ST. HELENA BIKE RENTAL FIELD GUIDE
Vine Trail to Calistoga: Three Days of Car‑Free Cycling Through Napa’s Vineyards
A 3‑day bike rental based at Charles Krug in St. Helena gives riders car‑free access to the new 8‑mile Vine Trail to Calistoga, passing dozens of wineries and Bothe State Park.
Vine Trail to Calistoga: Three Days of Car‑Free Cycling Through Napa’s Vineyards.
Pick up your rental at Charles Krug and roll onto the newest section of the Vine Trail — an 8‑mile, car‑free route that threads through private parcels and vineyards between St. Helena and Calistoga. Along the way the paved path detours into Bothe State Park and passes more than 25 wineries, offering a compact, unmistakable slice of Napa Valley riding.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
The New 8‑Mile Vine Trail
The newest Vine Trail section opens a continuous, car‑free corridor north from St. Helena to Calistoga. Fifteen landowners granted easements for the route, so the trail winds directly through vineyard parcels for an unparalleled ‘biking through the vines’ experience.
More Than 25 Wineries Along the Way
Along the 8‑mile stretch you pass over 25 wineries, including Napa mainstays such as Castello di Amorosa and Sterling Vineyards; a number of tasting rooms welcome walk‑ins, though availability varies and reservations are often recommended.
Bothe State Park and Calistoga’s Cafés
The trail detours through Bothe State Park — an obvious place to lock up the bike and explore on foot — and rides into Calistoga, where tasting rooms, cafés and local shops make for a rewarding turnaround before the return trip.
What the day feels like
What the Three‑Day Rental Feels Like
This is straightforward, scenic riding: pick up bikes at Charles Krug and spend the day exploring the Vine Trail at your own pace — drift between wineries, detour into the shade of Bothe State Park, and meander through the private vineyard parcels the trail threads. The multi‑day rental gives you the freedom to linger at tasting rooms and cafés in Calistoga and return on your own schedule within the rental period.
THE ROUTE
The New 8‑Mile Vine Trail
The newest Vine Trail section opens a continuous, car‑free corridor north from St. Helena to Calistoga. Fifteen landowners granted easements for the route, so the trail winds directly through vineyard parcels for an unparalleled ‘biking through the vines’ experience.
THE WINE
More Than 25 Wineries Along the Way
Along the 8‑mile stretch you pass over 25 wineries, including Napa mainstays such as Castello di Amorosa and Sterling Vineyards; a number of tasting rooms welcome walk‑ins, though availability varies and reservations are often recommended.
THE PAUSE POINTS
Bothe State Park and Calistoga’s Cafés
The trail detours through Bothe State Park — an obvious place to lock up the bike and explore on foot — and rides into Calistoga, where tasting rooms, cafés and local shops make for a rewarding turnaround before the return trip.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this rental suits — and where you should be cautious.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This is a 3‑day bike rental; bikes must be returned by 5:30 p.m. on the last day.
Pick up rental bikes at Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main Street, St. Helena.
Locks are provided with the rentals for securing bikes at stops.
Several wineries along the Vine Trail welcome walk‑ins as availability allows, but many require appointments; check each winery’s visitation policy before you go.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Can we stop and visit wineries along the Vine Trail?
Yes. Many wineries are directly on or near the trail, but note that many require an appointment to visit.
Are there wineries that allow walk‑in tastings?
Yes. A number of wineries along the Vine Trail — including Beringer, Brasswood, Charles Krug, Freemark Abbey, Girard, Markham and Sterling — welcome walk‑ins, though availability and restrictions may apply; check each winery in advance.
Can we ride up the driveway to Castello di Amorosa to view the castle without a tasting reservation?
No. Proof of reservation is required at the gate to enter the driveway to Castello di Amorosa, and the castle cannot be seen from the road or the Vine Trail.
Where do we pick up and return the bikes?
Pick up and return take place at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena; the rental covers three days, and bikes must be returned by 5:30 p.m. on the final day.
When does the new section of the Vine Trail open?
The new 8‑mile section of the Vine Trail between St. Helena and Calistoga opens April 1, 2025.