Suscol Headwaters Park

Suscol Headwater Preserve

Suscol Headwaters Park

Park Amenity Icons

Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Equestrian Use, Wildlife Viewing

Location: Currently, Suscol Headwaters Park is accessible through Skyline Wilderness Park (Google Map here). Access  is through a gate in the Napa Solano Ridge Trail at the top of Skyline Park. Please see a trail map of Skyline Park here to map your route to Suscol Headwaters Park (bottom right hand corner of map).

Hours: Skyline Wilderness Park is open 7:00am-5:00pm

Fees & Details: There are no fees at Suscol Headwaters Park. There is an entrance fee of $6/car for the main parking lot of Skyline Wilderness Park & $3 to walk in/$3 bike in for the main entrance and the River to Ridge entrance. All trails are multi-use. This is a lengthy round-trip hike – please bring water and consult a map of Skyline Park before starting.

Amenities: Currently, access is via Skyline Wilderness Park only (see above). There is no potable water available at the park and no restrooms.

Park Rules: Please respect private property and do not trespass. Observe park boundary signs and stay on NOSD property at all times. No hunting or shooting allowed in this park. Please stay on official trails and do not use or create social trails. Dogs are not allowed on trails inside Skyline Park.

Maps and Park Notes: Google Map for Suscol Headwaters Park, Skyline Wilderness Park Trail Map

Suscol Headwater Preserve collage

The 709 acres that comprise Suscol Headwaters Park were acquired by the Napa Open Space District between 2015 and 2017. It is immediately south of Skyline Wilderness Park, which has over 25 miles of trail, building and expanding upon the existing hiking, biking, and horseback-riding opportunities.

The park includes several promontories that offer sweeping views of the surrounding area, from Mount St. Helena in the north to San Francisco in the south, providing an invaluable geography lesson to local residents who may never have seen the region from such a perspective.

Suscol Headwaters officially opened as a public park in 2020, and the District is currently designing the trail system that will be built over the next several years. Eventually, we will have access points in addition to the Skyline Park entrance. Currently, there is an official trail leading to The Prominence at the peak of the property as well as dirt fire roads that are hiker/cyclist friendly.

Flora and Fauna

Open grasslands spotted with wild flowers give way to oak and bay laurel woodlands, with closed canopy riparian habitat found along several creeks. Native wildflowers include common fiddleneck, sky lupine, purple owl’s clover, and California poppy. The spring finds the hillsides awash with the yellows, oranges, and purples of these blooms.

The park is home to many birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, including bobcat, mountain lion, coyote, and gray fox. Wildlife surveys have observed over 136 different species on the property. Hawks, owls, newts, and rattlesnakes are among the countless other animals found within the park. Suscol Creek provides high quality aquatic habitat for native fish and amphibians, including steelhead trout, the local population of which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The park’s many habitats and large variety of plant and animal species makes it a special place to explore and protect.

Additional Suscol Headwaters Park Information and Articles: