A welcome surprise in the middle of wine country: a real forest. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park preserves stands of coast redwood at the southernmost natural extent of their range, along with Douglas fir, tan oak, and madrone. About 15 kilometres of hiking trails wind through the park, ranging from easy valley-floor walks to steeper ridge routes with views over the Napa Valley.
The Redwood Trail is the most popular, taking you through the tallest trees in about a 30-minute loop. The History Trail connects the park to the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park to the south, an 1846 water-powered mill that has been restored to working condition. The park sits about 6 kilometres south of Calistoga on Highway 29 — close enough for an easy half-day outing.