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February 23-25, 2007

Note:  To reserve a spot for camping, please contact Anna J  

 

The Place

        Located in the heart of the beautiful Napa Valley wine country (yes I said it – wine country), the Park offers us group camping and hiking trails. Bothe-Napa SP trail takes us through stands of coastal redwoods as well as forests of Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone. Most of the park is rugged, with elevations ranging from 300 to 2,000 feet. You will notice a distinct pattern in the vegetation where the forests are on the north-facing slopes and in canyons, while south-facing slopes tend to be brushy and redwoods grow only near creeks or springs. Plant life hides much of the park's geology, which is principally volcanic, but you will see a reminder of the area's violent geologic past in the volcanic ash cliffs of upper Ritchey Canyon on our hike Saturday. Our trek through Ritchey Canyon on the Redwood Trail leads to views of Mt Saint Helena off in the distance.

The park exhibits more seasonal changes than most Californians experience. Hot, dry summers change to mild, wet winters; in between, in spring and fall, the park and its surrounding area are probably at their finest. Temperatures don't often go below freezing and snow is infrequent, but nearly 45 inches of rain are apt to fall during a single winter – so plan accordingly.

Whether you come out to camp or just to hike, you will enjoy the close-up look at all the natural beauty the park has to offer. There are well over 10 miles of trails for our indulgence. 

Getting There

        DIRECTIONS: From San Jose: Take I280 north to I680.  Take I780 north to I80 east. Next you will head west on Highway 37 then north on Highway 29 to the park entrance. It is poorly marked so stay alert. It will be a mile or two past the “Historic” sign. If you find yourself in Calistoga, you’ve gone too far!!!

We will be at the group campsite which is a quarter of a mile straight past the park entrance – follow the signs. The site is located near Highway 29 and although you may hear traffic some of the time it is secluded and will allow us to have our meetings in privacy and curfews will not be in force as it was at Lassen.

Drive Time 3 Hours - Camping $10 for adults and $5 for kids - Dogs not allowed on trails