Any day hikes highly recommended near Napa Valley? Going to have a couple days to kill there. Also, interested in touristy things in the area, for instance, suggested wineries, things in San Francisco or surrounding areas. Would like to stay w/in 1, 1.5 hours drive if possible. Staying at the Marriot Napa valley (convention, paid for).

Mount Saint Helena

Jurisdiction: Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California (located in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park)

Hike Length: 11 miles

Elevation: 4,343'

Elevation Gain: 1,384'

Maps:

USGS - 7.5 min Mt. St. Helena and Detert Reservoir
AAA - Sonoma and Napa Counties, Bay and River Area, North Bay Counties

Directions:

North on Highway 29 to Calistoga, stay on 29 to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park parking lot.


Camping:

There are camping facilities at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park approximately 15 miles from the parking lot at Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. There are group camping facilities which can accommodate 30 people ($22), and family camps which accommodate eight people and one car per campsite ($12 per night). Reservation is recommended (you may make reservations up to 7 months prior to your arrival date). Phone: 707-942-4575. Online reservations

Trail:

Trail leads fro the parking lot and intersects a fire road that leads to the summit. This is the highest peak in the San Francisco Bay area.

From Mt. Mill House Camp, hike from the camp dining hall up the old stage road (fire road). Prior to reaching the highway, another fire road leads to the parking lot at Robert L. Stevenson Park. Continue as described above. The additional distance and elevation gained from the camp is 1.3 miles and 916 feet.

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
Calistoga CA 94515
707/942-5370

If the weather is nice this is a great place to spend the day hiking. You can also hike down to Coast Camp or Wildcat Camp from Bear Valley Visitor Center and make it a day hike. There are a lot more trails at Point Reyes to choose from.

Have fun!

Mount Wittenberg

Jurisdiction: Point Reyes National Seashore

Hike Length: 5 to 6 miles (depending on the trail).

Elevation: 1,407'

Elevation Gain: 1,367'

Maps:

USGS - 7.5 min Inverness
AAA - North Bay Counties, Marin County
USNPS - Point Reyes National Seashore South District Trail Map - available at Park Headquarters
Erickson and Associates - available at Bear Valley Visitor Center or 337 17th Street, Oakland CA 94612

Directions:

I do not have the directions from Napa, but this should gt you close
West Bay:
North on Highway 101. Take Sir Francis Drake Exit. Follow Drake until it deadends into Highway 1 at Olema. Turn right onto Highway 1, then take first left onto Bear Valley Road. Park entrance is 1/2 mile on left. Follow signs for "Seashore Information."



Camping:

Overnight backpacking campsites (4 camps) are available by reservation (recommended up to 2 months prior).

Trail:

There are several loop trails available. Start at the Bear Valley Visitors Center (The Park Service recommends Meadow Trail).

MEADOW TRAIL: Take the Bear Valley Trail 0.6 mile south and turn right up Meadows Trail. Meadow Trail joins Sky Trail at the junction to Sky Camp. Turn right on Sky Trail and at about 0.2 mile, you will be at the point where Sky Trail tops out coming from Bear Valley. A short trail leads to the summit, where you have a 360 degree view of the entire Point Reyes Peninsula. From the summit, you descend south to rejoin the Sky Trail. Here you can turn right to reach Sky Camp or left to take of the trails back to Bear Valley or to the coast. At this point is is approximately 3.5 miles to Coast Camp.

SKY TRAIL: Take the Bear Valley Trail 0.2 miles south and turn right onto Sky Trail. Follow Sky Trail to the summit (Sky Trail is much steeper than Meadow Trail). Both Meadow and Sky Trails ascend under hazel, tan bark oaks, and Douglas fir. About halway up the mountain, you come to a near-level clearing where huckleberries can be found in the fall.

HORSE TRAIL: From the parking lot, head north 0.4 mile towards Miwok Village. The trail starts just before you get to the village. After 1.8 miles, you can choose a trail to Wittenberg or a little further, turn left on the Sky Trail to Sky Camp.

Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes CA 94956
(415) 663-8522 Adminstration
(415) 663-1092 Reservations
http://www.nps.gov/pore/

Edited by Viktor on 10/31/2007 22:09:17 MDT.

My first suggested would be Muir Wood / Mt Tamalpais
followed by Pt Reyes / Sam Taylor area

For some other ideas

http://www.bahiker.com/
http://kevingong.com/Hiking/

You didn't mention your "date" window. Hope I'm not too late. You might like Sugar Loaf State Park. Entrance off Highway 12 between Sonoma and Santa Rosa. The most easterly loop hike (about 9 miles) takes you along the top of the west ridge overlooking the Napa Valley. Great views and there's a really good restaurant, with full bar, at the corner of Hwy. 12, where you turn east to the Park.