Jack London State Historic Park

We absolutely loved our visit to Jack London State Historic Park! The highlight was the incredibly dedicated, friendly, and knowledgeable volunteers who took the time to answer all our questions. This beautiful, expansive park is being preserved by an NGO, Jack London Park Partners, and its volunteers. We highly recommend visiting for both educational and relaxation purposes.

What an incredible experience! The story, the structures, all the artifacts, the hiking trails, his vision on farming and the local connection with Glen Ellen that this global historical figure and author...is truly amazing and one of my favorite SP's of all time. I visited the Park 3 different days to truly appreciate and take it all in. There is soooo much to see here and the hiking trails are awesome! You can even bring horses to ride the many miles of trails in the back section of the Park! I visited in the spring before the heat arrived, as it can become quite hot out here! Allow yourself plenty of time to really take it all in if you are planning a visit...which I highly recommend you do! Bring the family too!

Beautiful park with historical significance. We walked up to the lake/cottage, and it was a fairly easy, slight incline walk. Trail signage could be better, but a beautiful walk. Also visited the museum, house relics and gravesite. Many other trails for all endurance levels.

Drove up from pleasant hill for an afternoon lunch and hike. Excellent hiking everywhere around the park. Wolf house was post apocalypse and beautiful. The House of Happy Walls has a good blend of authentic artifacts and digital stories. I am not a big fan of Jack London, but he was an interesting man with an interesting life and the museum represents this well.

I’m so in love with this land of Jack London’s. 🤍 The entrance fee is $10. I spent 2.5 hrs here walking around and oh my it was so wonderful. There is an easy, beautiful trail to his grave and to the Wolf House ruins and then on the other side of the park is the Beauty Ranch. The land is so rich and beautiful as well as being very spacious with many trails around. Jack London museum is also beautiful and sentimental. It’s a must see landmark and I can assure everyone it is so well worth stepping into this magnificent land.

Nice place to walk about for a few hours, but there's really not much here. The house is small and the rest of the estate is just some empty buildings. The lake is dry, which is a real shame.

Oh my goodness, this place is a dream! So cool to walk around the Beauty Ranch, see all of the buildings and vineyards, and learn about Jack London and his sustainable farming practices. But my favorite spot was definitely the Wolf House ruins - so gorgeous! We were the only ones there and the ruins and nature surrounding them were just breathtaking. We spent around 2 hours here exploring all of the main sites; didn't get out on any of the longer trails, but they all look lovely. I'm sure you could spend all day here! Dogs are allowed in the historic site areas, but not on the nature trails.

Wow. He inspired me as a kid. I loved reading White Fang. I was given books of his short stories growing up and I didn’t realize how much more there was that I hadn’t read. Jack must have dialed in the most perfect day possible for my visit. I found out we were almost exactly 110 years apart, yet learning about his life I felt oddly close in spirit. The park is great, there is more hiking than you can do in a day but as a passer through I felt I could do all the notable things in a day and I read every plaque. If you’re a fan of the author I recommend swinging through and learning about Hack and his wife Charmian.

We absolutely loved our visit to Jack London State Historic Park! The highlight was the incredibly dedicated, friendly, and knowledgeable volunteers who took the time to answer all our questions. This beautiful, expansive park is being preserved by an NGO, Jack London Park Partners, and its volunteers. We highly recommend visiting for both educational and relaxation purposes.

What an incredible experience! The story, the structures, all the artifacts, the hiking trails, his vision on farming and the local connection with Glen Ellen that this global historical figure and author...is truly amazing and one of my favorite SP's of all time. I visited the Park 3 different days to truly appreciate and take it all in. There is soooo much to see here and the hiking trails are awesome! You can even bring horses to ride the many miles of trails in the back section of the Park! I visited in the spring before the heat arrived, as it can become quite hot out here! Allow yourself plenty of time to really take it all in if you are planning a visit...which I highly recommend you do! Bring the family too!

Beautiful park with historical significance. We walked up to the lake/cottage, and it was a fairly easy, slight incline walk. Trail signage could be better, but a beautiful walk. Also visited the museum, house relics and gravesite. Many other trails for all endurance levels.

Drove up from pleasant hill for an afternoon lunch and hike. Excellent hiking everywhere around the park. Wolf house was post apocalypse and beautiful. The House of Happy Walls has a good blend of authentic artifacts and digital stories. I am not a big fan of Jack London, but he was an interesting man with an interesting life and the museum represents this well.

I’m so in love with this land of Jack London’s. 🤍 The entrance fee is $10. I spent 2.5 hrs here walking around and oh my it was so wonderful. There is an easy, beautiful trail to his grave and to the Wolf House ruins and then on the other side of the park is the Beauty Ranch. The land is so rich and beautiful as well as being very spacious with many trails around. Jack London museum is also beautiful and sentimental. It’s a must see landmark and I can assure everyone it is so well worth stepping into this magnificent land.

Nice place to walk about for a few hours, but there's really not much here. The house is small and the rest of the estate is just some empty buildings. The lake is dry, which is a real shame.

Oh my goodness, this place is a dream! So cool to walk around the Beauty Ranch, see all of the buildings and vineyards, and learn about Jack London and his sustainable farming practices. But my favorite spot was definitely the Wolf House ruins - so gorgeous! We were the only ones there and the ruins and nature surrounding them were just breathtaking. We spent around 2 hours here exploring all of the main sites; didn't get out on any of the longer trails, but they all look lovely. I'm sure you could spend all day here! Dogs are allowed in the historic site areas, but not on the nature trails.

Wow. He inspired me as a kid. I loved reading White Fang. I was given books of his short stories growing up and I didn’t realize how much more there was that I hadn’t read. Jack must have dialed in the most perfect day possible for my visit. I found out we were almost exactly 110 years apart, yet learning about his life I felt oddly close in spirit. The park is great, there is more hiking than you can do in a day but as a passer through I felt I could do all the notable things in a day and I read every plaque. If you’re a fan of the author I recommend swinging through and learning about Hack and his wife Charmian.

Highly recommend this well-managed, well-maintained gem of a state park. $10 entrance fee per a vehicle. That's it. No tickets to buy. $10 for my family of four. I'll take it. We spent a solid 2+ hours here. Of note, the parking attendant takes cards and there's ample parking available. We hiked to the Wolf House ruins and Jack London's gravesite. Hikes to both spots and back to the main house is just under 2 miles roundtrip. There is an incline but my 4 and 8 yr old were able to do it with minimal complaint. The ruins are beautiful and sad and really something to behold. You can climb up stairs to viewing platforms. There's a golf cart that will give people with mobility issues a lift, which I thought was pretty cool. The entrance fee also gets you into the Jack London museum, which was his wife's house she built after his death. It's a big gorgeous stone house and you can see various items from his and her collections from their travels. Also notable is the wall of first edition copies of his books. That 1st edition of White Fang is worth 20k alone ‍ On the other side of the park, which we did not accomplish today is a ton of other hiking trails which apparently go to an ancient redwood and a lake of some sort. We'll be back to check out the other trails. As far as state parks go, this one is hard to beat!

Simply beautiful is how I would describe this little gem in Glen Ellen word to the wise my gentle readers always buy the map. My friend and I started around 10:30 on Saturday morning we decided to do the orchard trail to the ancient tree, I still am in awe over a tree that has stood tall for 2,000 years and stood the test of time really put in perspective how little time we have been on this planet. We got a little lost on our way back and our mistake took us on a 5 mile journey on the backside of the park very steep very isolated. My biggest advice lots of water and buy the map!

My family started visiting over 4 years ago and we try to come up at least once a year, from over an hour away. The state park is peaceful, quiet, educational, well maintained, historical. The volunteers are all extremely friendly and helpful. The price of admission is extremely reasonable, especially due to everything you can do in the park. We always treck up to the Wolf House ruins every visit. The museum is fascinating, as is the cottage. We enjoy smelling the many eucalyptus trees, so refreshing. We highly recommend this marvelous, magical oasis.

Was visiting Sonoma area for a family girls trip and we decided we needed to walk off all the delicious wine and cheeses we were having all weekend, so my sister found this park with some amazing hiking trails. We were crunched for time, but did the "lake trail." Sadly we never made it to the lake because we had to turn around haha. Wish we would have left earlier because I'm sure it was as beautiful as the rest of this trail. I'm not a hiker by any means. It was slightly uphill and downhill at times, but nothing crazy! It was a beautiful trail where you actually hike by some vineyards, too. We even came across a man walking his two horses which was kind of cool, too. It also leads you through a forest as well, which was so beautiful. I seriously wish we had more time for this trail. It was so beautiful! And the weather was perfect. Parking was super easy, too. And the trail was very clearly marked and easy to find so no getting lost either, which is always great. Again, wish we had more time for it because it really was so beautiful and peaceful.

This is a great place to hike and learn the history of Jack London. The park is huge so come back a few times to experience it all. Your poppy pass gets you in. The gift shop is nice and the museum is very cool.

I have enjoyed coming to and hiking this gorgeous park for many years and yesterday was no exception. My girlfriend and I took advantage of the Sonoma County program of obtaining a FREE state park pass through them (you have it for 3 weeks) and have been trying to hit up as many state parks as we have time for. We were greeted warmly at check in and purchased a park trail map for $1. When we asked if there were rattle snake sightings she immediately answered oh yes, and to just stay on the trails (don't need to tell me twice!). The trails were marked pretty well and we chose a few of them to visit the Wolf House, the cemetery and where the Transcendence theatre company performs- all interesting.

Beautiful state park to visit for half a day. We started at the visitor center which included a museum and lots of interesting historical artifacts from Jack London and his wife. It includes a nice gift store as well. We then headed out to see the Wolf house and it's remains. It's a 1.2 mile walk out and back. There's a golf cart service that drives those who need accessibility services. All staff were super friendly and welcoming as well. Wolf house was amazing! Then we drove over to the other side of the park and hiked out to see the Pig Palace. The area has amazing views surrounded by vineyards. We could have explored so much more but we had dinner reservations. We spent about 2 hours but didn't see it all. Highly recommend a visit here--great history and beautiful scenery. Nice for couples and families alike. $10.00 parking fee.

This park is truly a beauty. Not too far from Sonoma itself, and very close to Glen Ellen. You can either enter the park through the gates at Hwy 12. (Just make sure to pay at the booth 7$) Or walk through Arnold Drive through the many trails. Love the fact this park has many trails, different sights to see and is perfect for a walk, hike, or bike ride. The scenery is very beautiful, and there are tons of nature animals roaming around in these areas. I actually saw a couple taking family pictures here, and I am going to assume they came gorgeous since the sun the sun was coming down,and the park itself is very pretty. During summer time, just watch out for rattle snakes. Because we do have them here.

Super nice park with lots of great trails. The museum.is super interesting and staff are knowledgeable and friendly. Lots of water stations. The house and grave sites are a must to see.

A friend of mine suggested this park for a day hike. Arrive early to avoid the crowd and the heat if in the summer. The website is a bit misleading for dogs. Dogs are welcome but only on certain trails; the Wolf House and the gravesite. We hiked in April and there was a ton of poison oak on the trails so be mindful of that. The Wolf House, burial site and grove of young Redwoods were, what I considered, the most beautiful parts of the park. The park is split in two sides of the parking lot. To the right you can hike up the mountain, to the left is the house and other historical markers. There is so much history tied to this land. Be sure to read the plaques to learn more about the story of Jack London.

Well been here a few times I guess my first time was in 1969 in a School field trip . And been here a few times since . It's a nice bike ride up to the gate . The last time it was close from that ass Gavin newsome mandate . What an idiot. Sorry but it true . To park has lots to offer and my nieces and nephews have been there many times . It just a great place to get away . For a beautiful day in nature and the historical buildings are beautiful and you really learn a lot.. it's a little pricey but it's fair. Jack London is part of Sonoma county history. Just ask Charles Schulz and Luther Burbank.. take your bike up You're really enjoy it more and can see a lot more area than walking

Not going to lie and I'll admit that originally when I picked this place to visit that I could not remember who Jack London was. However the other reviews that I saw of this place showed very beautiful photos of the house ruins and I just had to see it. There is also a museum on site and when I saw the books they had on display that little light kicked on in my head and I remembered all the books that were written by this man. Unfortunately at the time that we had went the area was already dry in the green had gone away but it was still a beautiful sight to see. I would definitely love to come back at some point when everything is in bloom.

Highly recommend!! Can't believe it took me this long to check out this park. I happened to have the California State Library Parks Pass that day so parking/admission was free. Note: there is quite a bit of walking from the parking lot to the various sites, and in between. However, they do have complimentary golf carts where they'll shuttle you around, if needed. I loved checking out the museum, gravesite, Wolf House, cottage, and the ranch. It was amazing getting to check out all the various things Jack and Charmian London collected during their travels. Took about 2.5 hours for me to check everything out. Given the heat wave that day, I didn't check out the other hiking trails, but I highly recommend you check out Jack London State Park just for the historical factor alone!

Beautiful park with plenty of trails to walk or bike. Lots of nature to explore in this large park. Additionally, you'll find picnic tables throughout. On the Hwy 12 side there's plenty of parking for a fee and closes at sunset.

Great easy hike! 10$ fee to get into the park. Plantly of parking. Everything was kept nice and clean. Went there with our dog and really enjoyed it. It is a very beautiful and well shaded Historic Park. The trail to the ruins is short so you get to see them pretty quick. Lots of big beautiful trees. Nice picnic area with lots of tables. I definitely recommend this park!

A beautiful park, with interesting and easy trails. The park includes a museum and the cottage where London lived with his wife Charmian. If you didn't know much about Jack London beyond Call of the Wild, you will learn a lot! For those with mobility challenges, you can arrange for a golf cart and a volunteer to drive you around.

We spent a few hours here a few weeks ago. Very enjoyable grounds to explore. We happen to arrive just before a docent-led tour which lasted a little over an hour. The guide was very nice and knowledgable and we managed to learn quite a bit about Jack London while vacationing. He lead a pretty interesting (and fairly short) life so it was time well-spent. It was both sad and intriguing to see the ruins of Wolf House. What could have been...

I was hoping to see super bloom, but it has been cold so I saw flower buds but not blooming flowers. The park may belong to state of California but it is completely run by volunteers as they do not receive funding from the state. The parking charge goes toward maintaining the park. There are guided tours on the weekend and it is done very well. Each tour takes about 1-1.5 hr and does require quite a bit of walking. The Wolf House tour I thought was done well, thanks Greg! And I would highly recommend the guide to anyone as it also covers the Londons grave site. The Cottage and the museum have specific timed opening so check before you go.

Jack London State Historic Park has over 26 miles of trails across 1400 acres in Glen Ellen. The daily parking fee is $10 unless you have the state parking pass. In that case, your parking fee is free. There is plenty of parking as well as an area for horse trailers to park if you are wanting to go horseback riding. There is so many different trails that are for all different hiking levels and so many different things to see such as historic buildings, vineyards, a musuem, etc. You can walk, hike, mountain bike, or horseback ride on the trails. Some of the trails are dog friendly and others are not. This place is kept nice and clean for everyone to enjoy. Yesterday we decided to go on the Mountain Trail, which is a 6.3 mile hike with a little over 1,600 elevation gain. It is an out and back hike that is well shaded so it's great for the summer months as well. We saw beautiful views from the top, beautiful vineyards along the way, and walked through redwood trees. If you are going on a longer hike, I would recommend bringing a water pack and hiking shoes since this trail is rocky during parts of the trail. There was a bathroom along the trail, which was nice and plenty of benches and picnic tables if you want to rest and enjoy the views of have a picnic. We look forward to coming back and going on more of the trails in the future since there is so much to explore here!

Went here with some friends recently for a day hike. Beautiful trails. Picnic tables. We had a nice picnic lunch and played some chess. Beautiful trees. We also hiked by a creek with redwoods. Especially loved the historic connection to the writer Jack London. You can walk by the Jack London Vineyard. We also got to check out the Jack London Wolf House. It was a massive three story mansion that burned in a forest fire three years before Jack London died. He and his wife were living in a nearby cottage as they were planning to move in. There is a poignant area of the hike where Jack London and his wife had their ashes poured over when they left their body. Moving and historic! Worth a trip here for the beautiful hiking trails and especially for those folks that have an interest in the legendary writer Jack London.

Wow, I had leisurely spent time out in this area to camp and/or wine taste about 10 times over years. But I had not ventured into this historic park until recently. Man was I missing out! So there is a gate at this park and a $10 day fee. I came here to hike but ending up finding so much more. Down at the base of the park, in different areas, (so you do have to walk around) are the preserved remnants of a dream ranch, accomplished American writer Jack London built and stayed during his latter years. There is a cottage that you can go inside of, which replicates the time's era and get a feel on how people lived in a rural area back in the 20th turn of the century. There's even the ruins of the Wolf House which was his ultimate dream home that got destroyed by a fire, even before completion. The stone ruins are amazing and such a tragedy for such efforts to never get enjoyed and utilized. There's also a small museum in a building that the wife built after he passed. It was all self tour when I went and not sure if there is a guided tour, especially during the covid era. But just reading all the exhibits and listening to a few recorded narratives, you can pull in a lot of info and take home a very valuable lesson. His grave site is also here, not much to see physically but to see a moss covered grave stone in the middle of the woods, can definitely make the hair on your arms rise and tingle. There is also another back story on this resting place that I won't cover for now, so you're just gonna have to go yourself and find out. I went during early October and it was so fitting since Spooktober was in full effect. Lol Now let's get to this hike, cuz that's why I really came here. Actually did the hike first early morning, then browsed the grounds after I took a refresh break. The hike is over 7 miles total I'd say, and is an out and back, so same way back. There's an elevation gain of about 1700 ft and the top of this climb, you will be looking down from 2500 ft. I loved every step. The first third of the hike is quite easy and mellow, so great warm up. Starts off around vineyards then into a moderately wooded forest. On the map showed a lake, but when I arrived to it, it was completely dried up and over grown with reeds. Bummer cuz I love a good water feature on a hike, but we've been in a drought the last few years, so I'm sure that had something to do with it. The 2nd phase it starts to elevate, but all of a sudden the trails become really shady due to larger trees with some being majestic redwoods. Redwood hikes are my favorite, so to get a piece of it here was such an epic bonus. The last third of the hike is the toughest. Certain parts are pretty steep, but anytime one approaches a significant peak, this is usually the case. Now the redwoods and shade are gone. It is replaced by golden hills and mighty oaks. Once up at the top, the breeze grips you like a long lost friend, hawks whiz by almost eye level and a view of the Sonoma Valley 2000+ ft below you. There's a lone bench up there and on a weekday morning, not a soul up there. It was incredibly therapeutic and rewarding. So to get all this in one shot was such a nice surprise. Totally blew my expectations. And anytime that happens, a resounding fiver has to be dealt.

Great park with lots of trails to explore. Beautiful views & massive redwoods! Museum is lovely as well.

What a lovely park! For the low price of $10, you get access to a historical park where you can learn about the author Jack London, an endless supply of hiking trails, lovely picnic tables, and clean restrooms! I can't believe it's taken me so long to visit this park! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here on a recent weekday. The park wasn't super crowded and nearly everyone was wearing masks. The trails weren't cramped, so it was super easy to keep a distance. The park staff were friendly and helpful and all of the facilities were clean. The Wolf House ruins were beautiful (but tragic!) and you can visit Jack London's grave. There are an abundance of picnic tables spaced apart to enjoy a peaceful lunch. My group and I got quite a substantial hike in -- there are so many fun trails to explore! The vineyards on the property also added a nice touch of Sonoma County beauty. Such a fun place to spend the day! Now I can't wait to read Call of the Wild. :)

$10 all day car entrance fee for a tour, light hike and heavy hike. There is a golf cart that can pick one up if walking is too strenuous. This will take you to the museum, gift shop, house remnants and graves. This half of the offerings was so inspiring and amazing for such a couple who thought so highly of each other and their environment. Ran out of time and could not do the real hiking trails this day. Parking closes 5pm. The parking ranger was so proud and informative of this property, I wanted to hear more from her. There was another car behind us so we got cut a little short. Families young and old tolerated this walk/hike well. Beautiful. Shady, too.

There's a $10 entrance fee you pay at the gate, lots of parking, this is a beautiful park with easy hiking trails with lots of beautiful scenery to enjoy there's a Vineyard and of course there's the ruins of the Wolf house. Both Jack and Charmian London are buried at Beauty Ranch, as is Jack's sister Eliza. Heirs of the London family donated the property to the State of California in 1960. The Wolf House ruins were designated a California Historical Landmark in 1959, and a National Historic Landmark in 1963. They have a museum which was closed because of COVID-19 but since things are looking up and restaurants are opening I'm sure you'll be able to visit the museum soon. Some trails are steep so be careful with the young ones or your older folks. This is a beautiful place, we brought a picnic with us and we just enjoyed a beautiful day in Glen Ellen. Next time I'll be bringing my boos. Cheers my friends SYOY

Love this park for a nice hike or a picnic. A beautiful place to see Broadway Under the Stars. I have been going here since I was a child! I have fond memories of fishing in the pond. The views of the valley are unbeatable! Stop here on your visit to Glen Ellen!

One of my absolute favorite parks in Sonoma County! Lots of little trails to take but the most challenging hike is all the way to the summit. Roughly just under 8 miles and about 3 hours for the average hiker. Coffee shop and small grocery store right down the street. $10 for parking and unfortunately the county parks pass will not work here since it's a state park

FINDING MOUNTAIN TRAIL. Mountain Trail in Jack London State Historic Park begins at the dam (a low wall) situated at one side of a dried-out pond. Mountain Trail ends at the summit of Sonoma Mountain. Sonoma Mountain has an elevation of 2,400 feet, which is slightly higher than the elevation of the Berkeley hills (about 1900 feet). From the parking lot, take Lake Trail. Lake Trail passes Pig Palace and then continues in the westerly direction along the side of a huge vineyard. Pig Palace is a stone structure consisting of several enclosures, formerly used for keeping pigs. The enclosures are arranged in a circle. I passed some other hikers who were looking at the sign reading, "Pig Palace," and I said, "The person who came up with that name was probably inspired by my bedroom." The hikers responded with robust laughing. After about ten minutes of hiking, Lake Trail changes its name to Lake Service Road. Lake Service Road takes you to the dam, and that's where Mountain Trail begins. Once you are on Mountain Trail, there is no need for a map, because the trail is wide, and because the name "Mountain Trail" and the names of six trails that branch off from Mountain Trail, are all displayed on little signs next to the trail. MY PHOTOGRAPHS. Trail sign reading: PARK SUMMIT 1 mile. Trail marker reading: MOUNTAIN TRAIL and SONOMA RIDGE. Moss-covered trunk of a tree. The tree-trunk is about six feet tall. Moss-covered tree, where a huge branch growing out of the trunk is missing all of its bark. As a result, it looks like a baby tree is growing out of the mother tree. Circular groves of redwood trees growing near lower half of Mountain Trail. Photos of oak trees located near the top of Mountain Trail. Row of acorns that I picked up from Mountain Trail, and arranged in two rows on a mossy branch. Meadow filled with yellow-colored dried grass, near the summit of Sonoma Mountain. View from Mountain Trail of distant Sonoma Valley. Photo of a dam (a concrete wall). Mountain Trail begins at the southern end of this dam. LOWER HALF versus UPPER HALF. The lower half of Mountain Trail is characterized by many redwood trees. Groups of several redwood trees grow in circular arrangements. My photographs (attached) show these circular arrangements of trees. A few Pacific madrone trees grow near the trail, and these trees can be recognized by their smooth reddish-orange bark. The upper half of Mountain Trail is characterized by many splended-looking oak trees, and these include coast live oak and black oak (according to Wiki). ELONGATED ACORNS WITH A POINTED END AND A WHITE END. Near the summit, one area of the trail has hundreds of acorns sitting on it. I collected a dozen of these acorns and arranged them on a moss-covered branch of a tree situated next to the trail As you can see from my photo of the arranged acorns, one end of each acorn is pointed and the other end is broad. The broad end, which was formerly covered with a cap (the caps fell off), has a large white-colored dot. I tried to identify the acorns from, "Common Oaks in Sonoma County" by Lisa Bell and Paul Vossen, and also from pictures from Google images that I acquired using the query terms, "oaks" PLUS "acorns." I was left with the impression that my acorns were from California Live Oak or from Sonoma Valley Oak. HOLLOW TREE-TRUNKS. My photos show a hollow tree-trunk, where the only remaining part of the tree is a six foot high tree-trunk that has lost its insides. The hollow tree-trunk is covered with moss. I found another tree, where part of it resembles this hollow tree-trunk. A branch sprouts from this other tree, where all of the bark on this branch has rotted away, leaving the naked branch. The transition between the mother tree and the branch resembles the very top of the six foot high tree-trunk (mentioned above). CUTE STORY ABOUT BICYCLE RIDERS. During our hike down the trail, I encountered two people riding mountain bikes. I said hello to a young man standing next to his mountain bike and I said, "You are a stronger man than I am, to be able to ride up this trail." He replied, "But is easy to ride down the trail." Then I said, "I see a pretty girl riding a bike, and coming up the trail." The man replied, "Oh, she's my wife." Then, I continued hiking down the trail and, after 15 seconds, the girl passed me. As she passed I said, "There's a man up there who likes you and wants to marry you!" She was pleased with my remark and she smiled and said, "AWWWWW ! ! !" (This little encounter was one of my happiest moments from the past year.)

Up, up, and away... Your experience of Jack London State Park will be exactly what you choose to make it. You can pay the $10 parking fee and see all sorts of historic sites requiring little to no hiking. Alternatively, you can bypass all that and head up. The Mountain Trail (which the park map accurately describes as "strenuous") takes you by some of the remnants of Jack London's time here but the longer you move your legs the less intensive those sightings become. After passing the Pig Palace (really), some silos, and some far newer vineyards you come to Lake London then May's Clearing. Neither are remarkable; keep going. About 4 miles up you'll come to the Mountain Spur Trail which, if followed a bit longer, will bring you to the park's summit. Congratulations, you've reached an elevation of 2400 feet and scaled Sonoma Mountain. There's a bench up there, facing out towards the stunning view, but right behind it is metal fencing and cell towers. Ignore it. Everything you do down in the valley will now be enhanced by gazing up at Sonoma Mountain trying to spot where you were. Look for the highest point and the towers and voila, you were there. Most of this 8+ mile (round trip) trek is in the shade and, given that it's not a loop trail, what you go up you'll retread on your way back down. A trail map will cost you an additional $1 but it's helpful. The trails are marked but the map proves useful at some of the required decision points. Jack London State Park is immaculate; not a single piece of wayward trash was spotted anywhere. Perhaps that's due to their draconian "no dogs" policy on the trail I hiked though my dog has never tossed a beer can or chip bag anywhere. (Leashed dogs are allowed in some areas of the park). There's one other, longer (9+ mile), "strenuous" trail in the park but aside from these two, most of the trails are far shorter and remain at lower altitudes. I suspect most people who come here don't venture far from the valley floor - where most Jack London sites are found - but those with the energy and wherewithal to do so get the bragging rights along with the ability to point up while enjoying a glass of something local and state with pride, "I was there". I was.

This is one of my favorite parks in Sonoma County, it has a lot to offer! There are historic buildings, a museum and gift shop. I love to wander around the ruins of Wolf House, there is a nice easy trail to get to it. A short walk from the parking lot to the right is Beauty Ranch which still has a stone barn, pig palace and the cottage which the London's lived in during Jack's final years. The cottage is furnished and has exhibits with artifacts. There is also an active vineyard, hiking trails and picnic areas. A little bit of something for everyone! We love to take a hike or meander around the park exploring and then have a picnic. It really is a lovely park.

Stunning park with so much to see and do. Beautiful hiking trials with a lot of interesting sights and history along the way. I am going back for sure.

I came to this site without knowing much about Jack London. However, my boyfriend is a big fan and we had to include this on a our list of sites to go in the area. I have to say I learned a lot about Jack and his wife, Charmain, and what an inspirational story! The park is the perfect tribute to their legacy: living life to the fullest! It was a very enjoyable hike to the grave and the museum was very well done and very enlightening. Long live the spirit of Jack and Charmain London!

I was referred to this hike by a good friend. The drive from Richmond was easy, about 1 hr. There is a park entrance fee $10.. this beautiful land is covered with tall trees, a horse house, and the beautiful vineyard. The trails are spacious which due to Covid that's always a plus! I can't wait to explore the rest of this park one day just wasn't enough to explore all the trails!

Beautiful park, nice facilities, excellent hikes! We went primarily for a hike, but also walked around the grounds and looked at historic buildings and read many interesting facts about Jack London. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the museum, because of the restrictions. It was still very interesting and informative - kids also liked it a lot. The highlight was the hike up the peak and back down - very pretty, not too busy even on a weekend, and views from the top are amazing. We also got to talk to few staff members - all were super-friendly and very knowledgeable. This is now one of my favorite parks - absolutely perfect for a day trip. The location is very nice - easy to get to and close to towns with many great restaurants.

Ughh I just can't get over this place! There's vineyards, a ranch, redwoods, historic buildings, etc. There are benches if you get tired and trail markers so you don't get lost. Truly a beautiful piece of land... if you like history and hiking, this place is for you. If you go to the left parking lot, you get access to a restroom (which is pretty clean for a state park), the House of Happy Walls Museum, the Wolf House ruins, and Jack London's grave. This trail is quick & easy, and very well maintained. Unfortunately the museum was still under renovation when we went a couple weeks ago. Our sadness quickly turned to amazement when we saw Jack London's unfinished mansion. The Wolf House ruins is definitely a show stopper. I love that the history is posted at each stop. It's so beautiful out there; it's no wonder he chose that area to build a house. The parking lot to the right has a lot more trails. We only had enough time to visit the cottage (where London and his wife lived), Pig Palace, and London Lake. Again, the trails are super easy and BEAUTIFUL; just watch out for horse poop. London Lake is nothing exciting as it is man made and hasn't been maintained for so long. Next time I'll definitely venture out to the other side to see Fern Lake and the Ancient Redwood.

If you are visiting Sonoma this should be on your top five list of places to visit. I didn't know much about Jack London and his wife who lived here prior to my visit but gained a new appreciation for them and their work. Jack London State Historic Park was larger than I expected. You could easily spend a day here exploring all the museums and hiking trails. It was a bit hot when we visited, so we kept our visit to the historic buildings and some short tree-shaded trails. We paid an entrance fee to the park grounds and a small additional fee to tour the cottage and Happy Walls Museum. We started our exploration at the Beauty Ranch. Jack London purchased the land to finally settle and experiment with innovative "organic - biodynamic" farming methods that were ahead of their time. He was trying to revitalize the land. Beauty Ranch used to be a working winery (Kohler and Frohling winery). Jack used the old winery buildings and converted them for the purpose of his farm. The vines you see on the property are not the original vines planted. But, they are wine-producing vines that are managed by a local winery. Overlooking Beauty Ranch is Jack London's Cottage. Purchased in 1911 by Jack. The cottage was not supposed to be his permanent home. He and his wife, Charmain, were supposed to move into the magnificent Wolf House, but when it suddenly burnt down in 1913, days before they planned to move in, they expanded the cottage instead. You can walk through the cottage and imagine yourself as a guest of Jack London. The house feels as if it hasn't been touched since his death. You get a sense of where he wrote, his writing process, and the incredible partnership he had with his wife. You can view the room where Jack London passed away at the young age of 40. Next, we visited the Grave Site and the Wolf House ruins. The ruins are expansive. This was supposed to be Jack London's dream home. You can only imagine as you walk around the site what an incredible place this would have been. It was to be 15,000 square feet, 26 rooms, nine fireplaces. The plans even called for a water heater, electric lighting, refrigeration, a built-in vacuum cleaning system, a wine cellar, and laundry facilities. A true mansion in the woods. Last we visited the House of Happy Halls museum. Charmain built this house after Jack London's death. She lived in it from 1935 to 1952. The exterior is similar to those at the Wolf House ruins. But, the interior has a very unique feminine style. Charmain went on to live another life after Jack. She intended for this space to ultimately become a museum. They have done an excellent job of incorporating innovative museum technology to bring the space's history to life and tell the story of this incredible couple. They truly lived every day to its fullest. For a short life, Jack definitely experienced more and impacted more lives than most of us. I left my visit very inspired by Jack and Charmain's legacy.

Great local bar with friendly staff, locals, Jack London pictures and history on the wall and of course, delicious food. Best seats are at the bar to catch up on local news and useless information. Fun friendly place. Even have a nice pool table to enjoy a game or two if you desire and outdoor patio. Totally will go back and recommend.

This place is awesome! You get to see so much for a small $10 fee to get into the park. Easy walking trails, the house/ museum, Jack London's grave, the wolf house ruins. The staff is friendly and there is plenty of parking. They also have bathrooms and lots of picnic tables. Definitely would recommend visiting here

I found this place on yelp. It cost $10 for the parking. This place is beautiful. The parking was nice and paved. This place is very clean. You can walk along the grape vineyard and it goes into the forest. It's a really nice walk and definitely kid friendly. There a lot of shade but it is a little hard. There are a lot of wild animals. We saw a lot of lizards and came close to two deers. Definitely worth going.

Jack London State Park is a great walking area in Glen Ellen. Jack London was a great author who loved this area and bought a beautiful ranch to relax in. The park offers a couple of small walking trips that take you by the Wolf House (which unfortunately burned down right before they were to move in) and to the graves of London and his wife. The other side takes you to the cottage and other buildings that were a part of his life. It is at the end of a small road (passes by Benziger Winery). It costs $10 per car. We only made it to Wolf House, the grave and the beautiful museum the day we were there. We would like to see the other part of the ranch. There are other longer hikes available. Seeing the remnants of Wolf House was truly sad as it would have been an amazing house to live in. Check out the park and buy a book by Jack London.

Pretty neat and unassuming park with beautiful views and some great historic charm. Great place to bring food and drink for a picnic. $10 entry fee. Close to some Glen Ellen restaurants and establishments to grab a drink and/or bite. The Jack London Village has a super cute patio area to sit at and enjoy lunch.

Took a short hike in Jack London State Historic Park on Tuesday evening. I was not particularly impressed by this park, which has a lot of hiking trails, but none that seemed very exciting. Quality: Our visit to Jack London State Historic Park was relatively short as we arrived an hour and a half before closing. As a result we took a shorter trail and only spent a little time near the historical buildings. However, I was not excited by what I assume are the more popular areas. We took a trail through the meadows and up to London Lake, which if it did have any water you could not see it. What it did have was lots of bugs and a tremendous amount of frog noise. There is clearly a lot more to trails , but off initial impressions, it would not be a park I feel the need to rush back to. Quantity: The park is 1400 acres and it has more than 29 miles of trails. Value: The Vehicle Entry Fee is $10. Ambiance: Jack London State Historic Park is located in Sonoma, California. The former home of author Jack London, it contains a vineyard, hiking trails, and multiple buildings from his attempts to create an ideal farm and ranch. Spanning 1400 acres it is quite large, but there is nothing in particular that stands out here as opposed to the surrounding area of California. For those who are intrigued by London's life and inspirations and for locals it is a perfectly fine park, but there are definitely better places in the nearby area for hiking. Crowd: We arrived close to closing, so we only saw a few stragglers as we walked around. I was surprised that they allow dogs in the historical areas, but not on the hiking trails. Service: The park is very well kept with easy to follow signage. Parking: Two large parking lots near the entrance of the park.

My first trip to Jack London Park was very interesting! Exceptionally kind and informative people gave great insights at the museum. The park itself was beautiful to ride our horses in and when my sister came to visit last year we rented horses there and had a funny and interesting guide for our entire ride. Highly suggest riding the trails for great memories!

Visited the museum ( house of happy walls) and did the free tour with the docent. These are offered at 11 and 1 on the weekends. We visited Jacks gravesite and the ruins of the Wolf house. Fantastic tour guide ( Go Bern!) and well worth the $10 entrance fee. Beautiful hiking trails and interesting history. Wonderful break from drinking wine for 3 days straight!

This is a spectacular piece of history and Sonoma County land to enjoy. No wonder Jack nestled here so many years ago; it feels like a slice of heaven in the nook of the valley. There are two lots when coming to explore. Lot to the left is for light walking use and takes explorers to the wolf house, museum, and Jack London's grave. Short and sweet to hit it all - maybe 1.5 miles total to get back to parking lot. If you cross over to the other lot you'll find his other home, pig farm, vineyards, picnic grounds, the lake and more trails to explore. I was hopeful for more wildflower activity but it was still beautiful even if the flowers were scarce. We saw some wild orchids which is always a treat as we wandered up to the lake. The hills have been taken over with vines which is bittersweet to me. While it's pretty, it is not original to how the land was managed years ago. In the summer you'll find events like Broadway Under The Stars which take place in the park under an open sky between the beautiful stone walls found near Jack's cottage. Beautiful park, fantastic piece of local culture and history, lots of trails, great way to spend an afternoon under the sun! $10 entry fee and if you want to tour the cottage it is an additional fee.

A not-so-hidden treasure! Bring a picnic & hike one of the many trails & tour the homes/ruins of Jack London & his wife. Really enjoyable way to spend a day.

A wonderful historical park!! We've been picnicking and hiking at JLP for years. The landscape is a beautiful harvest of sorts, gorgeous Oak trees and vineyards, very special in autumn! The JJack London Museum and artifacts, first home and the remnants of his dream home give you an understanding of the strength, imagination, and profound wisdom JL had...he was a man before his time.

What a terrific surprise. Though I like museums, I am never sure what I am getting into. This one is truly 5-stars +. What a man...and his wife. The stories, photos and artifacts weave together a tale that made me find a book and do more research. His agricultural practices and construction designs will haunt me.

Quaint little park and museum area. The larger hiking/horse trails are doable. Nice horse rental owner named Dominique. Was great time.