Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

Amazing! Taking off a star, since it’s a bit difficult to find, parking is hard and the trails are not marked. But, it’s one of the most amazing hikes, with an incredible view at the top!
We loaded our backpack w/​water bottles, fresh smoked salmon from the Calistoga Farmer’s market, crackers, cheese and homemade cookies from the Calistoga Farmer’s market sisters. What could be a better treat?!
Luckily, we read the comments here and figured out how to get here. If you’re coming from Calistoga (Hwy 29), the trail head will be on the left. You’ll see a small wooden sign at the entrance to the hike. You’ll also see a stone memorial further up the trail to Robert Louis Stevenson. After a mile or so of switchbacks and a green wooded area, the trail opens up to a wide fire lane. Pleasant hiking, with lots of manzanita and trees.
We were at a directional loss a few times, when the trail split. Go to the right, towards the highest tower (although it’s hard to tell which is higher at some points). Bring water and kleenex (as there are no bathrooms :).
The view on top is truly amazing. A gentleman we encountered on the trail said it’s about 1 hr and 45 minutes up. That was about right. I’d say it’s a moderate hike. We hiked in our tennis shoes, and didn’t have a problem. Although hubs slipped a few times on the descent. Several of the hikers had hiking poles, but we didn’t think it was necessary. Took us about 4 hours round trip, including a beautiful picnic at the peak.
Look for the interesting markers at the peak. Some date back to the late 1800s and the Donner Party, Bear Flag Rebellion, etc. Super interesting, since we’ve recently studied about both in my daughter’s elementary school class.
If you love hiking and amazing views, this is a must! Just bring water, snacks and a hat/​sunscreen if it’s hot. Luckily, we had beautiful weather, and a lovely day.

DO YOUSELF A FAVOR. DO NOT COME ON THE WEEKENDS… tried once and this places was fking disneyland. so much for communing with nature. You will be in a line of humanity the entire route. And mostly groups yelling at each other about their work or how beautiful the serene surroundings are, all the while they destroy it with their yelling.
BUT, if you go during the week and go early you will be rewarded by a great (not to challenging) 10 mile out and back hike with incredible views.

This place was beautiful. The hike was a 5 mile hike to the top of mt Helena. It was strenuous but an awesome workout. It’s a little tricky finding the place, I just came across a bunch of parked cars on the side of the road and that’s how I knew it was the right place.

Yesterday was my first time coming here. It was a nice park with great views! We decided to hike the Palisades trail from the top parking lot, down to Calistoga. I believe it is suppose to be about 11 miles. However around the table rock area we made a wrong turn and ended up hiking down the backside of the mountain and about 4 miles too far to the east on private property. It was a difficult mistake… But we got back on track. Once back on track the difficulty did not get any better as we brought frame packs loaded to the 40−50lb range.
I did not bring my hiking boots, but rather a pair of running shoes which completely fell apart.
I highly suggest wearing some lightweight hiking pants, and some hiking boots as the stickers here are quite bad, and the poison oak too.
I also suggest be sure you bring enough food and water for the day. We brought plenty of food, and water. I just wish I wore the proper footwear, and some pants.
Good luck, happy hiking!!!

One of the best 360 views in the bay area, this 10 miler is definitely worth the trek. Yes, it is all uphill but it is not with the degree of difficulty as some mountain top hikes like Mission Peak in Fremont. Plus, there are some cool sites to distract you along the way.
In the first mile of the hike keep an eye out for a plaque that marks the site of where Robert Louis Stevenson once held up in a cabin for his honeymoon. Hang a left once you hit the fire road and in the next half mile you will come across Bubble Rock where you can watch mountain climbers climb into the sky. Stay right at the first intersection and head for the North Peak. The view is breathtaking and you can see for miles on a clear day.
Note: there is no main sign on Hwy 29 denoting the park, keep an eye out for parking and/​or cars on either side of the road. Also, there is no water nor toilets at the staging area. Also, pack something special to have while you take in the view at the top :)

A very nice and not too onerous hike! I made it in 1.5 hours to the top of Mount Saint Helena, and in 1 hour down. The first part of the hike is a true trail, then it becomes a fire road further up. Very nice views of northern Napa Valley from up there!

Hiking was good some very nice views overlooking valleys. The trails were easy to find. Not a lot of parking but we were on the earlier side.

Beautiful hike. We arrived around 8:30 in the morning and there weren’t many hikers we came across on our way up. As we were hiking back down there were several people starting the hike. Lots of shade from the beautiful trees. Saw a few people rock climbing here as well. Can’t wait to go back again.

Sometimes it’s not about how far you can see but where you happen to find yourself while doing it.
That’s what makes the hike to the summit of Mount Saint Helena, the premier destination in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, such an appealing addition to a wine country visit to Napa. At 11 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gained and lost, it’s a challenging but by no means excruciating excursion. You can plan the hike for early morning (leaving the trailhead before 8 am), which allows you to return comfortably to your car by around noon — perfect timing for a BBQ at Buster’s in Calistoga before an afternoon wine tasting at Frog’s Leap, for example. The early start mitigates the midday heat, which could potentially be unrelenting in open chaparral near the summit. It also allows you to admire the sight of a fogged-​in valley floor while you gaze down on it from the clear blue skies above. A lot of the trail follows a fire road to and from the summit, so you’ll have plenty of time to look around in wonder at the ebb and flow of the fog fields below. It feels like flying, or gazing out at the ocean, and the quiet (leaving aside random road noise) is pretty overwhelming. Napa seems so small from these lofty heights, and so traffic-​free. Just bring extra water, sturdy boots, and sun protection to feel safe and hydrated while doing so, or you’ll never be fit enough for the wines and BBQ that await you down below. If you are carrying a backpack, I’d recommend trekking poles, too, given the ups and downs of the hike, but that’s just me. I like to engage my arms and legs while hiking for a fuller workout and to protect my knees from too much pounding so that they are loose and ache-​free for the very curvy drive back down to Calistoga once the hike is over.
Watching the fog flow over and across the ridges, rises, and mountaintops is part of the appeal of the hike. So, too, the sight of the fog rising to reveal wineries and rows of tended grapevines, or even a hot air balloon or two as well as a towed-​in glider plane. We saw both on our hike, alongside many dragonflies, lizards, and chipmunks and many expressive rocks and trees as we wound our way to the rockytop summit, where open views to the North and East awaited us and there was enough solitude to be shared by others.
Adding a morning hike to the summit of Mount St Helena can bring a certain something to a Napa visit that cannot be experienced from the valley floor, nor even from one of the exclusive mountain wineries around Mount Veeder or Howell Mountain. Because nothing — not even a cult Cab named after a screaming eagle — is as rare or more precious than the summit of Napa’s highest peak (4,341 ft.), where the views are genuinely priceless and the soaring raptors are real.

Definitely a hike with good, steep elevation and stunning aerial views. Sometimes you encounter areas of crawl space surrounded by amazing, tall redwoods.

Great uphill hike to the peak of Mount St. Helena w/​awesome views of Napa Valley along the way.
First 1 mile is a shaded dirt trail through the woods and some rocks of the park. Next 4.7 miles is on dirt fire road, completely exposed to the sun. I don’t recommend doing this hike on a hot summer afternoon. Last half mile to the peak is the steepest part of the hike.
Once I got to the top it was 360 vuew of beautiful California. You are over 4,000 ft high! My friends and I had a small picnic at the top and took some great photos. The whole experience was about 4.5 hours. I would definitely do this again!

the map on this is all wrong. yes there is a Robert Louis Stevenson museum in St Helena, however the state park with the hiking trails is north on highway 29, mile marker 49 is where the parking is. The parking is inadequate so get there early if you want a space near the trail entrance. No bathrooms and not many bushes to hide behind. At the bottom of the trail there are some nice picnic benches in a meadow. Also if you don’t feel like hiking to the summit, there is a nice view about 2.5 miles up with a beautiful rock, people were climbing when we were there. At this spot there is a redwood bench/​barrier. I definitely recommend this spot and only wish it had a port a pot and better parking.

the hike up to the top of mount st. helena in robert louis stevenson state park is my way of feeling i have earned all the wine and food i’ll be eating on my visit to calistoga. each time you round a bend on the road up to the top you will be offered some of the best views of any hike in northern california. since most of this hike is on a fire road i’m giving it four stars.
fire road or not i will do this hike again as i could not get enough of the views and i recommend others to do so too. the drive up hwy 29 to the trailhead takes you about halfway up the 4343 ft tall peak. the elevation gain for this hike is about 2000 feet, but it doesn’t feel bad since there are plenty of switchbacks on the .8 mile trail that leads to the fire road that will take you the rest of the way to the top. along the way up you will be climbing through chaparral, brush and some impressive rock outcroppings. i didn’t take along a gps to measure distance, but depending on what you read the one way distance to the top is about 5.2 miles or so. It took us an hour and 45 minutes to top out.
from the valley and all the vineyards just below your feet to the pacific ocean, mt tamalpais, lake berryessa, mt diablo, the snow covered sierras, are some of what you will be eyeing on the way up and once at the top. we could even see the san francisco skyline on the way up. i have read on a very clear day one can see mt shasta a 192 miles distant, not too sure but you do feel high enough.
a great hike for views!

A nice, quiet, fairly easy hike right off Rt. 29. It’s a little tricky finding the place as it’s truly right off the road, and the road winds a lot with cars whizzing by. Once you park, though, the trail begins right there — no admission fee. There’s a short one to the left and a longer one which we did about ²⁄₃ of to the right. We came across maybe only 4 or 5 other parties during our walk. The first part is cool and shaded under canopies of trees and greenery. I was stoked to see butterflies. The second part starts when you hit the fire trail and come out from the trees. You start seeing fantastic views of expansive vistas. We went a little ways and turned around, our curiosity satisfied, but I’m sure there’d be even more great views from the top. All in all, a nice relaxing walk.
Oh, there are lots of switchbacks and a few loose, gravelly places so definitely have at least sneakers if not hiking boots. And don’t ignore the precautions like I did — wear insect repellent and long sleeves, etc. I got bitten by something and there apparently are Lyme disease ticks in the area, as with many of the N. CA parks. If it turns out I have Lyme disease, I’ll be sure to review my treatment… ;-)