10 Best Hikes in Napa County, from Skyline Park to Mount St. Helena

The best hikes in Napa County are spread across a handful of public parks: Skyline Wilderness Park and the new Suscol Headwaters Park on the east edge of the City of Napa, Westwood Hills and Alston Park in town, Moore Creek Park above Lake Hennessey, Bothe-Napa Valley State Park near St. Helena, and Robert Louis Stevenson State Park and the Oat Hill Mine Trail near Calistoga. Below are ten hikes worth knowing, from a short city loop to the climb up Mount St. Helena.

Fees and rules come from each park’s managing agency, checked in October 2026. Conditions change, so check before you go.

Quick comparison

Skyline Wilderness Park, City of Napa

Skyline is the go-to park for anyone living in or near the City of Napa. It has more than 25 miles of trails shared with mountain bikers and horseback riders. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in summer and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter, and no one is admitted in the last 30 minutes. A day pass is $6 per vehicle or $3 if you walk, bike or ride in, and annual passes are sold online. Dogs are not allowed on the trails (Skyline Park).

1. Skyline Trail and Lake Marie

The Skyline Trail climbs steeply to a hilltop of about 776 feet with views over Coombsville and the valley, then rolls through oak woodland and seasonal wildflowers toward the north end of the park. A popular loop goes out on the Skyline Trail, circles Lake Marie, and returns on Lake Marie Road, a fire road of about 2.3 miles with a steady grade. The full loop runs a little over six miles (Sierra Club Redwood Chapter).

2. Thatcher’s Rim Rock Trail to Sugarloaf Peak

This is the hardest climb in the park, rising to Sugarloaf Peak at about 1,630 feet with wide views. Bring trekking poles and plenty of water, and start early in summer.

If you want to avoid the main entrance, the River to Ridge Trail is a half-mile connector from Kennedy Park to Skyline. The usual Skyline fee still applies (Napa Outdoors).

3. Suscol Headwaters Park: The Prominence

Suscol Headwaters is a 709-acre park directly south of Skyline. You can reach it through a gate on the Napa Solano Ridge Trail at the top of Skyline, or from a lot at 1700 North Kelly Road. From that lot, an access trail runs about three miles before reaching the main park, with early views across southern Napa County. An official trail leads to The Prominence, the park’s high point. The North Kelly Road lot is open sunrise to sunset and costs $6 per car. The district notes that the southern entrance opens October 24, 2026, and that the full trail system is still being built over several years. Dogs are not allowed on trails (Napa Outdoors: Suscol Headwaters).

In-town walks

4. Westwood Hills Park

This 111-acre city park in west Napa has about three miles of trails through oak groves and meadows, with city views and picnic tables near the parking lot and along the trails.

5. Alston Park

Alston Park covers 157 acres of open space on the northwest side of town. It allows walking, running, biking and horseback riding, and has both on-leash and off-leash dog areas, which makes it the best choice on this list if you hike with a dog (City of Napa).

6. Moore Creek Park and Lake Hennessey

Moore Creek Park, off Chiles Pope Valley Road east of St. Helena, covers more than 2,100 acres in two units. North of the parking lot, the Moore Creek unit follows the creek through quiet canyon country; the Yip Trip Trail makes a loop of about three miles that connects to the Moore Creek and Washing Machine trails. South of the lot, trails in the Lake Hennessey unit follow the shore or climb rugged ridges. Lake Hennessey is the City of Napa’s main drinking-water source, so no swimming or water contact is allowed for people or dogs.

The park is free and open sunrise to sunset. Dogs are allowed only in the Lake Hennessey unit and must stay leashed. There is no drinking water, and high water can make creek crossings impassable in winter (Napa Outdoors: Moore Creek).

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Bothe sits on Highway 29 about five miles north of St. Helena and four miles south of Calistoga. It has about ten miles of trails ranging from 300 to 2,000 feet in elevation, including redwoods along Ritchey Creek. It opens daily at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset, and day use is $10 per vehicle. Dogs are allowed only in camp and picnic areas, not on trails (California State Parks: Bothe).

7. Coyote Peak

The park’s most popular trail climbs 1.5 miles to a 1,170-foot peak with views of the valley, Mount St. Helena and upper Ritchey Canyon.

8. History Trail

This 1.1-mile trail runs from the picnic area past the Pioneer Cemetery to Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park. Check State Parks’ page for mill tour days before you go (State Parks brochure).

9. Mount St. Helena, Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

About seven miles north of Calistoga on Highway 29, a rough five-mile trail and fire road climb to the summit of Mount St. Helena. Along the way you pass the marked site of Robert Louis Stevenson’s cabin; nothing of the cabin remains. The park is open sunrise to sunset, dogs are not allowed, and it is operated by the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District. The terrain is rough, so wear sturdy shoes and carry more water than you think you need (California State Parks: Robert Louis Stevenson).

10. Oat Hill Mine Trail, Calistoga

This historic wagon road runs 8.3 miles from the edge of Calistoga to Aetna Springs Road in Pope Valley, with about 1,500 feet of elevation change. It is rough and rocky, shared with mountain bikers and riders, and has no drinking water. Most hikers go out and back from the Calistoga end; a one-way trip needs a car shuttle of about an hour each way. It is free, open sunrise to sunset, and dogs are allowed under voice command (Napa Outdoors: Oat Hill Mine).

Tips for hiking in Napa County

• Start early from June through October. Valley heat builds quickly, and most of these trails have little shade.
• Check fire-season conditions. Look at the park’s page for closures and fire restrictions before red-flag days.
• Know the dog rules. Most parks here do not allow dogs on trails. Alston Park, the Lake Hennessey unit and Oat Hill Mine are the main exceptions.
• Watch for poison oak and ticks, and expect muddy trails and high creek crossings in winter.

Living near the trails

East Napa and Coombsville sit close to Skyline and Suscol Headwaters. West Napa is near Westwood Hills and Alston Park. Up valley, St. Helena, Angwin and Calistoga put Bothe, Moore Creek and Mount St. Helena within a short drive. Our guide to living in Napa covers daily life, and the Napa County homes for sale page shows what is on the market in each area.

Questions people ask

Where can I hike with my dog in Napa?

Alston Park has off-leash areas, the Lake Hennessey unit of Moore Creek Park allows leashed dogs, and the Oat Hill Mine Trail allows dogs under voice control. Skyline, Suscol Headwaters, Bothe and Robert Louis Stevenson do not allow dogs on trails.

How long does it take to hike Mount St. Helena?

The trail is about five miles each way. Most hikers need a half day or more for the round trip, depending on pace and heat.

Do I need to pay to hike in Napa?

Some parks charge: Skyline and Suscol Headwaters are $6 per car and Bothe is $10. Moore Creek and the Oat Hill Mine Trail are free.

If you are thinking about a move to Napa County and want to know which areas put you closest to the outdoors you enjoy, start your home search with us. We are happy to talk through the trade-offs of each town.

Sources & notes

• Skyline Wilderness Park (hours, passes, dog rules)
• Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District: Suscol Headwaters, Moore Creek, Oat Hill Mine Trail, Key Regional Trails
• California State Parks: Bothe-Napa Valley, Bothe brochure, Robert Louis Stevenson
• City of Napa Parks and Recreation
• Sierra Club Redwood Chapter, Skyline Wilderness Park hikes

Last reviewed October 2026 by Matthew Martinez.