Your guide to kid approved hikes across Napa County and Sonoma County to make the most out of this spring’s wildflower season. Get out there and start exploring!

If you’ve never experienced spring in Northern California it has a magnetic pull—rolling hills that suddenly emerge in hues of emerald green, hypnotic melodies from wren and chickadee neighbors fill our eardrums, and meadows (oh the meadows!) bursting into a kaleidoscope of wildflowers. For families looking to get outside and soak up the season, there’s no better time to hit the trail. Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley offers plenty of day-trip opportunities for kid-friendly hikes where little legs can wander freely.

These hikes are the perfect way to introduce your kids of all ages and abilities to the joys of nature, and are full of poppy-dusted hillsides and oak-lined trails buzzing with bees and butterflies. Most are no or low incline trails, short loops, and some are even stroller accessible.

Slather on your sunscreen, pack some snacks, grab your hats, and get ready to explore the colorful side of wine country while it’s in full bloom—no vineyard tour required! 🌼👟🌿

Napa County Hikes

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, Calistoga

For a shaded forest adventure with spring blooms, Bothe-Napa offers gentle trails that meander through redwoods and open spaces where wildflowers thrive. The Redwood Trail is a manageable loop for little kids at just under a mile.

Bonus: The park also has picnic spots and a visitor center with nature exhibits.

Distance: ~1 mile

Good For: Kids will enjoy spotting birds and butterflies along the path, and there’s even a creek for splashing if it’s warm enough

Wildflowers: Trillium, iris, and shooting stars

Westwood Hills Park, Napa

Tucked in a residential neighborhood, this lesser-known gem offers a short hike with big payoffs. The shaded parts of the trail are perfect for hot days, and the hilltop views are worth the mild climb.

Family Favorite: There’s a small nature museum at the trailhead that often has kid-friendly exhibits and activities.

Distance: 1.5-mile loop

Good For: Manageable incline trail, grassy hillsides dotted with wildflowers, views at the peak

Wildflowers: Buttercups, larkspur, and fiddlenecks.

Alston Park, Napa

Known more for dog-walking and open space, Alston Park also offers spring wildflowers and plenty of room to roam. It’s a great option for an easy stroll or for letting kids run a bit wild.

Distance: Flexible loop options, flat to rolling

Good For: Loose exploring, wildflower viewing without crowds

Wildflowers: Lupine, mustard, California poppies

Moore Creek Park, St. Helena

This lesser-known park features a peaceful trail along the creek with moderate elevation and great springtime color. The Valley-Floor Trail is flat and easy, making it perfect for families.

Distance: Up to 2.5 miles round-trip (out and back)

Good For: Creekside walking, birdwatching, wildflowers

Wildflowers: Indian warrior, shooting stars, yarrow, buttercups

Linda Falls Trail, Angwin

This tucked-away trail is a great adventure for kids who like a bit of excitement. A short, forested trail leads to a small waterfall, with wildflowers like monkeyflower and columbine brightening the way.

Distance: ~1 mile round-trip

Good For: Older kids (5+), waterfall lovers

Wildflowers: Columbine, monkeyflower, miner’s lettuce, trillium

Archer Taylor Preserve, West of Napa

A true hidden gem, this preserve requires an appointment with the Napa County Land Trust for access, making it one of the quietest hikes around. It features meadows, redwood groves, and a waterfall, all surrounded by wildflowers in spring.

Distance: Various trail options; guided or by reservation only

Best for: Families interested in conservation and quieter experiences

Wildflowers: Woodland star, trillium, and hound’s tongue

Skyline Wilderness Park, Napa

While the main trails of Skyline can be popular, heading toward the Lake Marie Fire Road or the Rim Rock Trail will lead you to quieter paths with plenty of spring blooms. These lesser-traveled routes offer great views and less foot traffic.

Distance: Up to 4 miles round-trip (can shorten based on ability)

Best for: Kids who enjoy a bit more of a hike and parents seeking views

Wildflowers: Sticky monkeyflower, lupine, yarrow, Indian paintbrush

Rector Reservoir Wildlife Area, Yountville

Not technically a designated hiking area, but locals often explore paths near the reservoir off Silverado Trail. The rolling hills and roadside trails bloom with vibrant wildflowers in late March through April.

Distance: Varies, mostly unmarked

Best for: Older kids and families comfortable with informal trail use

Note: No facilities; tread carefully and check access restrictions

Las Posadas State Forest, Angwin

Primarily known as a mountain biking spot, Las Posadas also has quiet fire roads and trails that are great for walking in spring. Oak woodland and chaparral areas support a variety of native wildflowers.

Distance: Up to 3 miles of trail options

Best for: Families looking for solitude and a wilder feel

Wildflowers: Poppies, blue dicks, milkmaids

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park (Palisades Trailhead), Calistoga

Most people know this park for the Mount St. Helena hike, but few venture onto the Palisades Trail, which offers a rugged but rewarding experience through wildflower-studded hillsides.

Distance: As far as you want to go (full trail is 6 miles one-way)

Best for: Families with older kids or teens; bring lots of water

Wildflowers: Lupine, paintbrush, monkeyflower, and owl’s clover

Sonoma County Hikes

Sonoma Valley Regional Park, Glen Ellen

Nestled between oak woodlands and rolling hills, this park is a favorite among families for its stroller-friendly trails and frequent wildflower sightings. The Valley of the Moon Trail, a paved 1.2-mile path, winds gently through meadows where poppies, blue dicks, and milkmaids bloom in spring. Picnic areas and restrooms make it an easy half-day outing, and the shaded creek areas are great for a rest stop.

Tip: Bring a wildflower ID guide and turn the walk into a mini scavenger hunt!

Distance: 1.2-mile path

Best For: Families, stroller-friendly

Wildflowers: Poppies, blue dicks, and milkmaids

Sonoma Overlook Trail – Sonoma

This 3-mile out-and-back trail just behind the Sonoma Plaza offers moderate elevation gain but is still doable for kids ages 5 and up. In spring, the trail bursts with a variety of wildflowers, including lupine, poppies, and Indian paintbrush. Along the way, you’ll get stunning views of the Sonoma Valley and even the chance to spot hawks and deer.

Good to Know: There are benches along the trail for breaks, and interpretive signs help spark curiosity.

Distance: 3-mile out-and-back

Best For: Families and active kids 5+

Wildflowers: Lupine, poppies, owl’s clover and Indian paintbrush

Helen Putnam Regional Park – Petaluma

With wide, gently rolling trails and multiple loop options, Helen Putnam is ideal for strollers and young hikers. In the spring, the open grasslands come alive with golden poppies, lupine, and more. The Panorama Trail Loop (around 1.5 miles) offers beautiful views of the Petaluma hills and is often quiet enough to feel like your own secret garden.

Pro Tip: Arrive early to beat the crowds and bring binoculars—this park is great for birdwatching.

Distance: 1.5 mile loop

Best For: Strollers and young families

Wildflowers: Golden poppies, lupine, and more

Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa

This versatile park offers easy trails around the lake with lots of family-friendly extras: picnic spots, restrooms, and even a playground and seasonal lagoon. Spring brings green hills, baby ducks, and wildflowers along the paved loop.

Distance: 2.3-mile loop around the lake

Highlights: Stroller-friendly, lake views, restrooms

Spring Bonus: Great birdwatching and blooming mustard fields

Ragle Ranch Regional Park, Sebastopol

A hidden gem for families! The Joe Rodota Trail connector and short woodland loops are great for little legs. In spring, you’ll find lush green fields, soft forest shade, and wildflowers popping along the trail.

Distance: ~1.5 miles of interconnected trails

Highlights: Playground, picnic areas, shady oak groves

Spring Bonus: Wild iris, vetch, and lots of ladybugs

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Guerneville

Not all wildflower hikes have to be in the open! Take a serene walk among the towering redwoods where ferns and shade-loving wildflowers bloom in spring. The Pioneer Nature Trail is flat, wide, and peaceful—a must-do for families.

Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip (flat)

Highlights: Giant redwoods, interpretive signs, shaded trails

Spring Bonus: Trillium, redwood sorrel, mossy logs and mushrooms

Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma (Permit Only)

This less-visited park requires a free day-use permit, but it’s worth it for peaceful trails, sweeping views, and a unique, undeveloped setting. Springtime sees poppies, owl’s clover, and early blooming native grasses.

Distance: Choose-your-own-length; shorter trails near the parking area

Highlights: Wildlife sightings, minimal crowds, cultural history

Spring Bonus: Best for families with slightly older kids (5+)

Crane Creek Regional Park, Rohnert Park

This peaceful, rolling landscape is especially vibrant in spring. Short loops through oak woodlands and grassy fields make it ideal for a quick nature escape. Great for picnic lunches and kite-flying, too!

Distance: 1–3 miles of loops

Highlights: Gentle hills, quiet setting, panoramic views

Spring Bonus: Buttercups, poppies, and occasional creek crossings

Foothill Regional Park, Windsor

A lovely and lesser-known park with three ponds and a network of easy trails. In spring, the hills turn bright green and frogs sing from the water’s edge. The Three Lakes Trail is a kid-favorite loop.

Distance: 2-mile loop (shorter options available)

Highlights: Ponds, wildlife, picnic tables

Spring Bonus: Frog chorus, poppies, and purple owl’s clover

Spring Wildflower Hikes For Families: Napa & Sonoma