Opinions on some Napa routes?

[Lee Chae]

Hey RBWers, hope you are all enjoying a good fall!

I'm thinking about doing the following ride this Saturday morning and wanted to get your thoughts on how difficult, how much time, relative safety and traffic conditions, etc. Note, I'll be traveling with a camping load on the bike.

I'd appreciate any input you may have on:

1. Bothe-Napa Valley State Park to Pope Valley via either Howell Mountain Rd or White Cottage Rd + Ink Grade

2. Chiles and Pope Valley Rd to Lake Hennessey

3. Lake Hennessy down to Yountsville, likely via the Silverado Trail

Cheers,

Lee

SF, CA

[Rick Thompson]

I did a route like that about this time last year. Most of Howell Mtn was, and I think still is, closed to cars so that's great. Angwin stores are closed on Saturday (Adventists, I think), but Pope Valley Market at the bottom of Howell Mtn has cold drinks. Chiles Pope Valley is nice, not much traffic until around the lake but even that's not bad. Silverado Trail is busy with wine-sotted drivers, but the shoulders are wide. Goathead thorns are dry and sharp and everywhere, I ran out of tubes fixing flats.

[Eric Norris]

The Tour of the Napa Valley stitches together most of these roads:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/17036705 (not my GPS track)

You can cut out some distance and climbing by turning left at mile 44.5 onto Chiles Pope Valley Road and heading straight for Pope Valley.

Another suggested change: Go through downtown St Helena and stop at the Model Bakery. Lots of yummy baked goods, sandwiches, etc., there—but no restrooms. Or, at the southern end of St Helena is Gott’s (formerly Taylor’s Refresher), which offers gourmet fast food and long lines.

Most of Angwin is closed on Saturdays. There’s a gas station there that might be open, but if you’re low on water, just coast downhill to St Helena.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com

@CampyOnlyguy (Twitter/Instagram)

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[Bill Rhea]

Hi Lee,

Sounds like you'd come down St. Helena / Spring Mtn road out of the mountains heading into St. Helena. I would probably opt for White Cottage / Ink Grade instead of Howell Mtn Rd, as there's less traffic, for sure.  Old Howell Mountain Road is the best climb up from Silverado.  However, they've blocked it off at the top where it hits Howell Mountain Road so you would probably need to throw it over the barrier when you hit the top....  Anybody else ridden Old Howell Mountain Rd recently?

If you are there another time (maybe w/o camping gear) I definitely suggest Mt Veeder and Dry Creek roads.  Super low traffic; I'm usually out there by myself!

Cheers,

-br

On Monday, November 11, 2019 at 9:57:59 AM UTC-8, LeeC wrote:

[Lee Chae]

Hi all,

Thanks, Bill, Eric and Rick for your thoughts and suggestions! It is beautiful country up there. We took Howell Mtn Road up towards Pope Valley, but had to turn around as we ran out of time due to breaking camp a lot later in the morning than we had planned. Not a bad thing as we were enjoying the camping at Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.

But, I plan to return to do that loop.

Cheers,

Lee

SF, CA

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