Dedication Today for New Section of Ridge Trail in Calistoga

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council will dedicate the Lower Oat Hill Mine Trail as part of the Ridge Trail network today.

 The 4.5-mile multi-use trail is in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park at the northern edge of Calistoga.

The festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. with refreshments, information booths, and presentations by local leaders and a historian.

Co-hosts include the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District, the City of Calistoga, Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition, and the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce.

 At 11:15, docents will lead a hike, to Holms Place, Palisades Trail junction (9 miles round trip, 5-6 hours) or you can enjoy a shorter or longer hike, bike or equestrian ride on your own. 

Note that the trail has rugged slopes of 8-12 percent grade. Bring water, lunch, sun protection (and hiking poles, bike or horse).

The Ridge Trail will be a continuous 550-mile hiking and riding trail on the ridgelines circling San Francisco Bay.

The expansive vision includes connecting and protecting natural open space corridors, offering breathtaking views and easy access to nature for short outings as well as epic adventures.

Late last year, the Council extended the planned Ridge Trail route significantly north in Napa and Sonoma Counties to better serve local communities with a continuous trail through the valley and up and along both the east and west ridges surrounding it.

A spur up to Mt. St. Helena will link in the tallest peak in the entire Bay Area.

This is the second dedication on the new “Go North” route, following the dedication of several miles in Moore Creek Regional Park last June. 

Calistoga is the northernmost city along the route, and sits at the junction where the Ridge Trail and Napa Valley Vine Trail converge.

The two trails share a route through Calistoga and south on to Dunaweal Lane and continuing to Bothe Napa Valley State Park where the Ridge Trail heads up to the ridgelines and the Vine Trail continues south, paralleling Highway 29 with the Vallejo Ferry Terminal being the southern gateway.

So far, 340 miles of the Ridge Trail are complete.

Year by year, mile by mile, the Ridge Trail gets longer and serves more Bay Area communities, sometimes by incorporating existing trails, like the Lower Oat Hill Mine Trail and sometimes by helping communities create new trails like the .5 mile Fair Way Trail at Washington and Lincoln streets, currently being planned. 

The Fair Way section, will be a shared route for both the Ridge Trail and the Vine Trail, and will complete a connection from Dunaweal Lane to downtown Calistoga.

In the next year, the Ridge Trail Council plans to dedicate a 10-mile spur trail from the Lower Oat Hill Mine Trail up to Mt. St. Helena and a 4-mile section in Bothe Napa Valley State Park.

 “To think that our residents and visitors will eventually be able to hike and ride to anywhere in the Bay Area from Calistoga is awesome,” said Chris Canning, Mayor of Calistoga.

Janet McBride, Executive Director, Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, said she looks forward to hiking the trail.

 “Calistoga is a spectacular destination for many reasons, and it is also the new crossroads of the Ridge Trail and Vine Trail," she said.  "We are thrilled to celebrate with great partners and friends.

"The Ridge Trail offers close-to-home access to nature, but it also inspires people to explore new trails and new challenges. “

Chuck McMinn, Executive Director of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition said  partnerships are key to realize shared goals of creatinghealthy communities. 

“We can create the Ridge Trail and the Vine Trail and help our critical agricultural lands and natural resources remain viable and healthy at the same time,” he said.

Meet at the trailhead at the intersection of Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail at the northern edge of Calistoga. 

Directions -- From the City of Napa, drive north on Highway 29 to Calistoga; turn right onto Lincoln St. (still Highway 29). Continue through Calistoga to the intersection of Highway 29 and Silverado Trail. Park along the streets that lead to the intersection and look for the event booths on the south side between Lincoln and Silverado Trail. Heavy rain cancels. 

Visit www.RidgeTrail.org to learn more or find trail maps. Watch for the blue Ridge Trail signs while you're hiking or riding on Bay Area ridgelines.

For more information about the Ridge Trail contact Janet McBride at 415-561-2595 or email janet@ridgetrail.org