All Hail Helena

Hike to the Summit of Mount Saint Helena

09.27.2018

Ready to get in that last long hike before the days get a little too short? Make it count by conquering one of the highest peaks in the Bay Area: Mount Saint Helena. On clear days this 11-mile (round-trip) trek has you seeing all the way out to the Bay and Sierra Nevada.

Start on Stevenson Memorial Trail, named for the author who famously stayed in the area circa 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson. It’s a mile leading uphill through a canopy of trees. At Mount Saint Helena Trail (a fire road) you’ll keep gradually ascending. The good news is it never gets ridiculously steep, and the other good news is that the whole time you get to enjoy views of the Palisades mountain range and the valley below. The higher you climb, the better the scenery.

About a mile from the peak, there’s a fork in the trail. Continue to the right to get to the highest peak, or, if you’re up for it, turn left for a worthwhile detour. (This adds about a mile to your hike, making it 11 instead of 10 miles round-trip.) At the lower peak, you’ll find a couple of perfectly perched picnic tables looking all the way out to San Francisco, the Bay, and Mount Tam. Return from the detour and follow the trail to the highest point, where the valley and mountains unfurl into the distance.

Drive 8 miles north of Calistoga on Hwy. 29, into Robert Louis Stevenson State Park. The parking lot is on the right, and you’ll have to cross the road to get to the Stevenson Memorial trailhead. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

Light This Way
Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.
View
Bucks Up!
Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.
View
Switchbacks and Swimming Holes
Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.
View
Roaring Good Time
There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.
View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

Zen & the Art of Kayaking
It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.
View
A Rose in the Pines
A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis
View
Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana
Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...
View
Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing
Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.
View