Outdoors · Napa Valley · United States
5 best outdoor things to do in Napa Valley
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Napa Valley · Photo: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Old Faithful Geyser of California, Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park and Napa Valley Vine Trail. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 10–13 hours across 4 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 10–13 hours
- Areas
- Calistoga, St Helena and Downtown Napa
Plan a trip to Napa Valley
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Outdoors in Napa Valley
Nature · Calistoga
1.Old Faithful Geyser of California
Ask at the entrance about the expected time of the next eruption so you do not miss it.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Historic site · St Helena
2.Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
Visit at the weekend, when there may be milling demonstrations, and walk the history trail to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Experience · Downtown Napa
3.Napa Valley Vine Trail
Rent a bike in downtown Napa, ride to Yountville for lunch, and come back in the afternoon before the valley breeze picks up.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
Nature · Calistoga
4.Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
Start early in summer because there is little shade, and turn around at the halfway viewpoint if time or heat runs short.
- Time needed
- 4–5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Free
Gallery · Carneros
5.di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
Combine it with a tasting at Domaine Carneros nearby, and check the current exhibitions and opening days before you go.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Calistoga | Old Faithful Geyser of California and Robert Louis Stevenson State Park | 1 hour + 4–5 hours |
| St Helena | Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park | 1 hour |
| Downtown Napa | Napa Valley Vine Trail | 2–4 hours |
| Carneros | di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 2 free, 2 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Robert Louis Stevenson State Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Calistoga): Old Faithful Geyser of California, at least 1 hour.
- Half-day 2 (Calistoga): Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (St Helena and Downtown Napa): Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park → Napa Valley Vine Trail, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Carneros): di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- May: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm, dry and busy at weekends, especially around Memorial Day.
- June: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Dry and warm with cool nights; outdoor dining season is in full swing.
- July: highs of 31°C (88°F), almost no rainy days, busy crowds. Hot afternoons, especially up-valley, with cool mornings ideal for balloon flights.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Downtown Napa — Riverfront tasting rooms, Oxbow Public Market and the valley's widest choice of hotels
- Yountville — Small, polished village of acclaimed restaurants, galleries and boutique inns
- St Helena — Historic Main Street in the middle of the valley's most famous vineyards
- Calistoga — Laid-back hot-springs town at the top of the valley
- Carneros — Rolling, cool vineyards between Napa and Sonoma, known for sparkling wine
More of Napa Valley
All things to do in Napa Valley · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Napa Valley?
Old Faithful Geyser of California. A privately owned geyser just outside Calistoga that erupts regularly, sending a column of hot water into the air.
+Which of these are free in Napa Valley?
Napa Valley Vine Trail and Robert Louis Stevenson State Park.