Silverado Trail

Through the Napa Valley wine region, the Silverado Trail travels on a road originally built in the 1850s during the silver rush and heads through the wineries surrounded by rolling hills and mountains.

This scenic drive starts in Napa and heads northwest to Calistoga. To reach Napa from San Francisco, head north on I-80/CA-123, take exit 33 for CA-37 West, and then take exit 19 for CA-29. In 7 miles, turn right for CA-221 North and in 2.5 miles, Silverado Trail will be on your right. In 2.5 miles, turn left on Monticello Road and right at the next block to stay on Silverado Trail.

Heading northwest on Silverado Trail, you will soon be surrounded by fields of grapevines, first, Chardonnay and 8-miles further in Yountville, Cabernet Sauvignon. Along the way, there are several wineries open for tasting and exploring. Yountville is named for George Yount, who first planted grapes in 1838. The town is also known for its culinary artistry, offering a wide variety of cuisines from down-home comfort food to upscale dining. Premium wineries, shopping, galleries and hot-air balloon tours make this a worthy side trip.

In Yountville, stop at the Napa River Ecological Reserve (H1) where you can walk through the California bays, oak, and willow trees and have a chance to spot some of the more than 150 bird species that reside here.

As you continue north on the Silverado Trail, parts of the Coast Range mountains emerge around you. The mountains were formed as the tectonic plates collided below and buckled the land, spewing lava and ash throughout the land, resulting in the rich soil the valley has today.

The drive concludes as you approach CA-29 and arrive in Calistoga. You can see the volcanic history in Calistoga by visiting the California’s Old Faithful Geyser (H2) which erupts steam and bubbling water 60 feet in the air every 40 minutes. The Sharpsteen Museum (M2) presents the history of the Napa Valley through elaborate dioramas.

From here, you can head North on CA-29 and head to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park (H3) where a 5-mile trail will bring you to the top of Mount St. Helena, where you can see San Francisco and on clear days, you can even see Mount Shasta.

Or you can head over to the Northern Pacific Coast near Jenner by heading south on Petrified Forest Road from CA-128 just after Calistoga. In 4 miles, turn right onto Porter Creek Road. This will become Mark West Spring Road and then River Road/CA-116 until you reach CA-1. This usually takes around an hour.