Napa's Smoothest Vintage

Easy Biking in Napa's Carneros Region

12.14.2017

Napa with no cars? That’s not the wine talking! It’s Stanly Lane in Napa’s Carneros region. Part of the Bay Trail and tucked just off the intersection of Highway 121, Stanly Lane is a paved oasis of solitude and wine country beauty. It also leads to a winery. Bring a bike or plan to hike. From the parking area, you’ll roll or stroll a section flanked by tall eucalyptus trees with the Carneros appellation surrounding you. In the distance you’ll get a nice view of Mount Diablo.

Follow the trail as it comes out of the trees and hugs vineyards layering the landscape. Now you’ve got a hard choice to make: At a signed intersection you can continue straight to Migration Wines.

For those who want to continue rolling, follow the trail west onto Stanly Cross, a wide road with vineyards on both sides of you. At the end, when you’re out of the vineyards, if you're walking turn around and head back the way you came. Bikers can go an extra mile on a stretch that does see cars. Head west on Las Amigas, briefly, before turning south onto Cutting’s Wharf Road and continuing to its namesake along the Napa River with plenty of birds and boats and some picnic tables. Return the way you came and detour to Starmont on the way back.

BONUS WINE & FOOD: Migration Wines makes a nice mid or post-ride stop, though you'll need a reservation. For some good post-adventure grub, head directly across Highway 121 to Stanly Lane Smokehouse (3100 Golden Gate Drive). Family owned and run, this modern farmhouse deli serves up authentic BBQ: pulled pork, brisket, tri-tip, ribs, even a portabella mushroom vegetarian option. Eat in or take out!

Stanly Lane is located off of Hwy. 121 in Napa at the intersection of Golden Gate Dr (map). Dog-friendly! The full bike ride is about 6 miles (round-trip). The Bay Trail section of this route is dog-friendly, but dogs not recommended if you’re biking the last mile to the wharf. Starmont Winery is dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    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
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    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

  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    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
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View