The Napa Valley Vine Trail is a partly-completed 47-mile walking and biking system to connect the entire Napa Valley, from Callistoga to the Vallejo Ferry (with ferry service to San Francisco).
Napa Valley Vine Trail
We pick up the Vine Trail just outside downtown Napa, where it follows the railroad tracks of the
Napa Valley Wine Train, which provides a 36-mile train ride from Napa to St. Helena and back, stopping at vineyards and serving local California cuisine along the way.
Trail along the tracks
We follow the trail to Route 29, the main road through Napa Velley, where the trail branches north and south along the highway. Route 29 has quite a history: for thousands of years, native Americans travelled this route to from the Pacific coast to the upper valley's hot springs; in the early 1800s, Mexican ranchers and American settlers walked this route; in the 1850s, mule trains hauled produce to the Napa wharves; in the 1870s, steam trains travelled back and forth; in the early 1900s, electric trolleys rumbled along the route; in the 1920s, the first automobiles arrived; and, now, the path is once again open for walking.
All along our short section of the Vine Trail, fences, buildings, utility cabinets, and railroad cars are all covered with artwork, proving a colorful addition to the beauty of the valley.
Art along the trail
This has been a great walk (and we picked up lunch at the
Foodshed along the way). We need to come back, rent bicycles, and explore more of this trail.
No comments:
Post a Comment