Friends of the Napa Open Space District

09/13/2026

20 years certainly adds up to a lot of volunteer projects in our work!
We've had so much fun with so many of you on so many trails around the county. Countless volunteer projects ranging from building new trails to improving older ones, eradicating invasive species and managing vegetation for fire to cultivating better ecosystems, and everything in between. We couldn't do all the things we do without folks jumping in and rolling up their sleeves to help.

These volunteer projects do so much to boost our work in the parks, but they're also a great way for folks to learn more about what goes into maintaining these places, make new friends, and see unique places in our protected lands. They claim they only show up for the lunches we provide, but we suspect they like the work ;)

If getting dirty on the trails and sweating to make your parks event better sounds good to you, you can sign up to join us at NapaOutdoors.org/Volunteer

09/11/2026

NOSD staff was able to sneak up on the pair of Golden Eagles that live along the ridge at Suscol Headwaters Park. These birds are pretty camera shy with us, so it's a nice treat to be able to get a portrait!

09/08/2026

The Napa Valley State Parks Association’s 2026 Harvest Dinner & Auction is coming up on September 19 at the historic Bale Grist Mill!

It’s such a special evening supporting the work that goes into protecting and preserving Napa Valley’s three State Parks - Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park and Robert Louis Stevenson State Park.

This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as Bale Grist Mill celebrates its 180th anniversary. Guests can look forward to a beautiful evening at the Mill, dinner, local wine and an incredible collection of auction experiences - all while supporting the parks we’re so lucky to have here in Napa Valley.

Tickets are still available, and the online auction is open now!
Learn more, purchase tickets and browse the auction at napavalleystateparks.org.

09/08/2026

Doors are open at the Bale Grist Mill!

We're usually open for visits and tours on the weekends, but on 9/12-13, we're part of a statewide celebration of California's historic places. Doors Open California is the largest statewide celebration of historic places. Enthusiasts of historic architecture, design, and cultural heritage will have access to dozens of sites across the state over one weekend.

You can help support the California Preservation Foundation & visit any/all of the 75 sites across the state during September for just $20. Get the pass and you're covered for entry into the Bale Mill on September 12-13.
See californiapreservation.org/doca for details and to register.

The 36-Foot Wheel Still Turns
Sept. 12–13, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Visit and experience this wonderful piece of Napa's history.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day!
We're celebrating Labor Day outside today and of course, think you should too.

09/04/2026

Well hello there sunshine.

08/31/2026

More exciting projects in the works to bring more outdoor recreation opportunities closer to home for Napa residents!

A prospective deal between the Open Space District and di Rosa Foundation would open Milliken Peak to hiking and keep the di Rosa art museum in Napa County.

08/28/2026

The Napa StoryWalk is open in Calistoga at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park!

This living art installation is a free bilingual reading adventure that lets kids read as they walk along the trails in nature. This year, the book selection is Gracias Thanks, authored by Pat Mora and illustrated by John Parra - a great short kids' story about what we can all be thankful for.

Visit the StoryWalk along the Ritchey Creek Trail until 9/13 before it's done for this summer! (It'll move back to Skyline park for a few weeks by popular demand though). Show your library card at the front kiosk and get free day-use entry into the park.

Get details about the Napa StoryWalk project at: NapaOutdoors.org/NapaStoryWalk

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¡El Napa StoryWalk ya está abierto en Calistoga, en Bothe-Napa Valley State Park!

Esta instalación de arte viviente es una aventura de lectura bilingüe y gratuita que deja que los niños lean mientras caminan por los senderos en la naturaleza. Este año, el libro elegido es Gracias Thanks, escrito por Pat Mora e ilustrado por John Parra — un cuento corto y muy bonito sobre todo lo que podemos agradecer.

¡Visita el StoryWalk en el sendero Ritchey Creek Trail antes de que termine la temporada de verano el 13 de septiembre! (Aunque, debido a la gran demanda, se trasladará de nuevo al parque Skyline durante unas semanas). Muestra tu tarjeta de la biblioteca en el quiosco de entrada y obtén acceso gratuito al parque para el día.

Obtén más detalles sobre el proyecto StoryWalk de Napa en: NapaOutdoors.org/StoryWalkdeNapa

08/27/2026

Join us for the September 3rd Saturday Hike and get a little literary history of one of our iconic local State Parks!

We affectionately call it RLS around here, but the State Park that includes Mount Saint Helena is named after the famous Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson of course. Perhaps you know the outline of the story: RLS marries his American sweetheart (she is a divorcee, so it is something of a scandal) and then they do the predictable thing by heading up to a mountainside Airbnb for their honeymoon and nudge out the competition for naming rights to a future state park.

Not quite. At his honeymoon, RLS is a 29 year old not yet famous writer living off his parents money. And their mountainside honeymoon retreat is accessed by an edge of their seats stagecoach ride, followed by “squatting” in an old mining encampment.

Romantic or what?

You get to decide for yourself as we hike and read and gulp in the same fresh air and big views as dear old F***y and RLS. We’re hoping this hike will be a novel experience for you, too! RSVP at: NapaOutdoors.org/3rdSaturdayHike

08/26/2026

Twenty years of programs, countless memories!
As we keep digging through the anniversary archives, this month we've pulled out a different kind of photo album - another that's less directly about the land itself, and more about the people that have explored and enjoyed it with us over the years.

Join us for another walk down memory lane in the August newsletter and find out about what we've been up to and what's on deck!

Link to the August NOSD newsletter: https://conta.cc/4c1UoAb

If you'd like to receive our newsletter in your inbox, sign up at www.napaoutdoors.org.