Upper Oat Hill Mine Trail

Overview

The Upper Oat Hill Mine Trail follows over the former Oat Hill Mine Road. This road was an important means of transportation between the local town of Calistoga and the Oat Hill Mine, the third largest quicksilver or mercury mine. The mine operated from the early 1870's to the late 1960's. Today, the 8.3-mile road connects Aetna Springs Road and Calistoga. The trail can prove difficult with rocky terrain, but it is open to hikers, mountain bicyclists, and equestrians. <br><br>The trailhead for the Upper Oat Hill Mine Trail is along Aetna Springs Road, with limited parking. The entire trail is well-maintained and well-marked, with posts marking every mile. The trail follows along the ridge, with well shaded areas allowing you to meander through the oak and cypress trees above the Napa Valley. The Upper Oat Hill Mine Trail ends at Holm's Place, an old homestead property of Karl Gustov Holm who built a log cabin in 1893. Parts of the stone wall from the barn remain in the area. At this point, the trail meets with the Palisades Trail and the Lower Oat Hill Mine Trail. The Palisades Trail goes north to Table Rock.

Trail Stats

Photos

Former site of Holm's Place

Former site of Holm's Place

Sugarloaf Mountain.

Sugarloaf Mountain.

Valley cut into the volcanic rock next to Oat Hill Mine Trail.

Valley cut into the volcanic rock next to Oat Hill Mine Trail.

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