BOTHE NAPA STATE PARK

THIS PARK IS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF CALISTOGA. I HIKED THIS PARK LAST WEEKEND AND DID NOT TAKE MY HIKING BOOTS AS THE CHAMBER SAID IT WAS AN EASY HIKE! I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THEM ANYWAY. I SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE THE TRAILS BECAME ROCKY AND STEEP DOWN CANYONS. THESE ELEVATIONS RANGE FROM 300 TO 2000 FEET. MUCH OF THE PARK IS IN REDWOOD FOREST WITH GEOLOGIC ASH CLIFFS. IN RITCHEY CANYON. LUCKILY I BROUGHT PLENTY OF WATER AND MY COMPASS. THERE IS MUCH POISON OAK BUT I SAW NO SOAPROOT THAT HEALS POISON OAK. THE WAPPO MUST HAVE HAD ANOTHER REMEDY FOR HEALING THEM OF THIS ITCHY SKIN. I SAW NO MAMMALS AND THEY HAVE MT. LIONS, BOBCATS, RACCOONS, GREY SQUIRRELS, DEER, FOXES, AND COYOTES TO NAME ONLY A FEW. MOST ARE NOCTURNAL. I SAW NO NO ANIMALS AND I SAW SEVERAL BIRDS. SEVERAL CREEKS WERE RUNNING. I NEVER SAW A SPOTTED OWL. I DID STOP AT THE HISTORIC HITCHCOOK HOUSE AND BARN. THERE IS MUCH TAN OAK AND DOUGLAS FIR.

IN THE 1800'S THE LAND BELONGED TO DR. HITCHCOCK OF SAN FRANCISCO, WHO BUILT A HOME AND BARN IN 1872 WITH A FOUNTAIN OF ROCKS. REINHARD BOTHE ACQUIRED THIS PARK AND BUILT CABINS AND A SWIMMING POOL. IT WAS POPULAR DURING THE 1930'S. THEN AFTER WORLD WAR II IT WAS USED LESS. THE STATE PARK BOUGHT PARADISE PARK FROM BOTHE IN 1960. THERE ARE 19000ACRES HERE.

REDWOOD ORCHIDS AND TRLLIUM AND WILD GRAPE GROW AT THE BASE OF THE REDWOODS.

MY HUSBAND AND I CAMPED ATTHIS PARK WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO SONOMA COUNTY. I DON'T RECAL THE POOL. AND WE DIDN'T HIKE THAT FAR INTO THE TRAILS AS I DID THIS WEEKEND. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 3 1/2 HOURS AND I MET ONLY 5 PEOPLE. IT WA A VERY HOT DAY. SOME FOLKS SAID THEY TOOK THE ENTIRE 6.5 MILE TRAIL THROUGH THE CANYON. IT ACTUALLY IS LONGER DUE TO THE HILLS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

PARKS.CA.GOV