Some of Napa Valley's Best Hiking Is Usually Off-Limits.Here's How to Get In. |
October brings rare chances to explore protected forests, waterfalls and ridgelines—and two orientations can earn you access to return on your own. |
There are places in Napa Valley most of us drive past without ever realizing what's beyond the gate.
Redwood forests. Oak woodlands. Wetlands filled with birds. Hillsides overlooking vineyards and Pope Valley. Waterfalls, meadows and ridgelines that aren't part of the usual network of public parks.
Many of them are protected by the Land Trust of Napa County - and while you generally can't simply park the car and start hiking, that doesn't necessarily mean you can't visit.
In fact, October offers several opportunities to explore places most Napa Valley residents rarely get to see. And at two Land Trust preserves, a short orientation can open the door to coming back and hiking on your own.
Take the Orientation, Come Back on Your Own
The Land Trust offers self-guided access to two of its preserves:
Archer Taylor Preserve and Dunn-Wildlake Preserve.
There's a catch, but it's a pretty reasonable one. Before visiting independently, you need to attend a Land Trust visitor orientation. Once you've completed one, the authorization is good for three years. You'll still need to provide advance notice and follow the preserve's access rules, but you won't have to wait for the next organized hike every time you want to return.
The next opportunity comes quickly. On Saturday, October 10 at 9 a.m., the Land Trust will hold a visitor orientation at Archer Taylor Preserve. Located in the Mayacamas Mountains west of Napa, the 380-acre preserve protects more than a mile of Redwood Creek and one of Napa County's largest stands of redwood trees.
The orientation covers the preserve's natural history and ecology as well as where visitors can go and the rules designed to protect the property. Afterward, participants become eligible to request permission to return for independent hikes.
A second orientation is scheduled for Sunday, October 18 at 9 a.m. at the Dunn-Wildlake and Duff Ranch preserves. Portions of those properties are similarly available for independent hiking after completing the orientation. Participants are welcome to stay afterward and explore.
Advance registration is required, and Land Trust field-trip registration generally closes three days before an event.
Or Let Someone Else Show You Around
You don't have to qualify for independent access to see some of the Land Trust's other protected properties. Guided outings provide opportunities throughout the year to visit preserves that aren't otherwise open for casual public hiking.
October has several.
On Monday, October 19, a moderate three-mile hike explores the new Mill Trail at Linda Falls Preserve, continuing beyond the familiar falls into Douglas fir forest east of Conn Creek and down toward an old sawmill site. The preserve supports more than 130 native plant species.
On Friday, October 23, an easy one- to two-mile walk at Mead Ranch Preserve, in the hills northeast of Napa, combines hiking with a lesson in using iNaturalist. Participants photograph plants and animals with their phones and upload the observations to the citizen-science network for identification.
Mead Ranch is a particularly good example of why these outings are worth watching: public access to the preserve is normally by permission and through Land Trust-led hikes.
Then on Sunday, October 25, a moderate four-mile hike explores Henry Ranch, passing through vineyards, old-growth trees and open meadows before climbing to a ridgeline with expansive views.
There Are More Ways In Than You Might Think
The Land Trust's calendar isn't limited to conventional hikes. There are birding trips, paddles, volunteer trail days, habitat-restoration projects and occasional specialty outings. Some are easy walks; others can be genuinely strenuous. Most are open to everyone unless specifically marked for Land Trust members.
That means the Land Trust's event calendar is worth bookmarking even if none of this month's dates work for you. New outings are released seasonally and additional events are added throughout the year.
And for residents who have driven Napa Valley for years thinking that everything behind those gates was permanently off-limits, there's a useful lesson here:
Sometimes you just need to know how to get in.
Want to explore? See the Land Trust of Napa County's current hikes and events calendar for registration, difficulty ratings and upcoming visitor orientations. |
39 Comments
Join the conversation
The old growth trees at Henry Ranch sound wonderful. I hope the fall colors are showing by then.
A volunteer trail day might be more my speed than a long hike. Nice to see those listed too.
So many years in Napa and I had never heard of Archer Taylor Preserve. Adding the calendar to my bookmarks.
Has anyone done the Henry Ranch hike before? Wondering how steep the climb to the ridgeline is.
The October 18 outing sounds good, especially being able to stay and explore afterward.
I hope they have room for people who can’t sign up right away. These outings seem like a great local resource.
The October 23 walk sounds perfect for beginners. Easy pace and learning to use iNaturalist is a nice combination.
I appreciate the reminder that these aren't public parks where you can just wander in. The advance notice makes sense.
I went on a Land Trust hike a while back and the guide made the landscape come alive. Would love to try Henry Ranch.
A moderate four miles can be a lot if the climb is steep. Glad the difficulty ratings are listed for these outings.
Mead Ranch being open only on guided hikes makes this a great opportunity. I may sign up.
The birding trips and volunteer days sound just as appealing as the hikes. I’ll keep an eye on their calendar.
Mead Ranch being open only on guided outings makes sense. Hope they keep offering these walks so more locals can see it.
October 18 at Dunn-Wildlake and Duff Ranch sounds good. I’ve never explored that part of the valley before.
I would love to see the wetlands and birds. Are there any birding trips coming up later this fall?
Three years is a pretty generous window after taking the orientation. Good idea from the Land Trust.
Glad to hear there are easy walks too. Not every outing has to be a strenuous hike.
I appreciate that access is managed to protect the land. Napa needs more people to understand how special these places are.
Does the orientation include much hiking, or is it mostly a talk about the rules? Either way, Archer Taylor looks lovely.
Four miles at Henry Ranch with vineyard and ridgeline views sounds right up my alley.
Mark D.That ridgeline view should be a great payoff after the climb.
The Henry Ranch ridgeline views sound worth the climb. Four miles is just about right for me.
I drive past these gates all the time and assumed the land was completely closed. Good to know there are ways to visit.
I've only ever seen the falls at Linda Falls. I didn't realize there was a mill site farther along the trail.
The Mead Ranch iNaturalist walk sounds like a fun way to get outside and learn something. Might bring my kids.
A three year authorization is pretty generous. Nice to be able to come back without waiting for another group hike.
The iNaturalist walk at Mead Ranch sounds fun. My kids are always taking pictures of bugs and plants anyway.
Rico AlvarezThat sounds perfect for kids. They might come home with a whole album of things to identify.
I like that the visitor orientation includes the rules for protecting the land. These places need to stay special.
Does anyone know if the orientation hike is suitable for people who aren't experienced hikers?
Linda Falls is beautiful. The trail continuing into the fir forest sounds like a nice way to see more of the preserve.
I've driven past these places for years and had no idea you could visit with a little planning.
kim_87Same here. I always assumed those gates meant there was no way to visit.
I’ve been to Linda Falls, but didn’t know there was a trail beyond the falls. The old sawmill site sounds interesting.
That Redwood Creek preserve has been on my list for years. Going to see if I can make the October 10 orientation.
The redwoods along Redwood Creek sound amazing. I hope I can make the October 10 orientation.
Dave ThompsonHope you can make it. Seeing those redwoods in person sounds special.
Thank you for the heads up. I had no idea you could get independent access after an orientation. Archer Taylor sounds beautiful.
Thank you for sharing this. I didn't know the Archer Taylor orientation lets you come back on your own for three years.