OVERVIEW
In Wine Country’s city of St. Helena, part of the Napa Valley, home to world-famous vineyards, wineries, and gourmet dining in a picturesque, storybook setting and situated on the Main Street in the city’s quaint shopping district, resides Wappo Park; a local off-leash dog park. If you’re looking for a pet-friendly activity in a quaint Wine Country setting, go do the CANGO at Wappo Park.
HOW PET-FRIENDLY IS IT?
The surrounding area is very rural and fortunately not very polluted or congested. However, it is located near a major thoroughfare, the Silverado Trail which runs parallel to Highway 29, and although it is not an official highway, it is conducive to speeding at highway speeds, so you may want to leash your dog before heading to the parking area, even though it is fenced.
I was not sure what to expect from this small-town municipal park but I was pleasantly surprised and we enjoyed our visit. Some highlights include: (1) it is safe and free to park your car, (2) it is easily accessed to accommodate different athletic levels or handicap accessible, (3) it offers a little cleared pathway to walk with you dog to the enclosed official dog park area, so you are not stuck just standing around. The official dog park area is fenced so you do not have to worry about your dog escaping and getting hit by a car.
IS IT CONVENIENT OR A PAIN IN THE —?
Parking is very easy with free parking available in a dedicated lot. The surrounding area is not pedestrian-friendly as it is on a street that connects historic Main Street in downtown St Helena with the Silverado Trail. I found it difficult to figure out how to get into the park and where it was situated from Pope Street because you need to enter the parking lot behind a branch of Napa Valley College. [Tip: once you get to the intersection of Pope and the Silverado Trail, if you are coming from the Silverado Trail, turn into the college lot on the left. If you were coming from Main St., you would want to turn right when you see signage for the college and before you hit the Silverado Trail.]
Given the fact that Wappo Park is an official off-leash dog park, it is obviously very easy to dispose of waste, with multiple trash cans and doody bag dispensers.
The closest 24/7 emergency vet is PetCare East located on Mendocino Ave in Santa Rosa, but it is over 20 miles away and more than a 30-minute drive. With that in mind, depending on hours of need, a more convenient and accessible option may be St Helena Veterinary Hospital located just over ¼ mile south on Main Street; however, it is only open Monday through Friday and a half-day on Saturdays. However, locals use Dr. Gold, whose office is located at 584 Main Street in St. Helena, and page him on his cell after hours at 707-963-3094. (Laurence, one of the co-owners of Merryvale Vineyards across the “street” shared this insider tip with me).
*[Please note: We provide the veterinary locations as a reference and resource, not a referral or endorsement].
