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Napa Valley Hiking – Moore Creek Park

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The late winter months present many days of quality hiking in the Napa Valley. The outdoors, with your mask in use, is safer than most activities in wine country. If you miss the wine country, try this hike. On the way to the hike entrance, you will drive by many beautiful vineyards and wineries.

Moore Creek hikes napa valley

Hiking in the Napa Valley – Moore Creek

It is not just all about wine and food in the Napa Valley. Among the many entertaining activities to enjoy in the Napa Valley, there are some fun and invigorating hikes that will soothe the soul. This hike, the Madrone Trail, is one we took last Sunday in Moore Park Creek, one of Napa County’s Open Space District Parks. The park entrance is about five miles from the Conn Creek Winery, where Highway 128 meets the Silverado Trail. Last Sunday was a beautiful day with bright sun basking hikers, dog walkers, and mountain bikers. Moore Creek is flowing, and Lake Hennessey is spilling over its banks. There is water everywhere.  Take advantage of this winter’s heavy rainfall to view creeks and waterfalls flowing as they have not done in years.

Moore Creek

Moore Creek

There are seven different hikes one can choose to take at Moore Creek Park. In all, there are fifteen miles of hiking trails. It is a fantastic way to start your day in the Napa Valley.  The area is a combination of Oak Woodland and Chapparal.

Madrone Trail at Moore Creek Park

Madrone Trail at Moore Creek Park

After completing your hike, some lunch and wine tasting are in order. Nearby is one of Napa Valley’s oldest wineries and an excellent spot for picnicking, wine tasting, and playing Bocce. It is the Nichelini Family Winery and Vineyards.

Helpful map to get you to the entrance at Moore Creek Park

Additional hiking trails in the Napa Valley

Pinnacles Hike in Wine Country

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Hiking the Bear Gulch Caves then tasting wine at Leal Vineyards
Hiking the Bear Gulch Caves, then tasting wine at Leal Vineyards

Hike in wine country – Pinnacles and Leal Vineyards

For those of you who love hiking and wine, put this trip on your schedule. The Pinnacles is one of our sixty national parks, but off the radar of most visitors to the National Parks. The city of Hollister is the main route to the Pinnacles East Entrance. In between Hollister and the Pinnacles are five lovely wineries to visit. Combine hiking and wine tasting with a one or two-night stay in Hollister. We enjoyed our stay at the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. If you’re the camping type, make your stay at the campground at the Pinnacles.

Pinnacles National Park

Our day in Pinnacles National Park began at the East Entrance. This is the location of the main Visitor Center. The East Entrance is off Highway 25 about 35 minutes from Hollister, CA. From the visitor center, we drove to the Bear Gulch area 3.4 miles away. At Bear Gulch there is a picnic area, nature center, and the trailheads for several different hiking adventures. 

hiking in pinnacles and wine tasting
Amazing rock formations

The Pinnacles is a favorite spot for rock climbers. Rock climbers like the amazing craggy formations formed eons ago from volcanic activity and earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. There are Condors, bats, woodpeckers galore, and other cool critters. During the Spring, wildflowers are abundant in the meadows.

We took the trail to the Balconies Cave and High Peaks trail. There are several options from these trails. We took a loop route for three miles, a moderately strenuous hike. Keep in mind we are not young folks; others may think it is an easy hike. Our hike took us through the Balconies Cave. The cave requires a flashlight. This is really an exciting adventure. Some spots in the cave require one to crouch low or even crawl to clear. Once out of the cave, beautiful views and astonishing rock formations make this hike a delight.

Reservoir Trail pinnacles
Reservoir Trail

For more information on the Pinnacles National Park

Hollister Wine Country

Hollister is a rapidly-growing area of San Benito County. Hollister is a farming town, growing many different crops. Vineyards are a recent addition to this area of the Central Coast. In the vicinity of the Pinnacles are five wineries. These are hidden wineries, tucked away from the crowds and masses. They are charming but, most importantly, they’re making delicious wines. 

Leal Vineyards

Leal Vineyards is the easiest winery to visit on the way back from the Eastern Entrance of the Pinnacles National Park. If you have enough energy following your hike, stop in at Leal Vineyards. Leal is open daily from 10 to 4 pm. Leal is a spacious winery with rolling hillside vineyards. Leal does indeed make excellent wines, but it is also recognized as a wedding venue. This is a beautiful spot. There are picnic tables outside the tasting room. 

Beautiful Leal Vineyards
Beautiful Leal Vineyards

The Leal Vineyards winemaker is Rob Simons. His focus is on Bordeaux and Rhone-style reds. The winery is boutique size, making 7000 cases of wine annually.  The days can be very warm in Hollister but the early mornings are often foggy and cool. In the afternoon, a cooling breeze kicks in. The grapes love this climate. The reasonable tasting fee is for a taste of 6 wines. Our two favorites were the 2012 Estate Carnavál Meritage and the 2013 Estate Hillside. Chances are you will like the wines at Leal Vineyards.

To get to Leal Vineyards from the Pinnacles, take Highway 25 for 26.7 miles. Turn right on Fairview Road, then turn right on Maranatha Drive.

We will cover the other wineries of Hollister in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

More on hiking and wine tasting

Wine Country Hidden Wines and Hikes

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Montgomery Woods State Natural Preserve

Beautiful loop hiking trail in Montgomery Woods State Natural Preserve

Wine Country Hidden Wines and Hikes – Mendocino County

If you are traveling between the Anderson Valley and the Hopland wine country, this is a sweet hike for wine lovers who love the outdoor life.

Hiking in Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve

For a secret and hidden getaway for hiking and wine fun, try Mendocino’s Hopland to Ukiah area.  The featured hike is a two-mile loop hike in Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve.  On Highway 101 the town of Hopland is the center for small and family-owned wineries. See the Hopland Wine Trail for details.  This activity is an excellent way to combine hiking and wine tasting on a day-long getaway. There are plenty of spots to lodge in the town of Ukiah, and just a few in Hopland. The same goes for restaurant choices. To get to Montgomery Woods State Nature Reserve take Orr Springs Road in Ukiah for 13 miles. The road is twisty and in parts narrow. At the Reserve, there is parking, picnic tables, and restrooms.  The picnic tables are at the entrance and a few within the first portion of the loop trail.

More on hiking in Mendocino wine country

More information on Mendocino wine country

Armstrong Grove and Wine Taste

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Armstrong Grove State Prk

One of the beautiful groves of Coastal Redwoods at Armstrong Grove State Park in Guerneville

Hike Armstrong Grove and Wine Taste

Many vineyards in Northern California are also home to Coastal Redwood Trees.  Do you like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Well, guess what, those grapes grow well in Coastal Redwood Country. The Coastal Redwood ecosystem relies on the Pacific Ocean fog belt. Where there is almost daily summer fog in Northern California, there are Redwood forests.  The cool climate of fog plus afternoon ocean breezes are also ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The photo above is on one of several hiking trails in Armstrong Grove in Guerneville, CA. Just a short distance from Guerneville is the Russian River Valley AVA and many vineyards and wineries. Take a morning hike in Armstrong Grove State Park and then pack a lunch and visit one of the many terrific wineries on the Westside Road Wine Trail.

The town of Guerneville is also a fun place to visit. Guerneville is a resort town and a destination for many travelers. The Russian River beaches are a favorite for summer travelers. In the winter, the fishing for Salmon and some Steelhead along the banks of the Russian River is tops. And, of course, there is always visiting wineries along Westside Road and River Road.

More hiking and wine tasting in Sonoma wine country

Alston Park – Hiking in the Napa Valley

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Easy hiking Alston Park in Napa

Easy hiking – Alston Park in Napa

Alston Park – Hiking in the Napa Valley

On our last visit to the Napa Valley, we discovered a great hiking spot in the Napa Valley. The area is Alston Park. It is a park that the locals have been hiking for years. If you feel like you have had too much of the good life of the Napa Valley and a little exercise is in order, Alston Park is an excellent choice.

Within less than a mile of hiking, there are great views of the Napa Valley. The trails lead into beautiful meadows and woodland forests. There are side attractions of amazing homes and beautiful vineyards. If you are a trail runner, this is a fantastic place to do a morning run.

Alston Park is a Napa City Park. There are trail guides posted at the entrances but no hard copy to take with you. To get to the park, take a left at Trower Road from Highway 29 in Napa. Drive to the end of Trower to Dry Creek Road. There are two entrances on Dry Creek Road, about a mile apart. The south entrance is an area where dogs can run free. Take the north entrance where dogs must be on a leash. There are a few benches and tables scattered throughout the park and packing in a lunch is a very good idea on a beautiful day.  Rules often change so always check the Napa Parks Website for the latest hiking information.

After your hike, head to one of the many great wine trails in the Napa Valley. Taste wine and enjoy the beauty of the Napa Valley. Here are our favorite wine trails and wineries to visit.

Additional information on the town of Napa

Happy hikers at Alston Park

Happy hikers at Alston Park

Healdsburg Ridge Hike and Wine Picnic

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Healdsburg Ridge Open Space - moderate hike

Healdsburg Ridge Open Space – moderate hike

Healdsburg Ridge

Quiet oak woodlands trail

This is a great little wine country hike that begins very near the Simi Winery in Healdsburg. Plan on spending about an hour to an hour and a half enjoying the beauty and solitude of the open space wilderness area just above a residential housing development in northern Healdsburg. It is best to take this hike before lunch when cooler temperatures prevail. The loop trail described, the one we hiked, is about 2 miles in distance and mostly a moderate effort. It is a popular trail with dog walkers and joggers from the local community.

Start at the trailhead marked “The-all-Oaks-Trail.” This is a beautiful stretch lined with oaks, Madrone, and Manzanita. Watch russian-river-overlook-signout for poison oak. After about a half mile, you will see a sign pointing to the Ridge Trail straight ahead and to the Russian River Overlook to the right. Take this spur to the right and up to the overlook, just a few minutes walking distance away. What a view! This overlook provides a view of the Alexander Valley and vineyards, the Mayacamus Mountains, and the Russian River. Get back to the trail and continue on the Ridge Trail. There are three additional overlooks on the Ridge Trail: Mayacamus Overlook, Coyote Hill Overlook, and Nancy’s Hill. These are all nice views but nothing beats the Russian River Overlook. Continue on the Ridge Trail to the pond and you have completed the loop.

Russian River overlook

Russian River Overlook is breathtaking

How to get to the Healdsburg Ridge Trail

From the Healdsburg Plaza in the  downtown area, drive north along Healdsburg Avenue for 2 miles and turn right on Parkland Farm Blvd. It is just before the Simi Winery. Take this road to about 3/4 of a mile on Bridle Path Way and turn right onto Arabian Way.  Park and hike.

After the hike

Now it is time to wine taste and picnic. The closest winery and one of the oldest in California is the Simi Winery. Simi is celebrating 140 years of making wine. Simi is one of the first wineries we visited many moons ago when we began our wine country travels. There are two excellent wine routes close to the Healdsburg Ridge hike. The Alexander Valley Wine Route includes Simi Winery and some really fun wineries along the beautiful backroad of Highway 128. The Geyserville Wine Route takes you north to Geyserville. Have you been to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery? It is a great experience for both adults and kids. Read more about Coppola.  The town of Healdsburg ranks as one of the best wine towns anywhere in the world. In one small area there are not just restaurants and lodging but boutique shopping, art galleries, and wine tasting bars.

healdsburg tasting rooms

Around and nearby the Healdsburg Plaza are several wine tasting rooms

More on hiking and running in Sonoma wine country

Riverfront Regional Park in the Russian River Valley Wine Country

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Lake Benoist - Hike It!

Lake Benoist – Hike It!

Mix wine country with a picnic, hike, and more – Riverfront Regional Park

It it always healthy to mix in some exercise among all the wine and food consumption during a wine country trip. The Riverfront Regional Park in the Russian River Valley provides just that with some easy hiking trails.  The Coastal Redwood  picnic grove provides an added bonus for contemplating nature and enjoying a peaceful picnic lunch. If you are new to Northern California, don’t miss the Coastal Redwood Trees. These are the tallest trees in the world. The park entrance is directly across the road from the Copain Winery, and there are several wonderful and fun wineries to visit within just a few miles of Riverfront Regional Park.

Majestic Redwood Grove at Riverfront Regional

Majestic Redwood Grove at Riverfront Regional

The main hike is around the beautiful Lake Benoist. It is about 2.5 miles and very moderate. At about the half-way point, there is a short spur leading to a small beach on the Russian River. This is a rare look at one of the great wine rivers of the world. The Russian River is a direct influence on the terroir of those great Pinot Noir wines coming from the vineyards growing on its banks. Following your hike, sit and relax among the Redwood Trees. Even on a warm day, the Redwood Trees provide plenty of shade and cooling air to enjoy a picnic lunch and, of course, a glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. There are barbecue pits, lots of tables, a volleyball court, and horse shoes.

An easy to moderate hike

An easy-to-moderate hike

“Must see” wineries

This is certainly one of the less traveled roads in Healdsburg and Sonoma County wine country. It is a beautiful road surrounded by vineyards. Our favorite wineries include J Vineyards, Acorn, Foppiano, and Rodney Strong.  J Vineyards has sparkling wine that would be perfect for your picnic at Riverfront. Acorn is a small winery run by Betsy & Bill Nachbaur. They have an old vineyard, providing a field blend for a fantastic red wine labeled Acorn Hill. It is a blend of five different grape varieties. Foppiano dates back to 1926 and is still family run. Rodney Strong is one of the largest wineries in the area and has a beautiful tasting room and picnic area.

Getting to Riverfront Regional Park

From San Francisco, take Exit 498/Old Redwood Highway and drive through Windsor for 2 miles. Turn left on Eastside Road and drive a mile to the entrance. From Healdsburg, take Old Redwood Highway exit and then Eastside Road. Continue along Eastside Road for about 4 miles.

Helpful resources for this trip

More hiking in Sonoma and California wine country

Wine tasting and wine hiking in Santa Cruz Mountains

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picchetti-winery

Wine Tasting and Wine Hiking – Picchetti Winery

Here is a nice idea, combine an outing of wine tasting with a day of hiking. This can be done at the Picchetti Winery located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Cupertino. The Picchetti Winery is located on land owned by the Peninsula Open Space and is known as the Picchetti Ranch.

The Picchetti Winery is historic, one of the oldest in California with a founding back in the 1890’s. In 1998, Leslie Pantling took over the winery and has not looked back since. The winery is in a great location, just a short distance from the world of high tech. It is the place to get away.  The historic tasting room is very enjoyable and so are the picnic grounds.

The Picchetti Winery produces an old vine Zinfandel from vineyards nearby. The Peninsula Open Space has 3.7 miles of trails including a short jaunt on the Zinfandel Trail. Why not hike the Zinfandel Trail and then return to the Picchetti tasting room for a try of the old vine Zinfandel?

The Picchetti Winery tasting room is open daily from 10 to 5 pm. There are other wineries nearby should you like to make it a day of wine tasting. See our Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Trail for details about other wineries in the area.

Additional Information on Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries

CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

Carneros • Livermore • Lodi • Mendocino • Monterey • Napa Valley • Paso Robles • Santa Barbara County • Santa Cruz Mts. • Sierra Foothills • Russian River • Sonoma Valley

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