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


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Map Key

16.6

Miles

26.8

KM

55%

Singletrack

2,501' 762 m

High

398' 121 m

Low

2,678' 816 m

Up

2,677' 816 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

20%

Max Grade (11°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

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

Shared By:

Brian Kennedy

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 52 votes

#294

Overall
  4.5 from 52 votes
5 Star
58%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
10%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#40

in California

#294

Overall
117 Views Last Month
26,550 Since Jul 27, 2013
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
2%
4%
85%
9%

Photos

Great views before the gnarly sections.
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
On the way down Oat Hill Mine Road
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
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 72 days ago
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