6 Must-Do Hikes in & Around Vacaville

LAGOON VALLEY PARK
Peña Adobe Road just off of Interstate 80, Vacaville
Difficulty: Easy to Strenuous
The scenic 470-acre Lagoon Valley Regional Park includes the historic Peña Adobe home, barbecue areas, horseshoe pits, multi-purpose field, bike trails, a 30,000 square foot fenced-in dog park, and fantastic hiking complete with beautiful views. There are multiple trails to choose from, depending on how hard of a workout you’re looking for. For a flat, easy walk, take the 2 mile loop around the lake. This half dirt, half paved track offers an easy pace and great views of the surrounding hillsides. For a bigger challenge, tackle one of the tougher climbs into the hills. The Tower Trail, a 1.5 mile trail with a 620 foot elevation climb, is a local favorite and will give your quads a workout!

LAKE SOLANO
8685 Pleasants Valley Road, Winters
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Lake Solano is known as one of the best fly fishing spots in the Sacramento Valley, but there’s plenty for boaters, swimmers, hikers, bikers, nature lovers, campers, and picnickers to do as well. The lake was formed by the Putah Diversion Dam and also offers 90 campsites. Lake Solano is a great spot to take little hikers, where they can see gaggles of peacocks and enjoy some beginner level trails.

ROCKVILLE HILLS PARK
Rockville Road, Fairfield
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Pick a trail, any trail! The Rockville Hills Regional Park encompasses nearly 600 acres of grasslands and oak woodlands, and features more than 20 trails, many with gorgeous views of the surrounding hills. Whether you are looking for a quick hike or an all-day adventure, there is something for everyone. Rock formations, cool caves for exploring, picnic areas, a lovely little lake, and over 30 miles of tracks and trails makes Rockville Hills a must-see hiking destination in Solano County. Each trail is well-maintained, but we would recommend printing out a map of the trails beforehand as some of them are not clearly marked. Rockville Hills is great for kids, and dogs are permitted on leashes.
Tip: There is a $3 per person and $1 per dog entrance fee that is strictly enforced.

BROWNS VALLEY HILLS
Vacaville, CA
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Although there are no officially-marked trails, the open space areas in the Browns Valley hills are a favorite spot for local hikers. Steep slopes give way to spectacular sweeping views of Vacaville, and it’s a great place to explore with furry friends. Bonus points if you visit the Instagram-worthy tree swing! There are a few different entry spots-take Browns Valley Parkway, left on Wrentham Drive, left on Rambleton Drive, and look for an entry way to walk up into the hills.

SKYLINE WILDERNESS PARK
2201 Imola Ave, Napa
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
The Sugarloaf Mountain trail in Skyline Wilderness Park is definitely one of those Napa hikes worthy of your attention. The trail leads you through grasslands and chaparral, winding uphill through oak forest and ultimately providing great views from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. Reaching the summit involves a challenging, but short, section of steep trail which takes careful negotiation and is not great for little hikers, but that just makes reaching the summit more rewarding. The trailhead is accessible from inside the RV park at the end of Imola Avenue. A day-use fee is charged per vehicle, at which time you can pick up a copy of the park map. Adequate parking is available.

COLD CANYON-PUTAH CREEK STATE WILDLIFE AREA
2201 Imola Ave, Napa
State Highway 128, 7 miles west of the town of Winters
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
The Cold Canyon Reserve is part of the University of California Natural Reserve System and one of the few UC Reserve areas open for public use. It is located within the Putah Creek State Wildlife Area, where trails range from moderately easy to strenuously difficult. The Stebbins Cold Canyon Loop trail is a 5 mile loop that takes you up to the rim of the mountains surrounding Lake Berryessa. On a clear day you can even see all the way to the Sacramento skyline from the top of the trail. Although there are other less strenuous trails that are dog and kid friendly within the Putah Creek Wildlife Area, the Cold Canyon Loop has steep stairs and some rocky areas to navigate through, so it is not great for little ones or pets. Plan for about 2.5 hours to complete the hike. A day-use fee is requested.

– Courtesy of Visit Vacaville