Pedaling from Alexander Valley to Dry Creek and along the Russian River, three days never felt so good. Oak-speckled hills. Impeccably manicured vineyards. A blend of farm-town charm and urban sophistication. Lunch alfresco leads to a gourmet dinner. Crisp whites and rich reds. A perfect night's sleep. We just arrived? It already feels like a week.
Day 1 Get ready for three active days, three vineyard-laced valleys, world-class wine and gourmet cuisine | Kick off the weekend with a Backroads picnic in the majestic old-growth forest of Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve | The tallest in the grove stands more than 300 feet high—nearly the length of a football field! | Ride through the beautiful and bucolic Russian River Valley, where terraced vineyards flank quiet roads | Stop to taste some of the region's exceptional pinot noirs.
Day 2 Bike over Chalk Hill through an oak forest into Alexander Valley, often compared to France's Bordeaux region | Savor the sights of northern California's picturesque landscape as you pedal past acres of rolling hills and tidy vineyards under a blue sky | One of the area's first-rate wineries sets the scene for a bountiful picnic and sampling of excellent merlot | Feel like stretching your legs? Ride back to charming Healdsburg and stroll around its historic central square.
Day 3 Spin along hillsides blanketed with grapevines, apple orchards and native oak woodland in Dry Creek Valley, acclaimed for its fine zinfandels | A gradual climb takes you back into neighboring Alexander Valley | Indulge in a caffeinated pick-me-up in Geyserville—a town founded after the discovery of hot springs in a nearby gorge in 1847 | You can also opt for an unhurried morning at the hotel or grab a last-minute gift from one of the shops in town.
Leaders were awesome- really went out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable regardless of their bicycling level of experience.- Chicago
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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Sleek and sophisticated, this hotel on the town plaza gets rave reviews for its contemporary interior and plush amenities. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 18 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 18 customers
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Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
Leaders were awesome- really went out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable regardless of their bicycling level of experience.
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
My husband and I had such an amazing time on this trip. The scenery was beautiful, the hotels and choice of restaurants beyond our expectations, and our guides were wonderful. I would highly recommend it.
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
This was exactly what I needed as long weekend getaway. I tagged on a couple days after the trip to spend more time in Napa as well. I really loved the beautiful wineries we tasted at and The Shed was a really nice but cozy dinner location and the town of Healdsburg was really refreshing and relaxing to spend time in. I'll be back for sure!
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
This trip was the perfect balance of gorgeous scenery on quiet roads, incredible meals, engaging leaders and a great group of guests to share the experience with. I was 4 months pregnant and my husband isn't normally much of a biker, but we ended up doing the longer route options each day since it was all so beautiful. Plus we knew a delicious picnic (the local cheese!!) and a cold drink/glass of wine would be waiting for us along the way. Overall it was a wonderful weekend getaway.
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
Spending the weekend in Healdsburg with Backroads was spectacular. Riding every day through the vineyards and then being rewarded with delicious food, local wine, and a luxurious hotel took the weekend getaway to the next level. The leaders were fun, knowledgeable and made the experience seamless and I loved getting to know them and all of the other guests. A truly relaxing and wonderful way to spend a few days in California wine country.
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
I only have the best things to say about this trip.
I (25 years old) took this trip with my brother and my mom. The riding more than exceeded my expectations, as we looped through vineyards, up hills, and into various wineries along the way.
The food was to die for, and everyone on the trip, including our leaders (and those random people we met on one of our rides and had a spontaneous dance party with) felt like family by the end.
If you're looking to make it your own, I highly recommend beer fanatics to hop the various breweries in town and yogis to attend a class at Yoga on Center.
We loved Healdsburg so much - my whole family went back, bikes in tow, for the holidays just 3 months later! Thanks Backroads!
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
This weekend trip was beyond awesome - the leaders were so helpful, kind, informative and fun to ride with! I never knew how beautiful wine country in the fall was and thanks to our leaders, we were able to ride some beautiful rolling hills to experience it. Thanks!
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
Very well run trip. The guides were very accommodating and friendly. Bike routes and options were good. Absolutely no complaints!
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
This was my first Backroads trip and it was MUCH more than what I was expecting - the guides were fantastic - ANYTHING I needed was taken care of instantly!
Comments about California Wine Country Weekend Bike Tour:
Great combo of activities, both cultural and physical, while still somehow allowing for just the right amount of down time to explore town and the fabulous hotel. You feel like you are both at the heart of the CA Wine Country action, while also getting away on the classic backroads at the same time. Love love love the last day's ride; a classic.
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The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 21 | 900 | 31 | 2200 | ||||||
| 2 | 22* | 800 | 28* | 1000 | 33* | 1500 | 45 | 1900 | ||
| 3 | 14* | 600 | 27 | 1000 | ||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
We're the only active travel company offering a two-night biking trip in California's Wine Country. Drawing on 37 years of riding in our own backyard, we've designed smart routes that ensure you make the most of your time in the Alexander, Russian River and Dry Creek valleys. Our Regional Manager has lived and worked here for many years, so you benefit from his deep local knowledge, avoiding most of the traffic while taking in the best scenery and vineyards.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in California Wine Country. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in California Wine Country, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in California Wine Country—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
We design and support our California Wine Country trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
In California Wine Country you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group of 8 or more. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
