Need to know
Rooms
84, including eight suites.
Check–Out
11am, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
More details
Rates exclude breakfast, but a farm-to-table spread with à la carte options is available for $25 (each guest).
Also
There are several ADA-compliant rooms with ramped entrances and widened doorways, as well as wheelchair-accessible pathways throughout the ranch.
At the hotel
Bicycles, binoculars, kayaks and infrared sauna mats to borrow, boathouse and seasonal dock, herb garden and orchard, fire pits and s’mores toasting kits, and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: air-conditioning, Smeg minifridge, free bottled water, tea- and coffee-making kit, portable lantern and Le Labo bath products. There are TVs, working fireplaces, and private decks in select rooms.
Our favourite rooms
A forest-green palette, redwood panelling and grass-cloth textiles bring the surrounding Russian River Valley into each nature-cocooned stay at Dawn Ranch — and there's a broad assortment of rooms to choose from, including cabins, cottages, chalets, bungalows, and even glamping tents if you're feeling intrepid. The two-bedroom cottages are the largest and come with a few extra creature comforts like working fireplaces and private decks. There’s an outdoor soaking tub in the spa cottage, set just a short slipper-clad pad away from the rest of the ranch’s wellness offerings.
Poolside
There’s a heated outdoor saltwater pool (open from 10am to 10pm) at the Grove, flanked by sunloungers and towering redwood trees, with plans to add another outdoor pool near the boathouse soon. Refreshing dips in the Russian River are your wild-swimming option.
Spa
Wellness at Dawn Ranch is rooted in botanical treatments and all-natural healing, drawing inspiration (and ingredients) from the surrounding Russian River Valley. Manuka honey masks, forest body scrubs, and peppermint tension-releasing massages will leave your skin feeling soft and supple, especially combined with a session in the glass-fronted sauna and steam room. A hot soak or cold plunge in the outdoor redwood tubs are not to be missed, with options to add various minerals and herbs to enhance your dip (including sweet birch magnesium flakes, lavender, and sea salt). There’s also a daily-changing program of sound bath rituals, intention setting, forest bathing and yoga, with guided classes taking place in the meditation garden.
Packing tips
There are picnic blankets, binoculars, sketchbooks and field guides to borrow from the front desk, so just bring a sense of adventure.
Also
For a budget-friendly way to enjoy this Russian River outpost, the ranch's orchard has been transformed into a canopy-shaded campground where tents and tented trailers are kitted out for glamping.
Pet‐friendly
Well-behaved dogs can stay in select Roadside Cabins, Redwood Cabins, Grove Cabins and Sycamore Cabins for a flat fee of $150; just put in a pet request at the time of booking (speak to our Smith 24 Travel Team) and keep dogs leashed in public areas. See more pet-friendly hotels in Sonoma County.
Children
The ranch is best suited to older children able to swim, cycle and kayak. There are day-beds in some chalets and cottages, and families can request adjoining cabins in advance. Creative workshops, stargazing and s’mores will keep all ages entertained.
Sustainability efforts
Sprawling meadows, shaded sycamore groves, and forested hillsides make up all 22 acres of Dawn Ranch, which takes an as-nature-intended approach to its historic grounds. The hotel partners with Kind Traveler to donate $1 from every booking towards Russian Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the nearby Russian River pristine. The farm-to-table kitchen sources its produce from the valley’s farmers, alongside homegrown produce from the onsite orchards and herb garden.
