Beautiful Hikes in Napa

Enjoying the great outdoors, up-close and personal, with a hike along scenic trails is an ideal way to get in touch with nature. When you’re ready to put on your hiking boots, consider these hiking destinations in Napa, California.

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

A visit to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park offers something for everyone of all ages to enjoy. For hikers, there are more than 10 miles of hiking trails through tall expanses of Douglas firs and redwoods lined with deep-green ferns, or you can take a short stroll along the water.

The park offers a cool respite during the summer with a refreshing swimming pool, areas to enjoy a picnic, and camping sites for those who want to enjoy an extended stay. While visiting, you may see a variety of birds such as the pileated woodpecker and spotted owl and assorted wildlife including bobcats, deer, raccoons, coyotes, foxes, and gray squirrels.

An interesting location to visit while taking a hike is the Pioneer Cemetery dating to the 1800s where many of the valley’s original settlers are interred. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.

Foote Botanical Preserve

At Foote Botanical Preserve at Mt. George, hikers have several miles to traverse through landscape featuring brushlands, meadows, rock outcrops, forest, grassland, and seasonal wetlands. Annual plants are prevalent in the sun-filled meadows dotted with colorful wildflowers. Birds of prey find the preserve to be an inviting habitat. While public access to the preserve is limited, guided hiking tours are available when scheduled through the Land Trust of Napa County.

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

With a visit to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, you’ll walk the trail where Stevenson’s cabin was located in 1880 when he and his wife were on their honeymoon. The area features evergreen forests and rough terrain in the canyon and the mountain slopes. For views of the San Francisco Bay Area, take the five-mile scenic hike that will take you to St. Helena’s peak. For the best time to hike, spring and fall are at the top of the list. Winter offers beautiful scenery but snow and wind are a consideration.

Skyline Wilderness Park

Whether you’re new to hiking or a seasoned trail traveler, Skyline Wilderness Park has a trail for you. With nine trails to choose from and 25 miles to explore, you have a choice in distance and experience level. Trails offer a variety of challenges from technical areas and gradual climbs to steep rises and steady climbs. Plan your hike seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Alston Park

At Alston Park, you’ll have 157 acres of scenic landscape with multiple trails. The park has grassy meadows, groves, creek, and a canyon, so there’s plenty of scenery to enjoy. You can hike or bike, and if you have a canine buddy, pups are allowed and there’s an area that is off-leash. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Take your pick from one of these trails in Napa to experience the challenge of a hike through scenic landscapes or atop a mountain.

Image via Pexels.com 

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