Mount St. Helena is the highest point in Sonoma County, CA. From Napa, follow past Calistoga on highway 29 up a section of road that has many curves, pay attention for a sign about 8 miles up the road and you will see a small parking lot, no fees. This is a relatively easy out and back hike. No points to fill up on water, so pack it in. The first section is a covered trail the includes switch backs. For the majority of the trip, you will be on a gravel road (a little disappointing) only traveled on by hang gliders (two vans passed us on the road with their equipment on top) and maintenance crew. Since it is relatively easy, on nice days, expect a lot of people. Since there is little cover for most of the hike, better to do on cooler days in the Fall or Spring. The views make the hike worth it. There are some nice rock climbing walls along the way as well. Once you get to the top, there are nice places to sit with almost a 360 view of the entire region. It is also fun watching the hang gliders use the up draft to fly around above you. You share the top of the mountain with a huge antenna tower (not very pretty). This is a longer hike and gives you great perspective of the surrounding geography. Probably not a hike I would do again. March, 2013. 10 miles.
