Dawn Ranch is, in a word, dreamy. Located in Guerneville, CA, right in Sonoma County and along the edge of the Russian River AVA (aka where they make delicious wine), it’s an idyllic 22-acre, eco-luxe retreat that has plenty of space to roam, explore, and daydream. You’ll check in and then make your way to your accommodations — whether you picked a glamping tent, a chalet, a cottage, or a bungalow, you can rest assured that you’ll have beautiful views of the breathtaking scenery.
Surrounded by a meadow and redwoods, Dawn Ranch offers an escape that will let you lean into nature — grab a picnic basket and eat outside on one of the picnic tables, or grab a blanket and head to a patch of grass. This stay is focused around you and rest. The boathouse, located at one end of the property, offers things like yoga classes and sound baths. You can also partake in a number of other experiences, like forest bathing, birding, wine tasting, and more, many of which are complimentary.
If you want to stay in your room and relax, that’s absolutely an option too. The rooms are beautiful, with light tones and a lived-in feel that makes you immediately feel like you’re home. There’s plenty of natural light that streams in, and the rooms feature Le Labo products and HigherDOSE Infrared PEFT mats for ultimate relaxation. If you want even more relaxation, you just have to head over to the freestanding spa, which is absolutely stunning and has a steam room, sauna, three treatment rooms (for massages and other treatments), and — perhaps most importantly — a few outdoor redwood tubs, which you can book as a treatment addition or on their own. You’ll make an herbal, magnesium blend that you’ll drop into the tubs, and in your time, you can relax outside, listening to the birds chirp and the wind move through the trees. It’s the perfect spot for reflection.
The Lodge is where you’ll take most of your meals if on property, and while breakfast is relaxed and laid back, while dinner is taken up just a notch (don’t worry, it’s still Sonoma County, which means it’s still laidback, just a bit more elevated). Local wine pours and well-constructed cocktails pair alongside fresh, locally sourced Northern California produce that gets a Latin American twist from chef Fernando Trocca, the man behind Sucre in Argentina, Mostrador locations in New York City, London, Buenos Aires, and more, and many other amazing restaurants.
You can’t go wrong with a stay at Dawn Ranch — it’s one of the most calming places and one that deserves a booking.
Top Takeaways
Location: Guerneville, CA
Address: 16467 CA-116, Guerneville, CA 95446
Rating: Four-star
The vibe: Chill but amazingly well-appointed, with plenty of space to roam and daydream.
Food + drink: Locally-sourced ingredients shine at The Lodge, where you can enjoy breakfast and dinner (with Fernando Trocca’s South American-inspired cooking). You can also order a picnic basket to eat around the property for lunch or dinner. Don’t forget s’mores at night!
Amenities: Outdoor pool (at the Grove, across the street), Boathouse (that offers wellness activities like yoga, sound baths, etc.), Spa
Our favorite thing about the hotel: Even non-Spa lovers will fall in love with the spa here, with its outdoor redwood soaking tubs that you can fill with herb sachets. The spa itself is beautifully done (yet small and intimate), and the wellness lounge is a great place to enjoy pre- and post-treatment with specialty teas.
5 nearby attractions: Wineries (in Healdsburg my favorites include Flowers Vineyards & Winery and Arista Winery, Korbel and Porter-Bass Winery are in Guerneville nearby), Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Johnson’s Beach, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, Guerneville River Park, Guerneville downtown (for shopping and eating)
Any personal neighborhood recs?: Guerneville is known for its great outdoors — including hiking and cycling. It’s also known as having a long LGBTQIA+-friendly history. It also has a cute downtown, where you can find some awesome restaurants, including Boon Eat + Drink, which serves seasonal Californian cuisine, plus local microbrews and wines. Equality Vines is a great wine shop that’ll give you a feel for the area, Sonoma Nesting Company and River Queen Handmade & Collectibles will both have vintage finds, antiques, and art.
Pricing: Rates start at $299/night
Room count: 86 luxury accommodations ranging from glamping tents and cabin-style guest rooms to chalets in a variety of layouts.
Closest Airport: From Guerneville, the closest airport is the Santa Rose airport (STS), which is about 10 miles away. Other nearby airports include Oakland (OAK) (69.6 miles), San Francisco (SFO) (70 miles), Sacramento (SMF) (77.7 miles), and San Jose (SJC) (98 miles).
