Name: Oat Hill Mine Trail
Rating: 4.5

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Overview

Oat Hill Mine Road rises steadily above Calistoga and takes you through some great scenery and challenging terrain. You can turn around once you get to the top (around 4.5 miles in) and head back down, or continue on and explore even more of the land towards Aetna Springs.

Need to Know

Trail holds up nicely during the wet months of winter.

There can be a lot of hikers during the first/last couple miles, stay in complete control.

Description

This ride has a ton of technical fun on the way up and down. The first few miles of the climb are pretty gradual and well graded. Near the top you'll find unrelenting chunk that will work you over hard.

Although I have marked this ride as 55% singletrack, the quality of the trail is great from top to bottom. The trail is quite rough most of the ride but that does not detract from the difficulty or fun factor.

History & Background

From the Oat Hill Mine Trail brochure: With the discovery of cinnabar deposits in the late 1800s Napa County saw the development of several mines to extract the ore and produce quicksilver (mercury). The most productive of several mines in the area was the Oat Hill Mine which accounted for one third of the total U.S. production of quicksilver from its discovery in 1872 until the late 1960s. The mine was idle from 1923 to 1927 when it reopened and operated continuously through 1944. After the Second World War mining profits fell, and mining ceased in the late 1960s.

More info: napaoutdoors.org/parks-trai…

Contacts

Land Manager: Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District

Shared By:

Brian Kennedy

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.5 from 52 votes

#1

in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

#318

Overall

4.5 from 52 votes

5 Star		58%
4 Star		33%
3 Star		10%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Recommended Route Rankings

117 Views Last Month

26,550 Since Jul 27, 2013

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Photos

Apr 30, 2017 near Calistoga, CA

There's great rain riding to be had on the Oat Hill Mine Trail.

Dec 17, 2016 near Calistoga, CA

Traction is awesome on the Oat Hill Mine Trail, even during a rainstorm.

Dec 17, 2016 near Calistoga, CA

Jul 27, 2013 near Calistoga, CA

The first look at the amazing Palisades with a touch of wild flower blooms.

Apr 30, 2017 near Calistoga, CA

This is one of those moments you just have to stop and capture on your ride.

Dec 17, 2016 near Calistoga, CA

20 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown

Update Conditions See History

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Check-Ins

Sep 21, 2023

Erik Thunstrom

Trail closed today and Northern section till 9/24/23

May 30, 2023

Anna Annet

A lot of chunky parts, loose gravel here and there,the trail keeps you focused and serious about picking your line. The way down is rewarding and fun!

Oct 1, 2022

S H

9mi

Jan 18, 2022

Guy Sho

five stars if you add the optional singletrack descent on the lower third.

Nov 29, 2021

Kevin Hu

Jun 5, 2021

Mark Loftin

Sep 25, 2020

Rob G

Sep 10, 2020

Bill May

Apr 19, 2020

Dan Brink

This ride never disappoints. Technical portions rival the best Tahoe has to offer and the scenery is hard to beat. 16.6mi

Jul 6, 2019

DnC Twohig

16.6mi — 4h 00m

Jun 15, 2019

Kevin Doiron

Apr 28, 2019

Eric Benisek

Such a good ride. Climb starts easy but get super technical from mile 3 to 4.5. Very much like Hymasa in Moab. Great winter trail too! 15mi — 2h 30m

Apr 26, 2019

Ryan White

9mi — 1h 45m

Mar 24, 2019

Anthony Dodero

9.3mi — 2h 10m

Mar 1, 2019

Luis Aponte

14mi

Jan 22, 2019

Joshua Bibbee

15.1mi

Sep 18, 2018

Sam Levy

16.6mi

Feb 18, 2018

James Bishop

Connected from Table Rock Trail 11.6mi

Feb 3, 2018

Brian Strauss

Trail is in great shape. I just did the out and back to the 4.5mile-ish mark where you get to the top. Supreme views. 9mi

Jan 21, 2018

Chris Miksovsky

Long, technical rocky climb up. Some tricky section. Nice views. A blast going back down. 16.5mi — 2h 30m

Nov 11, 2017

Andre Giard

Mostly dry, but VERY technical. Tough to muscle your way through Mile 4 to 5 16.2mi — 3h 00m

Oct 25, 2017

Mig Shadow

1st time, boy were my legs screaming enough! 16.6mi

Sep 24, 2017

Dave Adams

URRGHHH! Just a brutal continuous climb for 4+ miles over loose or jutting rocks. Not the best ride for a 62 year old. Got past the 4 mile point. 8mi — 3h 00m

Aug 7, 2017

D PAlomares

Fun ride 8.1mi

Jul 21, 2017

Ryan CA

May 26, 2017

Grey Taylor

May 9, 2017

Jim Zachary

May 5, 2017

Michele Lewis

Apr 16, 2017

Roee Gilron

So far rideable in the rain, uphill harder re traction , rocks are slick

Feb 11, 2017

Andrew Cunningham

Draining nice after lots of rain.

Jan 31, 2017

Tony Lima

Jan 24, 2017

Private User

Dec 20, 2016

Dario D.

Took singletracks down, less than ideal in sections.

Oct 19, 2016

Dario D.

16.1mi

Feb 13, 2016

Joseph Hart

Feb 7, 2016

Joseph Hart

9mi — 2h 00m

Nov 13, 2014

Greg Klaassen

Oct 24, 2014

Lynn Spradlin

AWESOME! 9mi

Sep 18, 2014

Peter Taylor

Some amazing single track with jumps to boot

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Oat Hill Mine Trail

“Possibly the best out and back you'll ever ride! ”

16.6

26.8

55%

2,501' 762 m

398' 121 m

2,678' 816 m

2,677' 816 m

6%

20%

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Know This Trail?

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

Need to Know

Description

History & Background

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#318

#1

#40

#318

Photos

20 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Las Posadas Forest - Short Loop

Fiske to Foley Creek to Long Canyon

Fiske Creek Loop

Fiske Peak Loop

High Bridge to Cache Creek Ridge

Double Loop

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