Back in 2013, there were only two ways to get from one end of Napa Valley to the other, both of them traffic-congested and dangerous—nearly impossible to navigate comfortably on bike, even worse on foot.

In a county welcoming millions of visitors a year—a county renowned for its agricultural and natural beauty—the only way to actually enjoy the iconic vineyard views was through the window of a car.

The region deserved a safer, more sustainable, more scenic way to travel from Vallejo to Calistoga—and more than two dozen organizations and agencies were willing to join forces to make it happen. A little over a decade later, almost 30 miles of the Napa Valley Vine Trail is open to the public.

  The Napa Valley Vine Trail passes alongside some of the region's most beautiful landscapes.(Courtesy of @nvvinetrail) 

Just last year, they completed the northernmost stretch from St. Helena to Calistoga. Then, in March 2025, the project achieved one of its biggest milestones: linking the Vine Trail to the ferry terminal in Vallejo. Now, for the first time ever, it’s possible to visit Wine Country without a car by taking a bike across the water via public transit and pedaling north when it docks.

“The expansion aligns perfectly with our goals around eco-friendly travel and provides a new way for people to experience the region from the moment they step off the ferry,” says Linsey Gallagher, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley.

She expects that, by 2028, the entire Valley will be accessible by bike or on foot, with “the final major section connecting Yountville to St. Helena in the engineering design phase now.”

While safety, accessibility, and ecological sustainability have always been major objectives of the Vine Trail, the path is more than just a corridor for commuters, says Gallagher. It “invites visitors to experience Napa Valley at a slower, more thoughtful pace… immersing themselves in the scenery and discovering each town along the way.”

  Napa Valley Vine Trail(Courtesy of @nvvinetrail) 

Indeed, one of the most beautiful things about the trail is the opportunity to combine active, outdoor adventuring with world-class wine tasting and farm-to-table dining, either as a self-guided trip with your personal bike or through an outfit like Napa Valley Bike Tours.

Overnight guests at hotels like Andaz Napa, Carneros Resort & Spa, Hotel Yountville, Bardessono, River Terrace Inn, and Indian Springs also have access to a fleet of complimentary bikes for exploring the trail on their own—and even some wineries are getting in on the trail game. A partnership between Clif Family Winery and Calistoga Bike Shop, for example, stocks their St. Helena tasting room with an arsenal of two-wheelers for riding the Valley’s northern reaches.

Currently, three of the dog-friendly route’s sections are ready for riders (or ambitious walkers). From Napa to Yountville, the trail runs 12 miles through downtown Napa and within spitting distance of Ashes & Diamonds Winery, Trefethen Family Vineyards, and multiple Thomas Keller-helmed eateries.

  The patio at Clif Family Winery is the perfect place to stop and recharge along the St. Helena to Calistoga section of the Vine Trail.(Courtesy of @cliffamily)

There are just 8.2 miles between downtown St. Helena and downtown Calistoga, a trail that rolls right past Clif Family, Long Meadow Ranch, Beringer, Charles Krug, Markham Vineyards and several other wineries—plus Bothe-Napa Valley State Park.

The 7.5 miles from the Vallejo Ferry Terminal to American Canyon is the least leisurely of the three open sections. But what it lacks in charm, it makes up for with functionality, guiding riders (and walkers) safely through Napa Valley’s most urban neighborhoods to Newell Open Space Preserve.

Whatever section(s) you choose, traveling along the Napa Valley Vine Trail “is an opportunity to connect with the land and community in a deeper way,” says Gallagher—and in just a few years, we’ll have the entire county at our handlebars.

// Learn more and download route maps at vinetrail.org 

  Napa Valley's famous welcome sign is on the Vine Trail.(Courtesy of @nvvinetrail)