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Lake Marie Road, Marie Creek, Buckeye Trail Loop

Napa, California

3.5/5
based on 4 reviews

Details

Distance

5.8 miles

Elevation Gain

961 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Emily Kent

Lake Marie Road, Marie Creek, Buckeye Trail Loop is a beautiful loop hike just under 6 miles, located in Napa's Skyline Wilderness Park. If you can get to this trail in the springtime, the scenery is vibrant with lush green grass and wildflowers throughout. With light foot-traffic, you can choose your own adventure as there are many junctions and trails winding through the park.

Enter the parking lot just off of Hwy 221. Plan to pay a $5 entrance fee at the kiosk. The trail head begins at the edge of the parking lot where you'll soon be passing by the Martha Walker Native Habitat Garden on your right. Veer left to continue along Lake Marie Road where you'll enter the blue oaks and buckeyes to begin a moderate ascent. The trail becomes increasingly rocky as you climb, but picturesque as you can view Sugarloaf Mountain from the trails highest point. Watch for poison oak and wild turkeys. The turkeys are friendly, the poison oak, not so much!

Two miles in you'll reach a rock wall to your right and will follow a connector trail downhill. As it begins to climb again, stay left. You'll enter a densely wooded area with an abundance of wildflowers in the spring time, including blooming paintbrush, poppies and lupine. Follow the sign to the Chaparral Trail, and turn right at the junction of Chaparral and Upper Marie Creek trails.

At mile 2.7 you'll turn right to cross a small feeder creek and continue straight on Skyline Trail. At mile 3.3 you'll reach a junction with Buckeye Trail where you'll veer right. Follow Buckeye Trail as it descends and runs parallel to Lake Marie Road. You'll reach the junction with Lake Marie Road at 5.5 miles, then retrace your steps back to the trail head.

This is also a great hike to pack in a picnic lunch if you're feeling leisurely. Keep the trails clean and enjoy the fresh air!

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Features

Fitness
Fishing
Photography
Running
Hiking
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Picnic Area
River
Romantic
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Lake Marie Road, Marie Creek, Buckeye Trail Loop Reviews

We did an out-and-back to Lake Marie. Beautiful views of a scenic valley. The flora changes drastically from the rest of Napa valley which is pretty cool. The trail is an old wagon road and takes you buy some cool carved out areas in the mountain side. The first mile and a half has most of the serious elevation gain and is pretty exposed, but once you hit the wood line, it's mostly shady and very comfortable even on a hot day. Took my wife who is a pretty experienced hiker and she absolutely loved it. There's even a porta-john set up at about half way. Just watch out for mountain bikers and bring water.

Beautiful. Wildflowers and beautiful views. Did the Skyline trail.

Pretty easy hike. Trails are all very clearly marked, which is a plus. Trails are well maintained. Tables throughout for picnics. Bonus: nice native garden located near parking lot.

Not much to see on this hike. Watch out for horse poop on the trail.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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