How to enjoy the Napa River

Bike, walk, launch a kayak, canoe or paddle board and explore the Living River!

Trails

The Napa County Regional Parks and Open Space District is working to expand opportunities for the public to “Go Outside and Play!” They have a wonderful website including an interactive map of public trails HERE.

Here are a few suggestions for connecting to the River:

  • Biking & Hiking Trails

  • Napa River & Bay Trail

  • Vine Trail Napa Valley

  • Kennedy Park features a trail on the river connecting to the Imola Street bridge crossing (Maxwell Bridge) from which it will eventually be extended to downtown Napa at the Third Street bridge.

  • West of Lincoln Bridge near Soscol go through the RV Park and hit a trail on the west bank going north to Trancas.

  • Trancas Crossing Park: a 33-acre open space park located at 610 Trancas Street features trails, interpretive signs, restroom and a parking lot. Park hours sunrise to sunset.

  • Oxbow Preserve: a 13-acre park across the Napa River from the Oxbow Marketplace. Access via McKenzie Drive off the Silverado Trail.

  • Wetlands Edge Trail in American Canyon, access from Eucalyptus Drive.

  • Californian Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Eco-reserve at the Yountville Cross Road bridge

Main Street dock in Napa

Boating

  • There is a boat launch at John F. Kennedy Park; off Hwy 221, take Streblow Avenue

  • Trancas Crossing Park has a restroom, parking lot and pedestrian access for hand boat launching (exercise caution: the bank can be steep and slippery!) Park hours are sunrise to sunset

  • Cuttings Wharf in the Carneros offers a parking lot, ramp and dock for boats large and small

  • Jim Hench Memorial Kayak Launch: Access at the south end of the new Oxbow Dry Bypass

  • Learn about the “Napa River Water Trail” – a plan for docks along the Napa River drafted by the Dock Coalition in 2005: Napa River Water Trail

  • Several local companies provide equipment rentals or tours on the river:
    (FONR doesn’t endorse any one company, but we do recommend getting out on the river!)