The best bicycle route in Wine Country — the Silverado Trail (the quieter eastern valley road, parallel to the busier Highway 29) offers 30 miles of gentle gradient through vineyards and past wineries with minimal traffic and the valley's finest perspectives on the Mayacamas Mountains.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
The Silverado Trail is the road that serious cyclists and wine country veterans use instead of Highway 29 — a 30-mile route running the full length of the east side of the valley from Napa to Calistoga, through vineyard after vineyard with far less truck traffic than 29 and the best views of the Mayacamas Mountains. The gradient is gentle (the valley floor rises only about 300 feet from Napa to Calistoga) and the road surface is excellent. Multiple wineries along the Trail welcome cyclists for tastings, some with specific bicycle-friendly facilities. Bicycle rental operators in Yountville, St. Helena, and Napa provide quality bikes with trail maps. The classic day ride: rent in Yountville, cycle north to St. Helena for lunch, and return. Total distance approximately 25 miles.
What Stands Out
- The Silverado Trail: the valley's quiet east road — far less traffic than Highway 29
- 30-mile route from Napa to Calistoga on gentle gradient
- Best mountain views on the valley's east side
- Multiple wineries welcome cyclists for tastings
- Rent in Yountville: 25-mile loop to St. Helena and back for lunch