If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in Guerneville, Monte Rio, or anywhere along the Russian River, call David Millar with The Millar Group at 707-217-1786. I specialize in Russian River real estate and spend a lot of time exploring the roads, neighborhoods, hillsides, and communities that make this part of West Sonoma County so unique.
One of those roads is Old Monte Rio Road, a narrow, winding hillside road that runs west from Guerneville toward Monte Rio.
Today, we’re taking a drive along Old Monte Rio Road to look at its history, the homes along the route, the surrounding redwood forest, and some of the important things buyers should understand before purchasing property here.
Where Is Old Monte Rio Road?
Old Monte Rio Road begins just outside downtown Guerneville, California, along the Highway 116 corridor heading west toward Monte Rio.
The road climbs onto the hillside above the Russian River Valley and generally follows the same direction as Highway 116 below.
Today, Highway 116 is the primary road connecting Guerneville and Monte Rio. But historically, Old Monte Rio Road played an important role in automobile travel between these Russian River communities.
The road is narrow, heavily wooded, and lined with homes built into some very steep terrain.
That makes it one of the more interesting roads to explore if you want to understand what hillside real estate around Guerneville and Monte Rio is really like.
A Historic Route Between Guerneville and Monte Rio
Long before Highway 116 looked the way it does today, transportation through the Russian River area was very different.
The railroad played a major role in connecting communities such as Guerneville and Monte Rio, and the corridor now used by Highway 116 was historically associated with railroad transportation.
Old Monte Rio Road provided an early automobile route through the hills between the communities.
Driving it today gives you a good idea of what travel in the Russian River area must have been like decades ago.
The road twists along the hillside, and in many places there is barely enough room for two vehicles to comfortably pass.
It is definitely not a road where you want to drive fast.
Homes Built Into the Hillside
One of the defining characteristics of Old Monte Rio Road real estate is the terrain.
Many homes are built either above or below the road.
On one side you may see a house perched high above you with long stairways climbing the hillside. On the other side, a house may sit below the road supported by foundations, retaining walls, or structural systems designed for the steep slope.
That is very typical of older Russian River hillside neighborhoods.
Some homes have tremendous privacy and beautiful views overlooking the Russian River Valley.
Depending on the location, you may be able to see toward:
- Guerneville
- Vacation Beach
- Guernewood
- Highway 116
- The Russian River
- Northwood Golf Course
- Monte Rio
You can be only minutes from town and still feel like you are living deep in the redwoods.
Living Among the Redwoods
The forest is one of the biggest attractions of Old Monte Rio Road.
Much of the road is surrounded by mature redwoods, oaks, firs, and other vegetation that creates the classic Russian River atmosphere.
It is quiet.
It is shady.
And many of the properties feel extremely private.
Local stories also tell of a time when the hillsides were much more open because so much of this area had previously been logged. As the forest grew back, the hills became covered with the dense vegetation we see today.
For buyers who tell me they want a house where they can step outside and feel surrounded by nature, roads like Old Monte Rio Road are often exactly what they picture.
What Do Homes Cost on Old Monte Rio Road?
Pricing varies considerably depending on condition, location, parking, views, access, lot characteristics, and the amount of work a property may need.
Historically, Old Monte Rio Road has offered some relatively affordable opportunities compared with certain other areas of Sonoma County.
You may occasionally see smaller homes or fixer properties around the lower end of the Russian River market, while updated two- and three-bedroom homes can move considerably higher depending on their features and condition.
The important thing is not to judge a property only by the house.
On a steep hillside property, the land and infrastructure can be just as important as the structure itself.
Drainage and Erosion Are Important
If you are considering buying a home on Old Monte Rio Road, drainage should be one of the first things you look at carefully.
This is hillside property in a region that can receive significant winter rainfall.
You want to understand where water flows during heavy storms.
Important items to investigate can include:
- Drainage systems
- Retaining walls
- Foundations
- Hillside stability
- Erosion
- Culverts
- Water runoff
- Road access
- Stairways
- Decks and structural supports
A beautiful hillside home can be a great property, but buyers need to understand what they are buying.
This is one of the reasons working with a local Russian River real estate agent who understands hillside properties can be valuable.
Parking Can Be Limited
Parking is another major consideration on Old Monte Rio Road.
There is very little shoulder along portions of the road.
Some properties have dedicated parking areas, garages, carports, or parking decks, while other homes have much more limited parking.
When looking at a property here, pay close attention to how easy it is to:
- Park your own vehicles
- Turn around
- Have guests visit
- Receive deliveries
- Access the house safely
A parking situation that seems manageable during a quick showing can feel very different when you live there every day.
Sewer and Septic Systems
Another important consideration is whether a property is connected to a public sewer system or uses an individual septic system.
Portions of the Old Monte Rio Road area closer to Guerneville may have access to sewer service, while properties farther out may have different wastewater arrangements.
Never assume.
When buying Russian River real estate, buyers should verify the specific sewer or septic situation for the property they are considering.
This can have a major impact on future remodeling, additions, maintenance, and property value.
Vacant Land Can Look Cheap — But Building May Not Be
Every once in a while, you will see a vacant parcel come up for sale along Old Monte Rio Road.
Some of these lots have been held by families for decades.
At first glance, the price of the land can look attractive.
But purchasing the land is only part of the equation.
Building on a steep Russian River hillside can become very expensive.
Potential costs may include:
- Engineering
- Geotechnical studies
- Grading
- Foundations
- Retaining walls
- Driveways
- Parking
- Utility connections
- Drainage improvements
- Septic installation where applicable
- Permits
That inexpensive hillside lot can quickly become an expensive construction project.
Anyone considering vacant land in the Russian River should investigate buildability before making assumptions based on the purchase price alone.
The Old Hillside Lift Systems
One of the more interesting things you will occasionally see along Old Monte Rio Road is an old hillside lift.
Some homes sit far above the roadway.
Instead of carrying groceries, firewood, or supplies up multiple flights of stairs, homeowners installed small lift systems that could transport items from road level up toward the house.
They are a reminder of how people adapted to hillside living in the Russian River.
You still see examples of these old systems scattered throughout some of the steeper neighborhoods around Guerneville and Monte Rio.
Can You Drive Old Monte Rio Road All the Way to Monte Rio?
Not anymore.
As you continue west, you eventually reach the area around Canopius Road.
Canopius provides a connection back down toward Highway 116.
Drivers heading into Monte Rio need to use this connection and continue on Highway 116 because the old road no longer provides a continuous automobile route all the way into Monte Rio.
Farther along, Old Monte Rio Road ends at a closed section associated with an older slide area.
The closure is another example of how geology, rainfall, and steep terrain have shaped transportation throughout the Russian River region.
What Is It Like Living on Old Monte Rio Road?
Old Monte Rio Road is not for everyone.
If you want wide streets, sidewalks, large flat yards, and lots of easy parking, this probably is not the first neighborhood I would show you.
But if you are looking for:
- Redwood trees
- Privacy
- Character
- Hillside views
- Proximity to Guerneville
- Access to Monte Rio
- A forest setting
- Unique older homes
- A true Russian River atmosphere
then Old Monte Rio Road may be worth exploring.
This is the type of neighborhood that attracts people who want something different from a typical suburban home.
Buying Real Estate in Guerneville or Monte Rio
Buying a home around the Russian River is different from buying a house in many other parts of Sonoma County.
Properties here can involve questions about:
- Hillsides
- Drainage
- Flood zones
- Septic systems
- Sewer systems
- Retaining walls
- Private roads
- Parking
- Redwoods
- Creeks
- Wells
- Insurance
- Older construction
Those issues do not necessarily mean you should avoid a property.
They simply mean you need to understand what you are buying.
That is where local experience matters.
I spend my time throughout Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, Forestville, Cazadero, Duncans Mills, Jenner, and the surrounding Russian River communities, looking at homes and learning the roads and neighborhoods.
If you are considering buying or selling property anywhere along the Russian River, I would be happy to help.
David Millar
The Millar Group
Russian River Land & Home
Local Russian River Real Estate Agent
707-217-1786
