They say it’s important to look at things from a new angel, and what better way than to enjoy the city’s view from the top of Westwood Hills?
No matter how many times I’ve been up the different trails of this park, it’s always a nice change of pace to go out and enjoy the peacefulness of nature, whether you choose to go with friends, family, or even alone.
Westwood Hills provides a range of different levels of trails, from the typical uphill to a couple of more challenging areas, like slippery inclines to narrow pathways around the edges of the hills. These options make for a different experience, depending on which path you choose to take.
On our journey through the wooded area, we encountered a couple other groups hiking this weekend. Everyone was friendly, greeting us casually, and while most appeared to be coming back down, many of them were enjoying activities such as jogging the terrain, or taking their dogs out for walks. There were other groups of friends and families that we ran into through different trails, who all mentioned they were all making their way to the very top of the hills together.
When we stopped them to ask about why they enjoyed coming here, or what got them to start hiking through Westwood Hills in the first place, they all mentioned loving the atmosphere that they only got to be a part of when they came. From the pleasant quietness free from the chatty and occupied downtown areas, to the refreshing open air. Overall, they all explained how nice it felt walking through nature without worry, as everyone else was kind and respectful through their walks.
As I agree with all of them, it’s easy to recognise what makes this park enjoyable for people of all ages, it is important to mention that you shouldn’t be walking through completely carefree. There are cautions to take from the difficulty of some trails, to possible sightings of snakes through the hills, as well as active beehives that can be found on pathways.
But these warnings shouldn’t be enough to keep you from enjoying yourself as you make your way through. Simple solutions or precautions that you could do are as simple as just exploring the hills, as you look for paths that fit the difficulty that feels most comfortable for you. There are many different ways that lead to the top, so if that’s your goal, you have options for which way to take, and can easily go back if it turns out to not be the right one for you.
If spotting a snake while you’re walking worries you, a common way to prevent that is to make yourself known as you walk. This simply means to make some sound as you take steps, which signal the little creatures of your presence. But even then, they aren’t that common around these times of the year, like how we didn’t notice any around us as we were looking around during our hike.
As for the beehives, you’ll be able to notice that those areas are marked with warnings for it to be easier to know where the hive is located. But as we hiked, we found that it’s still safe to walk through as they don’t typically seem to mind, just be mindful to not step on any bees that are flying closer to the ground, and not to purposely try to harm them. If you’re still unsure or uncomfortable with the idea of walking past the hive, fear not as there are other pathways to choose instead of these to go through.
It’s also a great idea to bring your own water when hiking, to avoid dehydration, and bring comfortable sneaker, since you will be walking a lot. Appropriate clothing should also be worn, especially if the heat becomes a factor, so always check the weather first before you make plans or choose to head over for that day. There are also picnic areas near the start of Westwood Hills, and if you decide to bring a dog, it is required for you to keep them on a leash as you hike. Just do be mindful to pick up after them as well as yourself to maintain the park clean for your benefit, the benefit of other hikers, as well as that of the animals.
No matter which path you chose to take on your adventure to the top of Westwood Hills, you’ll find the beautiful view of Napa from this new angle you’ve taken will make it all worth it.
No matter how many times I’ve been up the different trails of this park, it’s always a nice change of pace to go out and enjoy the peacefulness of nature, whether you choose to go with friends, family, or even alone.
Westwood Hills provides a range of different levels of trails, from the typical uphill to a couple of more challenging areas, like slippery inclines to narrow pathways around the edges of the hills. These options make for a different experience, depending on which path you choose to take.
On our journey through the wooded area, we encountered a couple other groups hiking this weekend. Everyone was friendly, greeting us casually, and while most appeared to be coming back down, many of them were enjoying activities such as jogging the terrain, or taking their dogs out for walks. There were other groups of friends and families that we ran into through different trails, who all mentioned they were all making their way to the very top of the hills together.
When we stopped them to ask about why they enjoyed coming here, or what got them to start hiking through Westwood Hills in the first place, they all mentioned loving the atmosphere that they only got to be a part of when they came. From the pleasant quietness free from the chatty and occupied downtown areas, to the refreshing open air. Overall, they all explained how nice it felt walking through nature without worry, as everyone else was kind and respectful through their walks.
As I agree with all of them, it’s easy to recognise what makes this park enjoyable for people of all ages, it is important to mention that you shouldn’t be walking through completely carefree. There are cautions to take from the difficulty of some trails, to possible sightings of snakes through the hills, as well as active beehives that can be found on pathways.
But these warnings shouldn’t be enough to keep you from enjoying yourself as you make your way through. Simple solutions or precautions that you could do are as simple as just exploring the hills, as you look for paths that fit the difficulty that feels most comfortable for you. There are many different ways that lead to the top, so if that’s your goal, you have options for which way to take, and can easily go back if it turns out to not be the right one for you.
If spotting a snake while you’re walking worries you, a common way to prevent that is to make yourself known as you walk. This simply means to make some sound as you take steps, which signal the little creatures of your presence. But even then, they aren’t that common around these times of the year, like how we didn’t notice any around us as we were looking around during our hike.
As for the beehives, you’ll be able to notice that those areas are marked with warnings for it to be easier to know where the hive is located. But as we hiked, we found that it’s still safe to walk through as they don’t typically seem to mind, just be mindful to not step on any bees that are flying closer to the ground, and not to purposely try to harm them. If you’re still unsure or uncomfortable with the idea of walking past the hive, fear not as there are other pathways to choose instead of these to go through.
It’s also a great idea to bring your own water when hiking, to avoid dehydration, and bring comfortable sneaker, since you will be walking a lot. Appropriate clothing should also be worn, especially if the heat becomes a factor, so always check the weather first before you make plans or choose to head over for that day. There are also picnic areas near the start of Westwood Hills, and if you decide to bring a dog, it is required for you to keep them on a leash as you hike. Just do be mindful to pick up after them as well as yourself to maintain the park clean for your benefit, the benefit of other hikers, as well as that of the animals.
No matter which path you chose to take on your adventure to the top of Westwood Hills, you’ll find the beautiful view of Napa from this new angle you’ve taken will make it all worth it.