ST. HELENA BIKE RENTAL FIELD GUIDE
Vineyards Unspooled: Six Days on the New St. Helena–Calistoga Vine Trail
A six-day bike rental places you on the new 8-mile, car-free Vine Trail between St. Helena and Calistoga — this guide explains pickup, highlights, and what to know before you roll.
Vineyards Unspooled: Six Days on the New St. Helena–Calistoga Vine Trail.
The new 8‑mile section of the Vine Trail unthreads through private parcels and vineyard rows between St. Helena and Calistoga, offering a rare, car‑free route past more than 25 wineries, a detour into Bothe State Park and easy access to tasting rooms, cafes and shops at the Calistoga end.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A new 8‑mile, car‑free rail through the vines
Fifteen landowners granted easements for the newest section of the Vine Trail, creating an 8‑mile biking corridor from St. Helena to Calistoga that winds through private vineyard parcels for an uninterrupted ‘biking through the vineyards’ experience.
More than 25 wineries along the way
Along the trail you pass upwards of 25 wineries — including Napa Valley staples such as Castello di Amorosa and Sterling — with a mix of tasting rooms, walk‑in options (subject to availability) and reservation‑only properties.
Parks, locks and a Calistoga reward
The Vine Trail detours through Bothe State Park where riders can lock bikes (locks provided) and explore trails on foot, then continue to Calistoga’s tasting rooms, cafes and shops that make a pleasant turnaround for the return ride.
What the day feels like
What the six‑day rental feels like
Pick up a rental at Charles Krug in St. Helena and spend up to six days exploring the Vine Trail at your own pace: short spins to nearby tasting rooms, a full 8‑mile pedal to Calistoga and back, and pauses to stroll park trails or linger over a tasting — all with the freedom of car‑free cycling on a dedicated new path.
THE ROUTE
A new 8‑mile, car‑free rail through the vines
Fifteen landowners granted easements for the newest section of the Vine Trail, creating an 8‑mile biking corridor from St. Helena to Calistoga that winds through private vineyard parcels for an uninterrupted ‘biking through the vineyards’ experience.
THE TASTINGS
More than 25 wineries along the way
Along the trail you pass upwards of 25 wineries — including Napa Valley staples such as Castello di Amorosa and Sterling — with a mix of tasting rooms, walk‑in options (subject to availability) and reservation‑only properties.
THE STOP-OVERS
Parks, locks and a Calistoga reward
The Vine Trail detours through Bothe State Park where riders can lock bikes (locks provided) and explore trails on foot, then continue to Calistoga’s tasting rooms, cafes and shops that make a pleasant turnaround for the return ride.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this rental suits — and the limits to plan around.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
This Vine Trail section opens April 1, 2025; rentals run for a six‑day period and bikes must be returned by 5:30 pm on the final day. Pickup is at Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main Street, St. Helena.
Locks are provided with rentals for stops and short hikes; check individual wineries in advance because walk‑in tastings are subject to availability and some properties require reservations.
Pick up and drop off at Charles Krug; plan your itinerary around winery reservation policies and the 8‑mile distance to Calistoga if you intend to ride the full stretch.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Can we stop and visit wineries along the Vine Trail?
Yes — riders are encouraged to visit wineries along the trail, but many require appointments or have limited walk‑in availability; always check a winery’s policy before you go.
Are there wineries that allow walk‑ins?
Some wineries along the Vine Trail welcome walk‑ins as availability allows; a number of properties (Beringer, Brasswood, Charles Krug, Freemark Abbey, Girard, Markham, Sterling and others) are listed as walk‑in friendly but restrictions may apply.
Where and when do we pick up the bikes?
Pick up is at Charles Krug Winery, 2800 Main Street, St. Helena; the rental covers six days and bikes must be returned by 5:30 pm on the final day.
Can we ride up the driveway to Castello di Amorosa to see the castle?
No — proof of reservation is required at the gate to enter the Castello di Amorosa driveway, and the castle cannot be viewed from the road or the Vine Trail.
Is there a place to lock bikes if I want to hike in Bothe State Park?
Yes — rentals include locks and the Vine Trail detours through Bothe State Park, where riders commonly lock bikes to explore the park on foot.