When you think of Napa activities you likely imagine yourself perched next to a vineyard sipping a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. But Napa has plenty of other outdoor, COVID-friendly activities within its grape-drenched valleys.
The stunning scenery makes the perfect backdrop for a wide array of outdoor fun like horseback riding, hiking, disc golf, bike rides and beyond.
But don’t worry, enjoying the peaceful outdoors of the Napa Valley doesn’t mean sacrificing the wine. Many of our favorite activities incorporate vino into the agenda, like Napa Valley Bike Tour’s wine-tasting routes or a Chardonnay-infused bath at Indian Springs Resort & Spa.
The best outdoor Napa activities are:
Outdoor Napa activities for a COVID-friendly vacation
Biking in Napa
Whether you’re an avid biker or a leisurely pedaler, you’ll find plenty of trails and activities to satisfy your cycling needs in Napa. Hopping on two wheels is one of our favorite Napa activities for enjoying the beautiful scenery in wine country.
A bike tour with wine + lunch
Those looking for a more lighthearted bike ride should check out Napa Valley Bike Tours. Their self-guided tours allow you to cruise at your own pace to the wineries of your choosing. Worried about biking with the bounties of bottles you pick up along the way? No need. This company will pick up your wine purchases and have them waiting for you after your adventure. They’ll even deliver a delicious picnic lunch, catered by Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery, to one of the wineries along your route.
Beautiful cycling route (with a Napa legend)
Those looking for a longer, more challenging ride can head up Napa’s legendary Partrick Road, notorious to locals as the home of the “Rebobs.” According to Napa legend, Rebobs are winged, monkey-like creatures with glowing red eyes that live in the trees off this narrow, two-lane road. Partrick winds up the hills on the outskirts of the city of Napa, and the views are a perfect representation of Bay Area topography. Over your handlebars you’ll see vineyards, rolling grasslands and redwood forests.
Hot air balloons
Wake up early during your stay in Napa and you’ll oftentimes be treated to a colorful view of the valley. Hot air balloons soaring above the rows of vines are a common post-sunrise sight here.
Want to get in on the action? To keep it COVID-friendly, companies like Napa Valley Balloons offer private flights for couples in addition to single group trips for 10+ so you can keep the ballooning within your bubble (plus the pilot, of course).
More activity inspo for your next vacay: 7 adventure trips around the world
Golfing
Hitting the links is one of our favorite Napa activities. Stay at Silverado Resort and Country Club and you’ll have access to their 18-hole course, which plays host to the opening event of the PGA’s season, the Safeway Open.
Vintner’s Golf Club’s 9-hole resort course is located in Yountville, a cozy town about 15 minutes north of downtown Napa. This course is open to the public. After a round of golf, go for a stroll around Yountville and check out some of the town’s famous food hotspots like Bouchon, Bistro Jeanty and (if you thought ahead!) The French Laundry.
Napa Golf Course at Kennedy Park and Eagle Vines Golf Club are both open to the public as well. Or, if you happen to befriend a local member, Napa Valley Country Club is restricted to members only, but it has some of the most gorgeous views of Napa from the course.
Skyline Wilderness Park: Disc golf, archery, horseback riding, hiking
Skyline Wilderness Park is one of the best options for horseback riding, mountain biking and easy-to-moderate hiking trails with gorgeous scenery, including the Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden.
Wanting to try something new? The park is home to two disc golf courses, including a beginner-friendly 9-hole course (3 sets of tees) on the lower half of the park near the kiosk. For more seasoned players, there is also an 18-hole advanced course located half a mile up the Manzanita Trail. Multiple disc golf events are hosted each week. You can find more information on the Napa Disc Golf Club Facebook page for weekly details and to get involved.
In addition, you can try your hand at archery on the park’s 25 acres of archery ranges maintained by the Silverado Archery Club.
You can camp at Skyline year-round with a tent or an RV.
Related: Interested in glamping? Check out these 12 resorts
Picnic with Napa-made hard seltzers
There are plenty of places throughout the Napa Valley that are tailor-made for picnics. If you need a break from wine, pick up Monkey Wrench’s locally made hard seltzers and all your picnic-snacking necessities from either Browns Valley Market or Oakville Grocery.
From Browns Valley Market, head to Westwood Hills, a great spot to picnic after a short hike to the top of the hill with views over the valley.
At Oakville Grocery, a Napa Valley staple since 1881, you can purchase plenty of other local products and enjoy your delicacies right at the grocer’s many picnic tables.
Mud baths
The nutrient-rich soil of the Napa Valley is the basis for its world-renowned fame as a wine-growing powerhouse. But the fertile soil extends beyond the viticulture here. At the far north of the valley, in the cozy, high-end town of Calistoga, are plenty of options for luxury spa experiences. Most famously? Mud baths.
Enjoy a refreshing spa day at Indian Springs Resort & Spa, where they offer an iconic mud bath ritual that utilizes pure volcanic ash and mineral water from their own geysers.
Embracing their location even more, Indian Springs Resort & Spa also offers a Chardonnay bubble bath. Their own nutrient-rich geyser waters are combined with the scent of pomegranate and the essence of Chardonnay to create a rejuvenating, 45-minute soaking experience (and one of our favorite Napa activities!).
Where to stay in Napa
Located in the center of Downtown Napa, near endless options for food, drinks and nightlife is Archer Hotel Napa. Archer Hotel opened in 2017 right in the heart of the city of Napa. Its rooftop is split — on one side is a water feature (6 inches of water with in-water loungers) with surrounding cabanas and fire pits. On the other side of the rooftop terrace is the trendy Sky & Vine bar and restaurant with views over the city of Napa and surrounding hills.
No matter how you choose to explore the beautiful Napa Valley, please be sure to always check local travel restrictions prior to booking or setting out on your adventure.
FAQ
Beyond the amazing restaurants and wineries that are open for tours and tastings, you can hike, bike, hot air balloon, disc golf, enjoy a spa day or golf at one of the many public courses.
Besides wine tasting, explore the Napa Valley by enjoying hikes at Skyline Wilderness Park, enjoy a hot air balloon ride at sunrise, try a mud bath at a resort in Calistoga or head out on a picnic.
Want to read more?
- Check out our coronavirus travel guidance for the latest info to prepare for upcoming travel.
- Planning travel soon? Find out where you can adventure if you’re partially or fully vaccinated.
- Want to hit the open road? Drive these scenic routes in Arizona on your next trip.
