Use this guide to choose an experience that fits your plans and prepare for the details that matter before setting out.
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park
Bothe is a place to choose a walk on a park trail network rather than treating the vineyard landscape as open access. The park is at 3801 St. Helena Highway North in Calistoga and is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Check the current vehicle fee before driving in and read the park notices for the route you intend to take. Arriving on foot or by bicycle has a different access arrangement from arriving by car.
Dogs must be leashed in developed areas and are not allowed on the hiking trails. If you are traveling with a dog, plan another activity for the time you want to spend on the trails. Leave natural objects in place and stay within areas open to visitors. Before departure, check the park's current information about facilities and conditions.
Robert Louis Stevenson, Table Rock and Palisades
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is open from sunrise to sunset and has no entrance fee. A small unpaved parking area is signed on Highway 29. Bring drinking water and take all waste away: the park has neither drinking water nor toilets or trash collection. Dogs are not permitted. These practical details matter when choosing a route and deciding how long to be away from your vehicle.
Table Rock and Palisades are listed as open again on the park page, with possible fire recovery work and changed trail conditions. Check current notices before setting off and follow any instructions on site. An open listing for these areas is not a promise that every path will be available on the day. Choose a route appropriate to your experience and allow time to turn back.
Oat Hill Mine Trail
Oat Hill is a rocky, demanding route between Calistoga and Aetna Springs Road in Pope Valley. The full trail is 8.3 miles one way, with approximately 1,500 feet of elevation difference. It is not a short, level loop. Consider the return as well as the outward journey, and decide beforehand how far your group will go. The trail is open from sunrise to sunset, has a small parking area and has no drinking water.
Hikers share the route with mountain bikes and horses. Respect private land and remain on district property; the old mines are outside the public trail and are not open to visitors. Dogs must remain under voice control. Carry water, wear suitable footwear and leave enough daylight for your return. Check conditions before committing to the full distance.
Conservation, water and smoke
Each area has its own rules. Protect the places you visit by staying on permitted routes, respecting boundaries and leaving natural objects where they belong. A photograph of vineyards or a path is not evidence that the land is public. At Stevenson, carry out your waste; at Bothe, keep dogs off the hiking network. Check the current local rules before taking a bicycle onto any park trail.
When smoke is present, consult current air quality information and consider modifying or postponing outdoor activity. Fire recovery work can also affect conditions. A flexible itinerary lets you switch to a town activity if the route is unsuitable. See the weather guide for wider seasonal planning.
A guided redwood hike
The featured redwood hike includes a local guide, entrance and a vehicle. Its listed inclusions do not identify a particular park or trail, so check the current meeting and itinerary details with the experience before booking. It offers a guided option alongside the independent routes described here, without promising that any specific park is included.
Our pick: a guided outdoor outing
This redwood outing includes a local guide and entrance fee.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed on Bothe hiking trails?
No. Dogs may be leashed in developed areas but are not permitted on the park's hiking trails.
Is there drinking water at Stevenson or Oat Hill?
Neither lists drinking water. Carry what you need and check current conditions before leaving.
Is Oat Hill a short loop?
No. The full rocky trail is 8.3 miles one way. Plan the return and choose a distance suited to your group.