As we step into summer and early fall, Napa is granted longer periods of sunlight and warmer afternoons bracketed by moderate temperatures throughout the morning. Evenings offer a brisk and refreshing break from the intense summer heat. The concave topography of the Napa Valley provides a panoramic view of mountainous terrain. A welcoming sight of rolling hills appears after driving over the Napa River at the southern crossing coming from American Canyon. Majestic visual beauty and Mediterranean climate make Napa one of the most desirable places to exist in the world. One could rarely find themselves in an area where it’s not too hot, yet not too cold. Napa’s atmosphere lacks extreme humidity, dust storms, or tornadoes. Furthermore, most of the valley lacks the hustle and bustle of busy freeways that create a sense of frantic cacophony present in a morning drive to work. Along with the natural beauty and social harmony Napa brings to the table, a unique hiking adventure awaits people looking to appease their desire to observe the fauna and breathtaking views of the vast array of hiking paths and parks in this wondrous jewel of the world.
The Westwood Hills hiking trail is a friendly beginner-level hike located in the Browns Valley neighborhood just a stone’s throw away from the downtown Napa area. A simple hike that spans straight up to the summit offering a majestic display of the city of Napa brings the hiking participants through groves of eucalyptus trees, a vineyard view of the Carneros wine region, and fresh air filtered by the abundance of trees in the park. If you’re looking for a brief 30-to-45-minute hike to stimulate the cardiovascular system and lower extremities, the Westwood Hills hike is an easy-to-locate park to visit with a quaint yet invigorating hiking experience.
State parks, historic trails, and natural reserves make their home in the Napa Valley. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park sits atop the northern end of St. Helena. Along with panoramic views of Mount St. Helena to the northeast and a peer into the Kenwood, Santa Rosa, and Windsor area at the highest point at Bothe, traversing the trails offers a tour of a brisk and refreshing stroll under a grove of redwood trees. Expect to see red-tailed hawks, squirrels, and lizards observing you as you venture through this unique ecosystem.
About another half-hour drive north toward the town of Angwin, you’ll find a trailhead to Mount St. Helena. One of my favorite hiking memories is taking a “sunrise hike” up to the top of Mount St. Helena. A peer of mine who was known for hiking and exploring monumental natural wonders of the world including hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and camping in Hudson Bay by the Arctic Circle in Manitoba, Canada recommended we should hike to Mount St. Helena’s summit to catch the day’s first light. So, we woke up at 2 a.m., met at the trailhead at 3 a.m., and began our ascent up to the peak with a set of headlamps, flashlights, and a backpack full of pancakes and coffee made the night before to enjoy and share after we reached the top. The experience is etched in my mind as one of the most jaw-dropping and elaborate displays of what sunrises of planet Earth can bring as the amber and orange hue of the meniscus of the sun emerged from the southwest horizon and illuminated the fog that covered the vineyards and cityscape of the Napa Valley. Needless to say, waking up at 2 a.m. in a pitch-black setting to hike a few hours at a trailhead may not be the most desirable. However, this particular experience of seeing the first beams of light from the morning sun hit Napa Valley was unforgettable.
The experience of traveling to these high points of Napa can’t be duplicated by a streaming Netflix series or buzzingthrough Instagram and TikTok feeds. A person needs to get out of their house, travel to a trailhead, and take one step at a time up an inclined surface. While Napa’s hiking scene creates unforgettable memories from the sights, smells, and sounds present in this Narnia-like setting, hiking up hills requires physical strength and a cardiovascular system that can endure prolonged strenuous physical activity. A few preparatory tactics can set us up for a successful physical performance when hiking so we can take in the full effect the natural wonders of Napa Valley offer. Along with wearing apparel offering protection from the harsh sun such as hats, UV protective shirts, and long pants to deter the likelihood of scratches from blackberry bushes or a tick making a home on your exposed legs, here are a few tactics to set the body up for an enjoyable hike:
Wear the proper shoes: Before getting in the car to travel to the trailhead of these amazing hiking sites, footwear should be prioritized. The last thing anyone wants is to be impeded by a foot slipping around in the inside of shoes or an ankle rolling due to poor medial and lateral support. These trails offer uneven surfaces that either have intense rocky terrains or dusty downhill trails lacking friction. Remember to wear hiking boots or trailing running shoes that have sufficient ankle support, sufficient tread on the sole, and are overall comfortable.
Warm up the hips, knees, and ankles: Before any of our training sessions are conducted with our personal training clients, we have a routine warm-up that lasts about two minutes and activates the neuromuscular pathways of the joints of the neck, shoulders, and lower extremities. We require this ritual of movement prep before a concentrated exercise session that focuses on a full-body resistance training lesson plan. A 30 to 60-minute hiking adventure shouldn’t be treated any differently. To avoid injury and optimize the potential of the body to perform competently while hiking, be sure to pick a few dynamic stretches that warm up and lubricate the hip, knee, and ankle joints.
Hydrate before starting: Outside the canopy of the trees covering the trails is the powerful sun. Ultraviolet rays of the sun hit our exposed skin with the velocity of a turbojet and heat our body temperature to the point we can literally evaporate. While losing water from rigorous exercise in the form of sweat is inevitable, hiking in sunny and warm environments accelerates this process. It’s critically important to not only bring a water bottle along with you on your hike but to also hydrate before starting a hiking expedition. A useful piece of advice we share with our personal training clients is to ensure to consume a full glass of water first thing in the morning immediately after waking.
The Napa Valley’s hiking trails gift us with unforgettable sights and sounds. To fully embrace these moments of pure magic, it’s important to prepare so we can take in the full dose of accomplishment felt at the top of each of these trails. Remember to equip yourself with the appropriate footwear, drink lots of water, and physically prepare your body before embarking on these experiences that will be remembered forever.
Sean McCawley, the founder and owner of Napa Tenacious Fitness in Napa, welcomes questions and comments. Reach him at 707-287-2727, [email protected], or visit the website napatenaciousfitness.com.
