Hike Mount Hood via Goodspeed-Nattkemper Trail Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, CA

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Apr 22, 2026 — I took a wander up the Goodspeed–Nattkemper Trail to the summit of Mount Hood. This route is one of the main ways onto Mount Hood, climbing out of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and transitioning through a gradient of ecosystems, starting with redwoods low down, then oak and open chaparral, eventually leading to larger trees higher up.

I started up the trail, initially crossing bridges over Sonoma Creek and Bear Creek through a lush section near the park entrance road. Soon I emerged into the burned landscape left by the 2020 Glass Fire, though the slope was still pleasant to hike through. The trail crossed a private road, dropped into a creek, then climbed again toward a bald slope above. I entered a beautiful grassy ascent, winding up through open slope with views back over Sonoma Valley.

I reached the Gunsight Rock Trail junction, where views faded completely due to a thick layer of fog, so I skipped the overlook and pushed straight on to the summit.

A plaque on the summit reads: The summit of Hood Mountain is the highest point between Sonoma and Napa Valleys at 2,730 feet. Hood Mountain was part of the original Los Guilicos land grant given to William Hood by General M.G. Vallejo, circa 1840, The Mountain has a rich history from three Indian hunting camps, fruit orchard, farm, hunting lodge to a distillery and retreat during Prohibition. In 1957 the Johnson Family purchased 500 acres that they named “Panorama Ranch” In 2003, 300 acres of the “Ranch” were added to Hood Mountain Regional Park by the Sonoma County Agricultural and Preservation & Open Space District.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Mount Hood (Hood Mountain)

2736 ft

2006 rise

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Starting from Sugarloaf Ridge State Park along the Goodspeed-Nattkemper Trail.

A bridge over Sonoma Creek and then Bear Creek, a lush stretch of the hike near the park entrance road.

Emerging into the devastated landscape caused by the 2020 Glass Fire. It was still a pretty slope to hike up.

The trail crosses the private road ahead, descends into a creek below, then ascends to the bald slope seen top left.

After the brief descent, a creek crossing.

The trail asends the southeast ridge of Mount Hood.

View back toward Sonoma Creek, where the park road lies.

Entering a beautiful section where the trail ascends via a grassy slope.

View back, Sonoma Valley seen on the right.

Some switchbacks as I near the top of the grassy slope.

View back down into Sonoma Valley.

The trail continues on the north side of the ridge.

Mount Hood up there somewhere in the mist.

View back down.

Unfortunately my limited views disappeared entirely as I reached the Gunsight Rock Trail junction, so I skipped the overlook and just continued to the summit.

Mount Hood summit.

Mount Hood summit plaque.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!