History Tour - Park Docent

Enchanting, Westwood Hills Park was established in July 1976, the U.S. Bicentennial Year.  As Napa's first wilderness park, it comprises 111 acres of tall hills with a broad meadow below.  Native live coast oak woods cap its highest elevation at 384 feet.  Downslope, introduced blue gum eucalyptus, bay laurel, and Monterey Cypress, also share the park's tree-scape.  

Native Californians may have harvested oak acorns, their staff of life.  Native Acorn Woodpeckers, Western Scrub Jays, and Gray Squirrels, live at Westwood Hills Park and the surrounding environs.  Domestic cattle have grazed at Westwood Hills Park.

Ranchero Salvador Vallejo, deeded 640 acres of his 1838 Rancho de Napa to John Brown, a Napa County surveyor, in 1850.  Romantic folklore states that Brown, short on money, bet and lost his fancy, one-horse surrey in a card game, to Salvador--who immediately drove, crashed, and totaled the carriage--and walked four miles home.  

Brown not only got the land which includes Westwood Hills Park, but his name lives on locally.  Browns Valley, Browns Valley Road, Browns Valley Elementary School, and Brown Street, City of Napa, are all familiar names to Napans.  

In 1911, Browns Valley residents created the State of California's first taxation district to tax themselves for a new macadamized, crushed gravel road (replacing dirt) for easier access to downtown City of Napa.  It is the paved road which runs past the foot of Westwood Hills Park.

From Westwood Hills Park's summit, Mt. Veeder, Napa Stag's Leap, and Mt. George are visible peaks in the panoramic background of the Napa Valley.  Inside the park are numerous trails, many forged by devoted volunteer help over the decades.  

Beloved Westwood Hills Park is a shrine to history and nature, for the public's enjoyment and enrichment.  The park also has the fabulously interesting, not-to-be-missed, Carolyn Parr Nature Museum, near the park's entrance and main parking lot. Starting at the main trail gate by the parking, proceeding up to the summit and down into the meadow, the tour, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., will be an enchanting walk in nature and time. Meet at the kiosk near the small parking lot at the Carolyn Parr Nature Center on Browns Valley Road.  

Parents of children under the age of 12 must register with their child. Pre-registration is required.