22.2
PDI
11.5 mi
DISTANCE
3,853 ft
GAINED
6.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
This climb ranks #1 (by a long stretch) on the Sonoma-Napa-Lake County Top 25 list with a Fiets Index of 7.23 (well beyond its closest competitors, Bald Mountain, Socrates Mine Road, and Geysers Road). The first six miles are paved (three miles on Old Lawley Toll Road and three miles on Highway 29) and average a respectable 6% which is fairly steady throughout, particularly on Highway 29. The last half of the climb is gravel and thus a gravel bike for this climb is required (I have used a Specialized Roubaix with 33mm with success). The 360 degree views at the top of Mt. St. Helena are extraordinary - the best in the North Bay.
Mt. St. Helena is the second most scenic bike climb in the Bay Area - PJAMM's trip pages for Sonoma and Napa Counties and the Bay Area's Most Scenic climbs are viewed near the bottom of this page.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Average grade is 6% (6.7% climb only; there are 3 short descents with the longest is 0.3 miles at -4.9%). 21% of the climb is at 0-5% and 67% at 5-10%. The steepest quarter-mile is at the end of the climb and averages 12% (but there is about 75-100 yards that are on very rough terrain at 16% - its 50/50 whether I end up walking that part). The steepest mile on the climb is 8.8%. 7% of the climb is ≥10% grade.
See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.
Roadway: The first 3.2 miles on Old Lawley Toll Road are rough with debris in spots. The 2.6 miles of roadway on Highway 29 are pristine. The final 5.5 miles are on gravel, dirt, and rock better suited to a gravel or mountain bike.
Traffic: Other than the 2.6 miles on Highway 29, traffic is not an issue. While traffic can be moderate to heavy on Highway 29, there is a wide shoulder and traffic tends to move at a reasonable speed up this windy and steep stretch of road.
Parking: There is ample parking along the vineyards at the start of the climb. Map; Street View.
Provisions: There are no provisions on this climb. The closest location for food and beverages is the market at the corner of Hwy 128 and Tubbs Lane 1.7 miles south of climb start (map)
Gear: The final 5.5 miles are on gravel, dirt, and rock better suited to a gravel or mountain bike, but other than using a gravel bike once, I've used a Roubaix with 28mm to 32mm tires on this climb - the climb is fairly manageable with 32mm knobby tires.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
If you have travelled to Napa County to cycle and have any questions about climbs in the area, you are welcome to contact me at john@pjammcycling.com if you have any questions about the area. I grew up in and live in neighboring Sonoma County, but do have a working knowledge of Napa.
There are many wonderful boutique hotels and resorts in Napa Valley. In addition for longer visits you can rent a private home or villa in Napa.
ROUTE MAP
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dkshim
I would rate this as one of the best summits for views in the Bay Area. The views are more expansive than Mt. Diablo and Mt. Hamilton, and only rates lower than Mt. Tam (which has SF, bay and coastal views). The climb itself is harder than any of those, due to half the climb being on dirt. I would also rate it harder than Mt. Umunhum (the hardest climb in the Bay Area rated by Fiets). Mt. Umunhum is steep in sections, but with climbing gearing and good tarmac, it is just a matter pedaling at a decent pace. The total distance, elev. gain, and road quality up Mt. St. Helena makes it a harder climb. Rolling on dirt is simply harder.
Old Lawley up was car-free and easy despite debris from rains. The dirt trail up to the summit was a bit rutted and rockier from the rain as well. Gravel tires with some tread recommended. Coming down, I recommend 29 the whole way. The road was just repaved, and it isn't hard to keep pace with traffic the whole way despite the lack of shoulder.
