The Russian River begins in the hills of Mendocino County and meanders past Cloverdale and Healdsburg on its way to the sea. But when locals say The Russian River or even just The River, they're talking about the region of redwoods and riverbanks in Sonoma County between Forestville and Jenner, celebrated since the late 19th century as a paradise for camping and fishing. Captured here in over 200 vintage photographs are the area's settlers, stores, festivals, resorts, and beaches-attractions that have drawn Bay Area tourists for over a century.

Native Americans camped and fished along the lower River, but it was the potential for lumbering that drew the first White settlers and in the 1870s led to the building of railroads. Towns formed, resorts and businesses sprang up, and the River fell into a seasonal rhythm of catering to summer visitors. Spanning over 150 years, this book documents the events and attractions of the lower Russian River, including the towns of Forestville, Rio Nido, Guerneville, Monte Rio, Duncans Mills, Cazadero, and Jenner.