Patterson Point Preserve
Monte Rio, California · on Russian River
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- river
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- No fee found
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Patterson Point Preserve
Patterson Point Preserve is a small, two-acre community-owned natural area on a bend of the Russian River at Villa Grande, near Monte Rio, California, purchased and stewarded by the nonprofit Friends of Villa Grande (FoVG) since 2009. Locals have used this swimming hole, a sand/gravel river beach that today sits amid a stand of old-growth redwoods, for swimming, fishing, and gathering for more than a century, and the bend remains a local river to swim in.
The preserve sits on an alluvial bend of the Russian River and contains roughly 33 old-growth redwoods (estimated 400-600 years old) that survived historical logging because their flood-stressed, multi-trunked forms made them undesirable for lumber. The river beach area includes sand and adjoins other named local swimming spots (Sandy Beach and Rocky Beach) per OpenStreetMap data sourced from the site.
Swimming at Patterson Point Preserve
Swimming is a long-standing, officially sanctioned use of the river beach at Patterson Point, alongside picnicking, sunbathing, fishing, and small-boat access, during daylight hours. There is no lifeguard and the site is explicitly unsupervised, so swimmers go in at their own risk. The riverbed is noted to have steep drop-offs close to shore, and Sonoma County periodically posts harmful algae bloom (HAB) test results on site during warm months.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a two-acre river beach at a bend in the Russian River, not a trail-access site; no hike is described in any source. Exact walk time from parking to the water's edge was not found.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The preserve's own recreation page states there is no lifeguard, swimming is at one's own risk, and there are steep drop-offs in the riverbed close to shore, so young children need close supervision. California law also requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket while underway in any recreational vessel launched here.
Restrooms
Yes
Toilet and trash service is provided on site, funded by Friends of Villa Grande member dues and preserve donations (per villagrande.org/recreation); no further detail (vault vs. flush, exact location) was found.
Hours
Day-use only. Access through the preserve is permitted only during daylight hours, and watercraft and personal items must be removed from the beach by nightfall (per villagrande.org/recreation).
On the water
Restrictions: Watercraft and personal items must be removed from the beach by nightfall; there is no general overnight storage except through a members-only summer boat-anchorage program administered by Friends of Villa Grande. Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while underway in any vessel.
The preserve's recreation page lists 'boating' among permitted daytime activities and says the beach/waterway is accessible to the public 'anytime' by water; it does not itemize kayak vs. canoe vs. motorized craft separately, and no no-wake or engine restriction specific to this stretch was found.
Rentals nearby
Kayak and paddleboard (SUP) rentals; also a tackle/fishing shop
16258 Main St, Guerneville, CA, on the Russian River upriver from Monte Rio via River Rd · May-October: 8am-6pm, open 7 days a week; winter hours vary
Canoe and solo kayak rentals with paddles and life jackets included; runs the classic Russian River Forestville-to-Guerneville paddle with shuttle service
Prices: Canoes ~$95/day; solo kayaks ~$60/day (per business website)
8600 River Rd, Forestville, CA (at River Rd/Mirabel Rd), about one mile north of Forestville, further upriver from Monte Rio than Guerneville · Seasonal: opens Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, 7 days a week; shuttle runs roughly every half hour until 5pm
Self-guided Russian River canoe trips and guided e-bike tours; operating since 2001
Backstory
The site was heavily logged for redwood in the 1800s, with timber milled and shipped to San Francisco; a stand of roughly 33 old-growth redwoods survived because their storm-stressed, split-trunk forms were unattractive to loggers. In the mid-20th century the beach became an informal recreation spot with cars driving down to a makeshift parking area (causing soil compaction) and residents wiring electric lighting to the beach. Friends of Villa Grande purchased the two-acre property in September 2009 and has since run restoration work (invasive ivy removal, native replanting, debris/toxic material cleanup) with volunteers, paid stewards, and the STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed) program.
Patterson Point Preserve: FAQ
Is Patterson Point Preserve kid friendly?
The preserve's own recreation page states there is no lifeguard, swimming is at one's own risk, and there are steep drop-offs in the riverbed close to shore, so young children need close supervision. California law also requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket while underway in any recreational vessel launched here.
Do I need to hike to reach Patterson Point Preserve?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Patterson Point Preserve?
No parking lot, roadside pullout, cost, or walk-in distance details were found on the official Friends of Villa Grande site or via web search; the preserve's only published address is a mailing address (P.O. Box 28, Villa Grande, CA 95486), not a street/parking location.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Patterson Point Preserve?
The preserve's recreation page lists 'boating' among permitted daytime activities and says the beach/waterway is accessible to the public 'anytime' by water; it does not itemize kayak vs. canoe vs. motorized craft separately, and no no-wake or engine restriction specific to this stretch was found.
When is the best time to visit Patterson Point Preserve?
summer (based on references to summer boat-anchorage program and warm-season algae bloom monitoring)
What are the rules at Patterson Point Preserve?
Managed by the nonprofit Friends of Villa Grande. Day-use only (no overnight use or overnight storage of personal items, except registered boat anchorage). Swimming is at one's own risk with no lifeguard on duty. Children under 13 must wear a life jacket in any recreational vessel. Boat owners may apply to FoVG for permission to anchor a boat on the beach via a secure chain during summer months.
What water body is Patterson Point Preserve on?
Patterson Point Preserve is on Russian River, a natural river verified in USGS hydrography data.
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