Cazadero Map
Cazadero is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in western Sonoma County, California, United States with a population of 354 as of the 2010 Census. Nearby towns include Jenner, Annapolis, Stewart's Point, Duncans Mills, Villa Grande, Rio Nido, Guerneville, Monte Rio, and The Sea Ranch. The downtown of Cazadero is quite modest, consisting of two churches, a general store, a post office, a hardware store, an auto repair garage, the well equipped main station of the Cazadero Volunteer Fire Department and a few homes.
Cazadero is generally regarded as the area from the confluence of Austin Creek and the Russian River along California State Route 116 along the Cazadero Highway up to the town. The town is approximately 6 miles from Route 116. Cazadero Highway roughly parallels Austin Creek which is a principal tributary of the lower Russian River. Austin Creek flows southward through the town. Just north of the town, Cazadero Highway is joined by Fort Ross Road which is a winding, narrow road that meanders west before reaching State Route 1 on the Pacific Ocean near an old fort established by the Russian trappers in the 19th century. Located in the Sonoma Coast AVA, Cazadero can also be considered part of the Wine Country. Flowers Vineyard and Winery is in Cazadero. Cazadero is approximately 10 miles (16 km) from the Pacific Ocean, the rugged Sonoma Coast and the mouth of the Russian River.
Many creeks in Cazadero join Austin Creek as it makes its way to the Russian River. The principal tributary in the area is Kidd Creek which finds it source on the south east slopes of Pole Mountain which rises to approximately 2,204 feet (672 m) just a few miles from the Pacific coastline. Kidd Creek flows west to east before joining Austin Creek about 3 miles south of town. The rapid rise in elevation from the coast to mountains west of Cazadero ensures that the area receives substantial rainfall as Pacific storms come onshore in spring and winter releasing rain from clouds saturated with ocean moisture. Cazadero receives an average of 85 in (220 cm) of rain a year, and is reputed to be the second wettest town in California, after Gasquet.
Nearby cities include Forestville, Occidental, Healdsburg, Graton, Bodega.