Bothe-Napa Valley State Park — Attraction in Calistoga

Great hiking trails - but beware the poison oak! We especially enjoyed the History Trail to the Pioneer Cemetery and the Bale Grist Mill. But the park employee made it clear that dogs are not allowed on trails. We were carrying our 5-lb, 14-year-old Chihuahua. The park employee specifically said the dog could not go with us on trails - even if we carried her. The bathrooms and showers had cobwebs and spiders on the walls. Not very clean. We were here during wildfire season and there was a rolling power shut-off. So, for our first two nights at camp, there was no electricity, which also meant no showers available. The smoke from fires was bad. Air quality was poor. Of course, no campfires are allowed during times like this. There is a large pool on the property, but it is closed because of the Covid pandemic. The campground was quiet, partly because it was sparsely occupied. It's a short drive to the city of St. Helena, which has nice cafes with outdoor seating. There is a laundromat behind the Station (a small restaurant). The laundromat has huge capacity washers and dryers, if you need to wash sleeping bags. So, it is a good place to hike, if you don't have a dog and the air quality isn't a...

PROS: Such a great value for priceless memories, and we will definitely be back! My son and I had a wonderful spur-of-the-moment-let's-pack-up-and-have-an-adventure overnight in Yurt #4 recently. Parking spaces at each yurt/cabin space make for easy unpacking, and the wooden pantries for storing non-perishable foods are a great touch. The yurts are spacious and clean, as are the bathrooms. Potable water stations throughout the area are convenient for dishes and refilling water bottles before hiking up the canyon. The staff could not have been more helpful, and the volunteer who circulates through the campsite during the evenings was very nice. Firewood is $10 a bundle if purchased on site - there's a Safeway in St. Helena that can also hook you up.

CONS: The park/camping area is JUST off of HWY 29, and at night, the noise from the road is extremely prevalent. If you have a hard time sleeping under these circumstances, consider ear plugs or the like. You will see warnings about poison oak (yes, it is EVERYwhere), ticks, and yellow jackets. You will NOT see warnings abut scorpions, and we found 3 good-sized ones cruising our campsite after the sun went down. So, shake out your shoes in...

Bothe State Park is Located at 3801 St Helena Highway in North Calistoga California off of Highway 29. My Youngest Daughter wanted to see the Fall Foliage, where the tree leaves were starting to turn red. I googled and found this amazing place, I am so grateful that the Glass Fire in 2020 didn't completely destroy this Gem, it cost 8.00 dollars to park, There is a posted sign that tells you how to pay for your parking, and No Dogs are Allowed in the Park, Because of The Nocturnal wild animals that live in the Park. Thank the Lord we didn't encounter any 😂. There are bathrooms and places to camp or just have a picnic. Because of the fire that forced the Parks closure many of the buildings and and the swimming pool are closed or in disrepair and are closed off. However there is still such a serene beauty here, steeped in rich history. The pictures doesn't do it justice, You must see it for yourself. God willing we will be back and hike the upper level of this amazing Park. I Pray that there will be "NO MORE FIRES"! Please Enjoy the Pictures, And Come Out with your families and friends hike, camp or just enjoy...