Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

As many of you know, the California's State Parks are in serious trouble due to budget cuts. A new list of service reductions and partial closures was recently released. The parks are remaining open in some capacity for now but California’s budget woes are far from over. In an attempt to bring attention to all the wonderful state parks California has to offer, I will be featuring a different CA State Park every week. I hope to bring attention to these treasures to increase awareness of what the state park system has to offer and encourage others to stand up and help protect these important places.

What comes to mind when you think of the Napa Valley? If you are like most people, sprawling vineyards and fantastic wines immediately pop into your head. While the vineyards are both beautiful and an important part of the valley’s identity, they are a relatively new addition to the landscape. For thousands of years, there wasn’t a grapevine to be seen. There were fields of grass, plains flooded with swollen waterways in the spring, stands of coastal redwoods, and forests of oak, maple and fir. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is a great place to get a taste of the Napa of yesteryear and enjoy the trails in Ritchey Canyon. Camping, horseback riding, and hiking are all wonderful ways to enjoy the park.

Be sure to check out the pioneer cemetery to see the graves of some of the original settlers of the Napa Valley. You can just feel the history walking as you walk amongst the gravestones.

If you would like more information on Bothe-Napa Valley State Park click here.  For more info on hiking in the park click here.

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