A run through Napa’s backroads to Calistoga's Old Faithful Geyser.
Your Host(s) for the Event
Chris Hanson & MaryAnn Worobiec
Routes
Part 1: Oxbow to Gott’s Roadside in St. Helena:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ErZHbtgSxCRspjE59
Part 2: Gott’s to Old Faithful in Calistoga:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vPYRNFaNLpxxHi5aA
Register via MotorSport Registry
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/norcal-minis-2025-wine-country-run-184520
Meet-up Time / Departure Time
9:30 am / 10 am sharp!
Meet-up Location
Oxbow Public Market near downtown Napa
610 & 644 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
There are multiple parking lots, but we will be in the large lot across 1st St. from the market on the south side of 1st St where we can all gather in one place. Across the street at the market there are public bathrooms that are accessible from the outside, look for stairs or a ramp to a hallway between the Oxbow and Gott's Roadside, that's where they are located. There is also a water bottle filling station inside the main hall, and 2 Free Shell rechargers for EVs by the main hall.
Click on the image for an enlargement
The market opens at 7am, and while not every stall will be open, places like Ritual Coffee, Model Bakery and Loveski Deli all open early and will serve coffee and breakfast food (pro tip: the English Muffins at the Model Bakery often end up on Oprah's top gift list every year, and for good reason).
There is an opportunity for a picnic at the end of the run and the Oxbow is the perfect place to pick up supplies (read the Run Details for more info).
Run Details
Our first leg will take us out of the town of Napa and up into some rugged hillsides on the backroads on the eastern side of Napa.
We will drive by plenty of vineyards, mountains, twists, rolling hills and the shores of Lake Hennessey.
Thankfully there are very few bicyclists on these roads. After an hour of scenic driving, we will end up on the Silverado Trail, and cross over on Zinfandel Lane to the town of St. Helena. Our first pit stop will be at the original Gotts Roadside (the historic "Taylor's Refresher" sign is still there because many locals still refer to it as such).
There are bathrooms behind the restaurant, and plenty of picnic tables and places to sit. You'll be tempted to order some food at Gotts--everything there is delicious from their burgers and ahi tuna tacos to the milkshakes. Thankfully we will get there soon after they open at 11am, but if you're ordering anything more than a drink or a shake, the lines might be too long to order a full meal. We'll aim to park in the southern lot, which will make the next transition easier.
Next is the trickiest part of the drive. We need to turn left onto Highway 29 without a light. Thankfully there is a middle turn lane that extends down to the southern parking lot, so we will need our caboose to hold a spot there to let everyone out as best we can. We'll then have to drive through the main drag of St. Helena for a few blocks and probably hit a couple of red lights.
Just north of town, we will turn down a residential street where we can all catch up, and after a few minutes we will start to head up Spring Mountain road on the west side of the valley. This road and its dramatic twists and turns are narrow and we'll need to be careful for loose gravel, potholes, and some bumps in the road for the first few miles.
You'll notice we are skirting the line between Napa and Sonoma counties, and the entrance to the Petrified Forest before finally ending up at the Old Faithful Geyser just north of Calistoga.
There's a large parking lot there, and for those interested in checking out the geyser, it goes off about once every 45-60 minutes, depending on the water table. The entrance is $15, and there's plenty of spots to sit and soak in the views while you wait, and a small enclosure with some llamas and goats (they sell feed in the gift shop). It's charming, low-key and rather rustic, with a bocce ball court. They sell water and a couple of snacks there, but if you want to stay, you are encouraged to bring picnic food and/or bottle of wine (they even provide wine glasses). It's extremely kid- and pet-friendly.
Plenty of seating for a picnic while you wait for the geyser
Unfortunately, the bathrooms are only for paying visitors. But once we gather for a group photo there, you are free to explore the area.
Lunch Details
If you’re not interested in having a picnic at the geyser, we will be only a five minute drive to Calistoga, where we can recommend restaurants like:
The best coffee in town is not the Calistoga Roasters (trust me!), but Mis Raices “Coffee & Ice cream Shop” a couple doors down.
Cal Mart is a cute grocery store with terrific sandwiches if you decide to pick up picnic supplies at the end of the run.
Additional Run Details
YOU WILL LOSE CELL SERVICE up in the mountains, so please remember to download the maps! Driving through towns and residential areas, please pay attention to speed limits, there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy driving your MINI when we get off the valley floor.
If you have any other questions about runs in general, check out our FAQ.