News
What is Park Tread?
10/06/2023
by Maureen Gaffney
We know you are as excited as we are about the upcoming, new nine miles of Vine Trail between St. Helena and Calistoga, but are you as stoked as we are about Park Tread? You will be!
“Okay…what the heck is Park Tread?”
We’re so glad you asked. If you’ve ever been to the Presidio in San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, or other parts of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, you’ve walked on a surface that was not pavement, nor asphalt, nor concrete. Yet it also wasn’t just dirt, and it wasn’t decomposed granite which is really nice, but tends to…decompose. It was…you guessed it—Park Tread.
This road and trail surfacing material is made from amended chert shale and other natural materials that have stood the test of time in the above locations, has the firmness and durability required for accessible trail construction. Its composition of non-toxic materials and resistance to erosion makes it a good choice for sensitive environments adjacent to wetlands, waterways, and vineyards. And it looks great to boot.
Park Tread will be interspersed with sections of pavers or asphalt depending on the individual property owner’s preference, and will comprise approximately 1.5 of the overall nine miles of trail between St. Helena and Calistoga. And don’t get us wrong—we also love the asphalt that will make up most of the VINE TRAIL between Vallejo and Calistoga. We just wanted you to know that different settings require different approaches. And besides, now when you are out on the trail with your friends and family, you can WOW them with your exquisite knowledge of trail surfaces. If you’re going to be a nerd, might as well be a trail nerd!