Take a Napa

Camp or Stay in a Yurt in Napa Valley

With its beautifully manicured vines and stately tasting rooms fronted by giant water fountains, it's refreshing to know Napa has a wild side beyond bachelor parties in limos. You can get legitimately rugged here! Tucked in the northern part of Napa Valley, Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is a hideaway haven, where big and bold reds come in the form of the easternmost coastal redwoods in the state. And you can pitch your tent among them. There are 45 sites spaced under tall tree cover including oaks, pines, madrones, Douglas fir, and coast redwood. Sites 28 to 30 make nice spots with a little extra seclusion. Miles of hiking trails can be found in the park, including the popular Coyote Peak Trail, which climbs 1.5 miles to a beautiful vista of the valley and Mount Saint Helena. Or stay on lower ground and take the 1.1-mile History Trail to neighboring Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park. At night, kick back and relax in the company of the big reds, and that other big red famous in Napa—a nice bold Cab!

BONUS YURTS (pictured): A relatively new addition to Bothe-Napa, 10 tidy yurts are also on the scene! A few are set within the main campground, and the rest are in the park's aptly named Yurtville—higher up and close to the seasonal pool/recreation area. Yurts have patios and wood floors and furnishings, along with mattresses on beds (you'll need to bring your own bedding).

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is located 5 miles north of St. Helena on Hwy. 29. Book campsite and yurts through Reserve America. There are nine first-come, first-served sites, and your chances of getting one are better in late fall and winter. There is one hiker/cyclist site, first come, first served. Campground is dog-friendly! No dogs on the hiking trails. No dogs in yurts.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  4. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View