Bouldering

High above the suburban sprawl of Vacaville is the Browns Valley Open Space Preserve, where an abundance of basalt boulders dot the hillsides. Blaze your own trail though the unspoiled acres and see how many you can tackle!

With more than 50 boulders boasting nicknames such as Bloody Madness, Stoned Dangler, and Space Lord, climbing routes on the Nut Tree Boulders range from beginner to expert and make for an epic day of bouldering while enjoying sweeping views of Vacaville, the Sacramento Valley, and on a clear day even the snow-capped Sierra. Vaca means cow in Spanish, so don't be surprised to see happy California cows grazing throughout the trails.

The trails in the Browns Valley Open Space are not marked, so you have to do a bit of exploring to find the boulders. There are several entrance spots for the open space area- look for cattle grates and signs posted.

Parking is available by the corner of Wrentham and Vaca Valley Parkway. Please be courteous about parking in the residential neighborhood.