Discover Angwin on Howell Mountain

Angwin lies just below the summit of Howell Mountain and combines mountain scenery with unique opportunities to explore nature, culture, and winemaking. Those planning a trip around different interests will find several clearly distinct experiences here: views of Napa Valley, extensive trails through forest areas, gallery art, historical traces, and wineries with individually distinctive offerings.

Scenery and Trails Around Angwin

The Young Observatory at Pacific Union College offers views of Napa Valley. For active days, the PUC Demonstration and Experimental Forest has 35 miles of recreational trails for mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding. The forest is also home to a breeding pair of spotted owls. This means you can experience the nature around Angwin not only as a backdrop, but also through specific trails and opportunities for observation.

Las Posadas State Forest offers several hiking and cycling trails. It borders the PUC Forest, allowing hikers to connect the trails in both forest areas. Distinctive landscape features include shaded paths through manzanita tunnels and views from Inspiration Point. Near Angwin, the 177-acre Linda Falls Preserve is also located in the Conn Creek watershed. A 1.3-mile out-and-back trail runs through the preserve. These different formats can help with your planning: you can choose between longer forest routes, connected trails, and the clearly defined out-and-back route at Linda Falls Preserve.

College, Art, and History

Pacific Union College moved to its Angwin campus in 1909. A new exhibition opens at the Rasmussen Art Gallery several times each quarter; the works on display are often by students, faculty, and other local artists. The Pitcairn Islands Study Center contains more than 1,600 books about Captain William Bligh, the Bounty, and the Pitcairn and Norfolk Islands. Angwin therefore also offers points of interest for travelers who enjoy discovering exhibitions, collections, and less commonplace topics in addition to landscapes.

The history of the area includes Edwin Angwin: In 1875, he purchased 200 acres on Howell Mountain and founded Angwin Resort. The historic stone building at 13th Vineyard dates from 1886. At 13th Vineyard, the visitor experience includes a freshly prepared picnic meal with views of the vineyards and a wine tasting.

Wine Experiences with Distinctive Character

The wineries also each have their own focus. The O’Shaughnessy winery was built into the volcanic rock of Howell Mountain and sits 1,800 feet above the valley floor. At Dunn Vineyards, guests can enter the vineyards on Howell Mountain and explore the caves before tasting several vintages of Dunn Cabernet. Dunn Vineyards offers a private, personal visitor experience at a working winery near Angwin.

The Arkenstone experience includes a tour of the winery and vineyards, followed by a comprehensive tasting of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, Estate Blanc, and Estate Red. Important for your planning: Tastings and tours at Arkenstone are available exclusively by private appointment. Virgil O. Parrett Field is the airfield of Pacific Union College’s flight center.

Compare More Destinations

Additional destinations to consider for your planning include Calistoga, Napa, Oakville, Yountville, American Canyon, Saint Helena, and Pope Valley.

For the main travel overview: Napa.