Hike Napa's Skyline!

Hike Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa Valley

Bottles of wine aren't the only things popping in Napa. Right now the wildflowers are popping, too! Get in a 4-mile (round-trip) hike packed with wildflowers and wonderful views. Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa Valley is nestled within a few minutes’ drive of bustling Oxbow Public Market.

The park’s 850 acres of wilderness area is managed by a nonprofit, and the frills come courtesy of nature’s seasonal gifts; in springtime that means wildflowers! Currently the trails are fringed with baby blue eyes, buttercups, and some popcorn blooms. This hike starts on Buckeye Trail, making a gradual ascent among oaks and manzanitas, with a few wide-open views to the Mayacamas Mountains. Continue on the trail until you reach the Skyline Trail intersection, which connects at a plateau festooned by poppies. Enjoy the expansive view to downtown Napa all the way to the bay before descending sharply on the Skyline Trail to finish.

BONUS FOOD & BEER: It’s about a 10-minute drive from Skyline Wilderness Park to bustling Oxbow Public Market. Oxbow’s got plenty of artisan food and drink options, from organic coffee and kombucha drinks to the comfort foods of fried chicken and shakes at Taylor’s Refresher. Grab a patio seat at Fieldwork Brewing Company, and try the Hazy Glue pale ale or the staff favorite In Bloom (back by popular demand).

No dogs at Skyline Wilderness Park. Patio seating at Oxbow Public Market is dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking down the stairs overlooking the ocean on the Coastal Trail in San Francisco

    America's Best Urban Hike

    Long ago we dubbed it the “Grand Walk” and said it was one of the most scenic and stunning trails in the West. We were wrong. This is the most scenic urban hike in America!

    View
  2. Hike or Bike the Skyline

    A new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail is open for biking, hiking, or horseback riding along the 12-mile (out-and-back) Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail.

    View
  3. Woman riding a bike on the the Vine Trail in Napa Valley

    Through the Grapevine

    Cycle California’s most famous wine valley on the car-free Vine Trail, an ambitious project going through the heart of Napa Valley. Park your car and ride 6 miles from Napa to Yountville for lunch.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Stars, Steaks, and Strange Brews

    Forget Michelin stars. Deep in Oregon's high desert, legendary Cowboy Dinner Tree is destination dining at its most deliciously down-to-earth, well worth the required reservation and desert drive to reach it.

    View
  2. Outback to the Future

    Some must-see destinations are written in the stars. Deep in Oregon's remote southern high desert lies the largest certified International Dark Sky Sanctuary on the planet. With 2.5 million acres of protected dark skies, you get the best of the celestial out here in what's known as the Oregon Outback, including geothermal soaks and an incredible playa that's a hidden gem.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Extra-Celestial Central Oregon

    Some trips promise you the moon and the stars. And this one delivers in a big way, plus throws in some extra planets for your viewing pleasure. From Bend, Sunriver, and Sisters to Antelope Basecamp in the remote high desert.

    View