Cycle Calistoga

The Cycling Vacation Destination Among the Vines

Whether you are a road cyclist or mountain biker, the town of Calistoga in California’s Napa Valley is the ideal vacation destination for the cycling enthusiast looking for an active vacation. Calistoga offers flat and hilly scenic terrain, tranquil and freshly paved country roads, car-free trails, year-round cycling friendly weather, local bike tour guides and a bike shop with performance bike rentals. It also has world-class cuisine, wineries, breweries and a range of lodging options. The town was originally founded as a wellness resort, thus many of its hotels offer hot spring fed mineral baths and fitness facilities.

A highlight for beginner to avid cyclists is the 8-mile Napa Valley Vine Trail which connects Calistoga to the charming town of St Helena. The Vine Trail takes cyclists through vineyards and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Along the way there are various culinary, winery and brewery choices. Additionally, cyclists will be able to safely connect to tranquil backroads that offer a mix of scenic routes and challenging climbs (popular routes). For those looking to venture further, there are cycling routes to the rest of Napa Valley and Sonoma County, which also boast world-class cycling.

Calistoga is 90 minutes from San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. It can also be accessed from the nearby Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa.

Napa Valley has long been enjoyed by local cyclists and cycling professionals and has a rich cycling tradition with cycling clubs and events. It is time for you to come discover this amazing cycling vacation destination.

Climbing the Mayacamas Mountains surrounding Calistoga
Cycling among the redwoods on Diamond Mountain in Calistoga
Riding the tranquil backroads of Calistoga
Fall in the vineyards in Calistoga
Calistoga’s Mustard Season in February and March
Riding the car-free Vine Trail between Calistoga and St. Helena
Mountain biking up to the Palisades on Oat Mine Trail
A thrilling descent off the Oat Mine Trail

Resources

Bike Rentals, Parts and Service	Calistoga Bikeshop retails bikes and offers a range of rentals, including premium road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes and casual comfort bikes. You can even rent cycling shoes. They also retail clothing and accessories and provide servicing.
Cycling Tours and Guides	Vine Trail Adventures‘ guides are cycling enthusiasts who have local knowledge of Napa Valley’s and Sonoma’s best cycling routes, including the most delightful stops for coffee, lunch or a wine tasting. They can craft custom private tours based on your riding abilities and interests. They partner with Calistoga Bikeshop for rentals and SAG support. Check out their tours on Instagram.
Cycling Oriented Wineries	Olabisi Wines in downtown Calistoga produces handcrafted wines from one-of-a-kind vineyard sources tended by talented farmers. Given their miniscule production, they are able to pay attention to each of their wines as individual expressions of the vineyards from which they’re sourced. The winemaker in partnership with Vine Trail Adventures offers an award-winning Ride with a Winemaker tour. Clif Family Winery was brought to life by the creators of Clif Bar. They offer the welcoming food and wine experiences in nearby St. Helena (ride there via the Vine Trail). You’ll experience their organically farmed wines paired with seasonal food prepared by their talented culinary team. Inside the tasting room you can see photos and other memorabilia of the founder’s experiences with cycling.
Popular Cycling Routes	This RidewithGPS Collection includes a sample of routes for intermediate to avid road cyclists. Mountain bikers should check out the Oat Mine Trail which starts straight out of downtown Calistoga (it is an advanced/technical trail). There is also great mountain biking nearby at Bothe-Napa State Park (accessible via Vine Trail), Moore Creek Park (some gravel bike routes) and Las Posadas Demonstration Forest.
The Vine Trail	The Vine Trail is a car-free, cycling and walking trail with two main sections: 1) Calistoga to St. Helena, which winds through scenic vineyards and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, (route map) 2) Napa to Yountville (route map) The Vine Trail is being expanded to connect from the Vallejo Ferry Building all the way to Calistoga (47 miles) by the The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition, a grass-roots nonprofit with a vision to build a walking/biking trail system to connect the entire Napa Valley.
Lodging	The Cottage Grove Inn is perfect for individuals or groups looking to have a homebase while cycling the area. They have onsite bike pumps and pro tools, cruiser bikes, electrolyte water dispensers, kitchen facilities for groups, ground-level cottages with room to store bikes and post-ride recovery amenities.
Camping	Bothe-Napa Valley State Park offers traditional tent and RV sites to cabins, yurts and group camps. Campsite #27 is exclusively available to those hiking/biking for $6/night. The park is located on the Vine Trail four miles south of downtown Calistoga. At the park you can mountain bike, hike amongst the redwoods, enjoy the creeks and scenery, join up with friends and family for a picnic, or enjoy the swimming pool on a hot summer day.
General Tourism Information	Visit Calistoga
Cycling Clubs	Ride Napa Valley’s mission is to build a community that supports and encourages cyclists to thrive, connect, and enjoy the sport together. They talk shop, local races and the far away classics. Join their club and checkout their event calendar.
Other Resources	The Napa County Bicycle Coalition‘s mission is to make it safe, convenient, and accessible to ride a bicycle anywhere in Napa County, for all ages and abilities. Their website offers various resources and lists various cycling events.