton Avenue, Stony Point Road, Wright Road, Sebastopol Road, Merced Avenue, Llano Road and Petaluma Avenue.
The rural middle section has views of farmland, the Laguna de Santa Rosa and the surrounding mountains. The county says the views are especially good in fall and spring.
From rails to trails
Wikipedia says the trail follows the old roadbed of the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad, built in 1904 to carry interurban passengers from a ferry connection in Petaluma to Sebastopol and Santa Rosa. The Northwestern Pacific Railroad bought the line in 1932. The county notes that the West County Regional Trail, from Sebastopol to Forestville, uses the same old rail line, and together the two trails total 14 miles.
The trail has also been in the news. Wikipedia says a homeless encampment grew along more than a mile of it in late 2019, with over 220 people, before it was cleared in January 2020 as the county put money into housing.
Practical details
The trail is open from 7 a.m. to sunset, except for commuting, and is free. Leashed dogs are allowed, and there are no restrooms. Parking is available at a trailhead lot at the west end of Sebastopol Road, on the street near Olive Park in Santa Rosa, and off Burnett Street in Sebastopol. The county warns that the unimproved crossings at Merced Avenue and Llano Road require caution.