The Best Napa Bike Trails To Check out Now

Napa Valley’s year-round temperate weather, beautiful scenery, and long stretches of countryside roads make it an ideal destination to explore by bike. On your next getaway to Wine Country, take your bike along and seize the opportunity to take it slow and breathe fresh air as you cruise down the coolest Napa bike trails. 

If you’re a beginner pedaller, the well-paved and flat Napa roads will give you a fair adventure. Up for a challenge as a pro-biker? You’ll love taking the winding roads that hug the valley with steep and steady inclines. Without further ado, these are the Napa Valley bike trails for every level and interest.

Everything you Need to Know Before Hitting the Napa Bike Trails

In Napa Valley, cycling is just as popular of an activity as sipping. But before you head out and start cruising down the best Napa Valley bike trails, there are a few tips and tricks you should keep in mind.

- Don’t forget to pack essentials. If your main mode of travel in Napa Valley is going to be by bike, you’ll be spending a lot of time under the sun. Water, sunscreen, and a helmet are highly recommended essentials to take along.

- While following the best bike trails in Napa Valley is fun, keeping things leisurely is also possible. Downtown Napa, Calistoga, St. Helena, and Yountville are very bike-friendly and easily doable at your own pace.

- Need more guidance and activities along the way? Companies like Getaway Adventures specialize in bike tours with designated stops and picturesque lanes.

- Even though you can definitely bring your own trustee bike, rentals are also available in Wine Country. You’ll find everything from a road bike to an e-bike and be ready to hit the top Napa bike trails.

These are the Best Bike Trails in Napa Valley, CA

1. Napa Valley Vine Trail

Level of difficulty: Easy
Distance: 47 miles

The Napa Valley Vine Trail is an exciting, evolving project with 18 miles currently open to the public. Its ultimate goal is to create a seamless 47-mile path stretching from Calistoga to the Vallejo Ferry terminal. Upon completion, this trail will offer a scenic alternative alongside Highway 29, the primary route through Napa Valley.

At present, visitors can enjoy various completed sections of the trail scattered across notable locations such as Calistoga, Yountville, Napa, American Canyon, and Vallejo. Among these, the Oak Knoll stretch, spanning an easy six miles from Yountville to Napa, stands out as a favorite for cyclists seeking picturesque views and a gentle ride.

2. Franz Valley Loop

Level of difficulty: Easy-Intermediate
Distance: 40 miles

Located in Calistoga, the Franz Valley Loop is a highly customizable Napa bike trail that’ll take you all the way from St. Helena, through Calistoga, and into Franz Valley on a steady ascent. You’ll see a number of beautiful wineries, sprawling vineyards, and rolling hills along the way—you can stop, stare, and take a tour as you like! However, it’s important to note that you'll be on the main Napa Valley highways for the majority of this ride, so having the proper safety gear is not only recommended, but crucial.

3. Silverado Trail

Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Distance: 55 miles

The Silverado Trail is primarily known as a scenic driving route in Napa, but traversing it by bike is even more exciting! In fact, if you’ve ever driven across it during the high tourist season, you’d have definitely realized that this Napa bike trail that runs the length of the east side of the valley attracts a lot of cyclists. 

As a flat-to-rolling road through Wine Country, the Silverado Trail won’t give you a peaceful ride but definitely a spectacular one. If you do decide to ride one of the best bike trails in Napa Valley, CA, make sure to set aside enough time to stop by the galleries and restaurants along the way—you won’t be able to resist their charms. 

4. Lake Hennessey Shoreline Trail

Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Distance: 5.5 miles

A ride around the beautiful Lake Hennessey in Napa County Regional Park? How can we say no to that! Rural roads, vines, lakeside views, and tranquility—this awesome Napa bike trail has a little bit of everything for you to witness. While it’s not very long, the Lake Hennessey Shoreline Trail does get a bit challenging at certain parts. However, if you make it to the top of the mountain, the view of the lake and the surrounding area will make the exercise absolutely worth it.

Although you’ll be sharing the trail with fellow hikers, you don’t need to worry about having your space at all. The road around Lake Hennessey is hailed to be one of the best Napa Valley mountain biking trails for a reason.

5. Old Howell Mountain Road

Level of difficulty: Intermediate-advanced
Distance: 7.5 miles

Old Howell Mountain Road is a pleasant rural excursion through the Howell Mountains running at the eastern edge of Napa Valley. Beginning at the intersection of the Silverado Trail, this Napa bike trail does a steady climb as it passes by a few vineyards. You’ll be accompanied by a distant view of Lake Hennessey to the south and a fair amount of oak trees throughout—Napa Valley’s bike trails can’t get much more panoramic than this! 

6. Pope Valley Bike Loop 

Level of difficulty: Advanced 
Distance: 25 miles

Those who'd like a real challenge will definitely appreciate the strenuous yet breathtaking Pope Valley Bike Loop. Naturally, you pass by a lot of vineyards and other typical Wine Country landscapes along this Napa bike trail, but a lot of the ride is also under considerable tree cover. The trail begins in St. Helena and takes the Silverado Trail on its way to the backroads. Things get quiet quickly as you turn onto Sage Canyon Road after about four miles, passing along part of Lake Berryessa and over into the canyon of the Chiles Creek. 

The difficult part of the ride—the climbing—begins as you turn onto Chiles Pope Valley Road and continue along the idyllic Chiles Valley. However, Ink Grade is where the serious climbing starts. What stays consistent throughout the jaunt, however, is the beautiful views all along the trail; you’ll be in awe.