76. Mount Saint Helena

Length:	10 miles round trip
Hiking time:	6 hours
High point:	4,343 feet
Total elevation gain:	2,300 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	year-round
Water:	bring plenty
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Detert Reservoir, USGS 7.5' Mount St. Helena
Information:	Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

The journey to Mount Saint Helena's summit takes you high above the Napa Valley vineyards and through territory that inspired some of Robert Louis Stevenson's writing. Upon reaching your lofty goal, you'll see Northern California's hills, ridges, and mountains stretching in all directions. Bring binoculars.

To reach the trailhead, drive to Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, located on both sides of Highway 29 at a saddle 8 miles north of Calistoga and 31 miles south of Highway 20.

The trail begins on the west side of Highway 29 near some old building foundations. Initially, you gently switchback uphill under the shade of Douglas fir, madrone, black oak, and California laurel, accompanied by an understory of tan oak, interior live oak, and the sharp-needled California nutmeg.

At 0.7 mile the trail enters a small, level clearing and then ascends steeply up a slippery slope 0.2 mile to meet the dirt road, which you follow uphill all the way to the summit. This is where you first encounter the large forests of knobcone pine stretching up the flank of Mount Saint Helena. Note the numerous cones tightly bound to the trunks and branches.

As you climb you'll see more and more of the surrounding country. Initially, the road travels past manzanita, chamise, and other chaparral plants, and then by abundant outcroppings of volcanic rock. Mount Saint Helena, though composed primarily of volcanic rock, has never been an active volcano.

At 3 miles you reach the 0.5-mile spur trail to the top of the 4,003-foot South Peak. Continue up the main path another 2 miles to the summit.

The top of Mount Saint Helena, elevation 4,343 feet, offers exquisite views in all directions. To the north lies Snow Mountain, and on an exceptionally clear day you can even see Northern California's two most famous volcanoes, Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak. To the east are the mountains leading to the Sacramento Valley and the Delta, with the Sierra Nevada in the far distance. The Napa Valley vineyards lie immediately south, with the Bay Area and Mount Diablo farther away. To the west, low mountain ranges stretch seaward.