Located downriver from the city of Petaluma, Port Sonoma lies on the Petaluma River, which empties not far away into San Pablo Bay, north of San Francisco. Novato is the closest town (to the west), but has little in the way of facilities.

Use NOAA Chart 18654.

Approach from the south. Port Sonoma is reached via a long, narrow channel that starts with flashing red “2” in San Pedro Bay a good two miles south of Port Sonoma. The channel is reported to have six-foot depths and a width of 15 feet, so it is advised that you pay close attention to the numerous closely spaced marks.

Things get a little tricky at the mouth of the Petaluma River around green daybeacon “15” and flashing red “16,” as the channel makes a westward bend toward the facilities at Port Sonoma. Depths deepen once inside the river, but shallow again in the marina here, which has depths of about four to seven feet.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.

City of Petaluma

Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce

Petaluma Calendar of Events