What do you think about Napa? Fancy tastings? Picnics near the vines? Accidental peddling between wineries and tasty dinner? It could be, but don’t allow those thoughts to trick you. Napa could be full of active adventures (mixed with all things from above)!
Early Morning Drive Silverado Trail
Nothing could bit early morning fall drive. The fog covers the valley and surrounds red and orange foliage, residents, and wineries that pokes through grey clouds of moisture. It’s a photographer paradise.
Hike Bothe-Napa State Park
In the heart of the Napa Valley, you can find Bothe-Napa State Park, which is a terrific place to be your base for the valley exploration. It has a nice campground, cabins, and yurts. And it has great trails that start near the creek and lead hiker towards the wooden ridgeline.
During the fall, the valley level trails are surrounded by red, orange, and yellow foliage, one of the most colorful I saw in the Greater Bay Area.
Drive to Calistoga Grade Vista
It’s a nice place to sit with a glass of wine and bread and meet the sunset. The roadside easy to drive vista has a stunning view over the valley.
Visit the Vinery
When I searched for a place to book the tasting, I wanted something very scenic. When Castello di Amorosa is well known and always busy, I was delighted to learn that right across the road, there’s Sterling Vineyards that is everything that you would want on a lovely fall evening.
It has an air tram leading towards the tasting rooms, and tasting rooms that have a scenic view of the valley.
We booked the last Silver Experience Tour of the day, so we were able to stay for sunset (it was early November).
Sunrise Rector Reservoir trail hike
The trail is challenging. The elevation gain makes this trail excellent cardio after yesterday’s dinner (and before the upcoming day’s tastings). But more than the challenge, the views are the best part of the hike. The trail has an overview of the valley under the reservoir and towards the Bay. On Sunday morning, sunrise balloons will be another treat you get.
Info and Map
- We visited Napa in 2019, well before the COVID-19 epidemic. Make sure to check wineries sites on how to book the testing and what to expect.
- Fall is a fire danger season in the wine country. Some of the parks and trails could be closed or have limitations. Check their sites in advance.
- See Rector Reservoir hike description here and all available trails in Bothe-Napa State Park here on AllTrails.
- The official Bothe Napa State Park is here.
- The Rector Reservoir site is here.