Backroads of the Sonoma and Napa County Border

Total Miles: 64

Total Elevation Gain: 3700

Steepness: 7% over 1/2 mile on Calistoga Road, 6% average over 2 miles on St. Helena Road. Lesser grades elsewhere.

Traffic Volume/Road Conditions: Moderate traffic on Mark West Springs Road and Silverado Trail. Little traffic elsewhere. Good shoulders on Mark West Springs Road, Silverado Trail and Highway 128. Few shoulders elsewhere. Poor road surface on portions of St. Helena Road. All other road surfaces good.

Start/End Point: Esposti Park in Windsor. Located at the corner of Shiloh Road and Old Redwood Highway.

                                                              TOTAL      NEXT

                                                              MILES      TURN

R            Shiloh Road                                       0.0       0.1

L            Old Redwood Highway                               0.1       2.8

L            Mark West Springs Road                            2.9       9.8

R            Calistoga Road                                   12.7       3.8

L            St. Helena Road                                  16.5       6.8

             Cross summit into Napa County, name of           23.3       5.3

             road changes to Spring Mountain Road.

             Caution: First half of descent is very

             steep with sharp corners.

L            Madrona ("T" intersection, Spring                28.6       0.2

             Mountain Road ends)

L            Highway 29                                       28.8       0.3

             FOOD AVAILABLE IN ST. HELENA

R            Pratt Avenue                                     29.1       0.9

L            Silverado Trail                                  30.0       9.0

L            Highway 29                                       39.0       1.0

             FOOD AVAILABLE IN CALISTOGA

R            Highway 128                                      40.0      13.7

L            Chalk Hill Road                                  53.7       8.1

L            Pleasant Avenue                                  61.8       0.2

R            Faught Road                                      62.0       1.2

R            Shiloh Road                                      63.2       0.7

R            Into Esposti Park - FINISHED!                    63.9

Comments: The highlight of this ride is the climb up St. Helena Road which starts gradually but steepens toward the summit. Most of the climb is shaded and offers a bubbling stream for accompaniment. You'd never guess you're a 15 minute drive from Santa Rosa.

Chalk Hill Road also offers great riding, with a twisting, rolling road amidst the vineyards.

Once you pass the small summit North of Calistoga, Highway 128 can be great fun with a well-matched paceline as the slight downslope, good shoulders, and favorable sightlines lend themselves to a group working together.

Special thanks for Don Carpenter for this route and all the great rides he's led in Napa County.

Map and resources for Sonoma County.

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