Mayacamas Preserve

Mayacamas Preserve is a 224 acre property owned by the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District on the western side of the Napa Valley in the Mayacamas mountain range. The preserve is situated on the valley floor, directly beneath the peak of Mt Veeder, some 2,600 feet above.

This dense area of forest is populated with mixed evergreen and chapparal and is home to a wide variety of native plants including second growth coastal redwoods, California bay laurel, California wild rose, and many others. Dry Creek runs through the property and, contrary to its name, has plentiful water for most of the year.

District staff and volunteers have been working for several years to transform this property for public access and enjoyment. Join us for one of our many guided hikes to explore the Mayacamas range, or volunteer with us and help the ongoing improvements to this preserve.

A Family Donation that Spawned a New Park

The genesis of this preserve was the Chamberlain family’s generous donation of Amy’s Grove in 2015, a 51 acre parcel that contains a beautiful grove of coastal redwoods.

Amy’s Grove is named in honor of the Chamberlain’s daughter, an accomplished endurance swimmer and triathlete, who was well regarded for her work with the US State Department overseeing a program which fostered better relations with Muslim exchange students. After her passing, hundreds of trees were planted in her memory worldwide by students, friends, and supporters. Amy treasured wildlife and nature, and the property now known as Amy’s Grove held a special place in her heart.

Following the initial donation, the District has acquired two other adjacent parcels of land. Another generous donation from a neighboring property owner, Mr. Kateley, augmented the initial Amy’s Grove property. The District was then able to purchase another parcel from the Chamberlain family with the help of Proposition 68 funding from the State of California. These three properties combined form what is now known as Mayacamas Preserve.

Explore the Mayacamas with Us

Since acquisition, District staff and our volunteers have spent countless hours rehabilitating the forest by removing invasive plant species, performing fuel reduction work to make the forest safer and healthier, removing old structures, and developing a parking and staging area. We’re excited for the future evolution of this park, and look forward to helping the public enjoy it for years to come.

If you are interested in joining us for a guided hike at Mayacamas Preserve, subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates or email us here.

Additional Mayacamas Preserve Information and Articles:

• County accepts land donation for ‘Amy’s Grove’ (Napa Valley Register, October 5, 2015)
• Future park taking shape in south Napa’s Mayacamas mountains (Napa Valley Register, March 6, 2021)
• Amy Chamberlain — activist, altruist, triathlete (San Francisco Chronicle, July 25, 2005)