Calistoga’s Northern California Hiking and Biking Trails

Hiking Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

Drive north through Calistoga about 8 miles up Highway 29/Lake County Highway, to reach the Robert Louis Stevenson trails. There are parking areas on both sides of the road. 

The trail to the left, also known as the North Peak is the longer and the higher of the two trails. This is an 11.2 mile hike round trip. Most of the trail is suggested for hiking only. The trail begins with 0.5 mile of switchback through gentle grade forest before it reaches a monument. This marks the site where Stevenson spent his honeymoon in an abandoned mine building during the summer of 1880. From here you climb more steeply and leave the forest to connect with the fire road. After a short walk you can look down at the patchwork of the Napa Valley vineyards and beyond to Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Tamalpais. The trail continues on past various man made structures and a variety of natural habitats and rock formations. The higher you go the more breath taking the views become.

The trail to the Right is called Table Rock or Oak Hill Mine. This trail is 10 miles one way and it is suggested that you park your car at the Lincoln Avenue and Silverado Trail intersection just 0.25 of a mile from out hotel, and then drive another car to the Robert Louis Stevenson park and hike back. This is classified as a moderately strenuous hike that incorporates an abandoned utility road and narrow paths. Part of the trail will also lead you down an old stagecoach road where you can still see the ruts in the road from the years of stagecoach travel. These paths lead you along volcanic cliffs and show evidence of the Napa Valley’s violent geologic past. It is said that this trail is one of the most spectacular hikes in the Napa Valley. The elevation is lower than the Robert Louis Stevenson trail, but the close in views of the ever changing vegetation and numerous awe inspiring rock formations make up for the fewer long distance views. After circling the base of the most precipitous cliffs the trail descends to the remnants of Karl Holm’s homestead, where the trails ends at the historic Oak Hill Mine.

For the stronger at heart you can start the hike from the trail head at the Silverado Trail intersection. This route climbs from 400 feet in elevation to over 2200 feet very rapidly.

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