This is the road you want when Highway 29 is jam packed during rush hour and busy tourist season…read more Be warned that Silverado Trail is starting to get very crowded and traffic backups are now more common than they used to be, but this is still a much more pleasant way to get around the valley by bypassing the crazy traffic on 29. If you can catch the trail on a lightly traveled day, you can take a leisurely drive next to gorgeous, sun-soaked vineyards and grapevines. There are tons of picture-perfect photo opportunities along this road. There are lots of very high quality wineries along the route too, most are open to the public (and benefit from less crowds)! A lot of the wineries require appointments to be sure to check before showing up to avoid disappointment.

this is a great trail for drivers, cyclists, and runners! i'd been a passenger in a car along this…read moretrail/road in the past, but last month was my first time as a pedestrian! my friends and i were in town for the weekend, attending another friend's wedding, and decided to run along this trail, very early in the morning, whilst it was still quiet....vineyards were still closed to the public and there weren't many cars. we started in downtown napa and ran along the sidewalks (where they existed) and then primarily in the bike lane as we headed north. even though it wasn't busy, we could still admire each and every vineyard that we ran past, each one a little different, some offering fresh fruits and produce as well. we even ran past a farm and saw some horses and llamas! beware, if the llama raises his ears, it means he's about to spit on you! fortunately, i didn't stick around long enough to watch whether the ears were raised! there are no restrooms or water fountains along this trail, since it was designed for mainly vehicular traffic, so if you do run here, be sure to bathroom up before you start and bring your own hydration, especially if you plan to run longer and during the warmer parts of the day. the trail is predominantly flat, with a few gentle rolling hills. some of them produce blind spots so proceed with caution, especially during heavy traffic hours. for those who want a longer distance, or are training for a marathon or ultra, this trail extends 28 miles from downtown napa to calistoga, so you could potentially run 56 miles roundtrip!

It was good to find a new trail, at least new for me since it's been open to the public since 2010…read more As part of the John Muir Land Trust (and not East Bay Regional Parks), the trail is just south of Highway 4 between Hercules and Martinez, definitely an isolated area of grassy hills with the added challenge of Highway 4 speed demons who believe the speed limit doesn't apply to them. Heading east, I had to slow down to take a minor exit onto Christie Road. The trailhead is only 0.7 miles down a paved road, though the parking lot itself is on gravel. There's a restroom and a suspension bridge they built as the starting point of the hike. I followed the Windmill Trail and failed to see the windmill. I did see the old dairy farm and a herd of cows who had little interest in my presence. The trail climbs a bit to a locked gate protecting the Pinole Valley Watershed. That was my cue to follow the woodsy Woodrat Trail and then the Whipsnake Trail for the elevated views. Luckily I didn't run into either woodrats nor whipsnakes, but I did see young deer jumping in a large meadow next to the concluding Black Phoebe Trail. The entire loop was less than four miles but still a reasonable workout if you need the steps RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

I am not a local around here but my in-laws are. I needed to find a nice decent trail to hike in…read morefor my weekend hikes. I did the 'Black Phoebe to a Windmill Trail' loop which was only four miles and around 680ft. Make sure to go clock wise on the loop. I would consider this an easy trail; zigzag trails to higher elevation so it's good for beginners and kids. On 'AllTrails' app they considered this a moderate trail. Plenty of shade for those hot summers. Nice loose dirt but not good once winter hits and it rains. Some horse poops, some cows and their poops and was dry when we hiked. This place has a good amount of private car parking and a place to have a day picnic. There is no garbage cans or water access so bring your own. There is two other longer trails in this ranch so I will be back when I get a chance. Definitely, a nice trail to come to for a nice hike. [62/100]

I love this out-and-back Napa-Sonoma Marshes Trail. It's a straight path down and you're…read moresurrounded by water! So beautiful and relaxing especially when there are no hikers in front of you. Feels like you're in your lane that keeps going and going as you enjoy the beautiful marshes and water around you. Lots of cute ducks and some kayakers on the water, as well as some people on the edges of the trail. Will definitely make this trail one of my regulars for the holiday season.

the walk through this trail here in centric Napa is very nice, and the windy weather compliments…read moreyour stroll through the city

This was a great, simple trail to walk and to relax. Everything is just so nice and calm. There's…read moremany places to go whilst checking out the area. It's just so green and serene.

I just recently started to bike and on the look out for relatively flat, long bike trails. I'd seen…read morethis trail running parallel to Highway 29 over the years, so did some research and picked my route to start off the new year. Currently you can ride from Napa to Yountville directly with other sections (not yet all connected) up towards Calistoga and down towards Vallejo. The eventual goal is to have it run the full distance. The section I did started in Kennedy Park in Napa. Ample, free parking and restrooms are a great way to start off. The trail is very well signed once you get going and it ran an interesting path through Napa wetlands, along the Napa River, and through a bit of an industrial area with some cool murals, to start. After a little bit you're riding parallel to the Napa Wine train tracks and highway 29. There is definitely a lot of street noise but the trail is very smooth in most spots and a nice ride. As you get closer to Yountville, views of the Valley open up and you're riding through oaks and views of vineyards on either side. There are maps and informational placards along the way as well as a few benches to rest. Once in Yountville, there are restrooms in Veterans Park and it's a nice spot to have a snack and turn around. That portion, round trip ended up being 22 miles. I'm excited for the path to extend from Yountville up to Calistoga. Definitely will be back. Really well kept trail and interesting scenery along the way.

Very fun and pretty. I walked it in a light rain and it was gorgeous. The air is just so clean up…read morehere. Highly recommend.

Welp, there's not really much to it! It's an extremely tiny park with one little statue of John…read moreMuir on a rock. It's a recreation of John Muir writing in his infamous "scribble pad". There's a super small parking lot that can maybe fit about 2 cars? I actually found this park randomly after getting lost on Mount Wanda and wandering down Alhambra avenue on my way back to the parking lot. This park can be accessed off of Alhambra Ave off of highway 4. There's nothing extravagant about this park... it's good for taking pictures and that's really about it. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to come here, but it could be a nice stop off if you are already in the area.

This is a nice "pocket" Park that I pass (and occasionally stop) on the way home as I travel south…read moreon Alhambra Avenue. John Muir Memorial Park is a small, contemplative space, and features a larger than life sculpture of John Muir, sitting in nature. I like it because it provides a short respite and a brief sanctuary as the world whizzes by. The park was dedicated on December 6, 1990, and is surrounded by a cathedral of twenty redwood trees, with Muir in the center. The circle pathway around the structure allows you to view the sculpture of Muir from every angle. A plaque reads: John Muir 1838 - 1914. "I care to live only to entice people to look at nature's loveliness."

This is a large staging area with plenty of rooms for cars. Keep in mind that on the weekends it…read moredoesn't open till 8 a.m., so if you're an early hiker you'll have to wait. However, the ranger opened the gate promptly at 8. The whole area is well-maintained. I only saw a few bits of trash. There are several trailheads right off the parking lot, making this a very convenient location. There is also a rustic restroom there. I did not see any drinking fountains. There were lots of trail maps in the parking lot.

Although I probably couldn't pronounce "Nejedly", I know it's the name of the staging area for a…read moremoderate hike with views of Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay, west delta, and Mt. Diablo. There is no fee here to park in one of two parking areas: Shaded lower parking area and a bigger upper parking lot with room for trailers. There's also a bathroom and some picnic tables too. If you're coming here to hike something like the Franklin Ridge Loop Trail, the trailhead is on the west end of the upper parking area. You'll notice buckeye, oaks, and eucalyptus trees along with wildflowers. One thing that was pretty interesting about this place was how empty it was; that feeling was intensified by the cemetery just adjacent to the staging area. This would be an interesting hike or bike ride after the sun set.

"Now I know why there were no other bikers."…read more In past years I started at the far eastern end. Today I started from the northwest Trailhead, which is just off Carquinez Scenic Drive. There's a nice staging area there, which has room for plenty of cars. Plus it also has a restroom there. The trail itself is covered for much of the way going up to the top. For hiking, I can see how it would be a pleasant trip. Not so much for biking. Today, I was planning to bike on this trail, but I did not realize how narrow and steep it was. I did not see any other bikers, and I think I know why. Oh well, I got some exercise pushing the bike up tough sections. When you get up to the top, it's much easier.

Lovely trail several minutes from "downtown" Martinez. Can be a bit strenuous for some with some…read moreuphills, but a great place to take in views of the water (we could see our neighborhood in Benicia...sort of) and Mount Diablo. Vault toilet at the trail head. This is our go to spot when we don't want to drive all the way to the Lafayette reservoir or to the Berkeley hills trails.