A true jewel of Napa County, the Pacific Union College Forest is also one of the premier spots for forested recreation in the County and the North Bay with its 45 miles of recreational trials. Our guided hike will tour a range of ecosystems and vegetation management treatments in mixed-conifer redwood forest, oak woodland and chaparral ecosystems. The hike is 4 miles long and gains 500′ of elevation.

The site: The forest is owned and managed by the Pacific Union College (PUC) in Angwin, Napa County, CA. The PUC practices active Forest Management through a CAL FIRE Non-Industrial Timber Management Plan. The land is protected under a Conservation Easement through the Land Trust of Napa County.

The project: The site has not seen fire in 90 years, and thus much of the ecosystem is unnaturally dense and overgrow. A combination of vegetation management treatments – including hand crew thinning, mastication, and Rx fire- are being employed to return historic, sustainable, heterogeneric vegetation densities. The goal of management activities is to improve the forest to be more resilient to wildfire & support a natural fire regime. Management activities are also intended to better support a range of wildlife populations and improve the local watershed, as well as improve the health and growth rates of vegetation on the site.

The tour: Hosted by Peter Lecourt, PUC Forest Manager, our guided hike will tour a range of ecosystems and vegetation management treatments in mixed-conifer redwood forest, oak woodland and chaparral ecosystems. The hike is 4 miles long and gains 500′ of elevation.

Driving directions: Navigate to Saint Helena (Napa County). Take Deer Park Road north towards Angwin off either Highway 29/128 or the Silverado Trail. After four miles, Deer Park Road turns into Howell Mountain Road at an intersection with a left turn onto White Cottage Road (a red oval sign for the Howell Mtn AVA area marks this location – just keep proceeding straight up the Hill on Howell Mountain Road). After two miles, you will enter Angwin, where you will turn right onto Cold Springs Road just after the prominent Angwin sign on the right. After ¼ mile on Cold Springs Road, proceed straight onto Las Posadas Road (landmark at this location – Discoveryland Preschool on the left). After about a mile on Las Posadas Road, you’ll encounter a prominent 90* “elbow” turn to the right. At this location, the gated entrance to the PUC Forest is on the left (marked with a sign). Proceed through the gate and park in the lot.

What to bring: Snacks, water, sun protection, hiking apparel.

Cost: Free, donations welcome to the PUC Forest and the Sonoma County Forest Conservation Working Group.

Organized by: Sonoma County Forest Conservation Working Group