Napa Valley Bicycle Ride 25 Miles 1000 Feet of Climbing

Need a good 25 mile loop in the Napa Valley for a scenic and moderately challenging bicycle ride?

Here is a favorite of mine. Most of it is on quiet roads or a bike path and the clockwise version has a nice gradual climb.

It takes me about 2 1/2 hours at a casual pace and will probably take you less. You end up doing 25 miles and 1000 feet of gradual climbing and a fun downhill with great views but be sure your brakes are working well!

click the image for a bigger version

Start from Yountville and head down the awesome Vine Trail all the way to Redwood Road.

Take a right on Redwood to Dry Creek. Take a right and head up to the Dry Creek fire station. There will be some water and a Karma Kit with some bicycle necessities and a pump if you need it.

Continue east up the Oakville Grade (left from the fire station, right from Dry Creek road)

Get ready to lose all of that climbing in one shot to the valley floor. If it scares you a little take your time and even stop at the side of the road and check out the incredible view.

At the bottom you can grab something to eat if you take a left across 29 to Oakville Grocery.

To continue on this route turn right down Highway 29. It can be busy but the shoulder is pretty good and you get to ride right next to some world famous vineyards.

Cross 29 to Yount Mill road and you will be taken back to town on Yount St.

(If it is too busy to cross keep riding and there is a stoplight in just a little bit that will allow you to get back into Yountville.)

Make a right on Madison to the stop sign.

Turn left on Washington and you are back to downtown Yountville.

From here you are on your own because I don't know where you parked!

P.S. avoid the long lines at Bouchon and order from them online!

Here's a 1 minute video of the route

I'm On The Board of Napa Valley Bicycle Coalition! Here's what we do...

When they said they wanted to make the board bigger I didn't take it personally. 

I had the honor of being voted on to the board of the Napa Valley Bicycle Coalition last night. It is a group of really smart people that do a lot of cool things all over the Napa Valley to help advance the world of bicycle riding.

I am really impressed with the variety of topics they are involved with. At the government level NVBC works with city and county and state officials to have input on transportation and infrastructure planning. Proposed changes to a road? They will monitor it and give input. Issues at an intersection looking for ways to make things safer for bicycle riders and pedestrians? We give ideas to make it better for all including drivers.

Mountain biking access issues? We try to make sure everybody does the right thing and people are allowed to ride where and when they are supposed to ride.

Safety classes for kids? Yes we do that. Safety classes for adults? Yes we do that. A safer way for visitors to the Napa Valley to ride a bicycle while here? (a very growing trend) Yes we do that.

Helping plan a safe route to school for kids? (and teachers) Yes we do that.






Work with other bicycle coalitions and local and national groups to stay up to date on what works for their community and stay up to date on new ideas? Yes we do that.

Bicycle parking at Napa Valley events? Yes we do that.

Participate in and help organize events like Bike To Work Day? Yes we do that.

Promote bicycle riding for health? Yes we do that.

Work with the awesome new Vine Trail bicycle path in the Napa Valley? Yes we do that.

Work with local clubs and shops and special events in the Napa Valley like the Ride To Defeat ALS and the Tour de Cure Napa? Yes we do that.

Have fun riding our bicycles? Of course we do that!

The board is all volunteer and we raise money in various ways for what we do at events like the Bike Fest and with donations


I am really happy to join and hope I can help out to make things better, safer, and more popular. The mostly flat Napa Valley is a great place to use bicycle transportation for any reason. The infrastructure is being upgraded to meet these usage needs and the Napa Valley Bicycle Coalition will be part of all of it.

Have an issue we should know about? Let me know!

rick@bigrick.com