Howell Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howell Mountains |
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| (Mt. George Range) | |
Twin Sisters, seen here from Suisun Valley, is the highest summit in the Howell Mountains
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Twin Sisters |
| Elevation | 2,162 ft (659 m) |
| Geography | |
 Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Counties | Napa County, Solano County |
| Range coordinates | 38°18′24″N 122°10′16″W / 38.3065802°N 122.1710817°W |
The Howell Mountains are a mountain range in California. They are also known as the Mt. George Range. These mountains are part of the larger California Coast Ranges. They act like a natural wall, separating the Suisun Valley on their east side from the famous Napa Valley on their west side.
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Where Are the Howell Mountains?
The Howell Mountains start near the towns of Vallejo and Benicia. This is close to where the Sacramento River flows into San Francisco Bay. The mountains then stretch north for about 40 miles (64 km). They reach Howell Mountain, which is northeast of St. Helena, California. Here, they join up with the Mayacamas Mountains.
The highest point in the Howell Mountains is a peak called Twin Sisters. It stands at 2,162 feet (659 meters) tall. This peak divides the water flow: rain on the west side flows into the Napa River, while rain on the east side flows into Suisun and Green Valley Creeks. Even though Twin Sisters is the highest, Howell Mountain and Mt. George are better known. This is because they are closer to popular grape-growing areas.
What's the Weather Like?
The Howell Mountains have a Mediterranean climate. This means they have cool, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. In summer, temperatures at lower elevations can reach up to 100°F (38°C).
The amount of rain changes depending on where you are in the mountains. Howell Mountain in the north gets about 40 inches (1,016 mm) of rain each year. Mt. George gets around 30 inches (762 mm), and Benicia in the south gets about 20 inches (508 mm). Both sides of the mountains get similar amounts of rain.
Gentle winds often blow inland from the nearby bays. These winds keep the area from getting very cold. Hard frosts are rare, which is great for growing grapes, olives, and fruit trees on the lower slopes.
How the Mountains Were Formed (Geology)
Most of the rocks in the Howell Mountains come from ancient volcanoes. These rocks are part of something called the "Sonoma Volcanics." They formed between 1.5 and 12 million years ago. These volcanic rocks include different types like rhyolite and basalt. Rhyolite is rich in a material called silica, while basalt has less silica.
In some areas, especially near Benicia and Lake Hennessey, you can find older rocks. These are sedimentary rocks, which means they formed from layers of sand and mud over millions of years.
You might also find a rock called serpentinite in a few spots. This rock appears where older sedimentary rocks meet the younger volcanic rocks. In the late 1800s, people even mined for mercury (also called quicksilver) in some of these areas, like around Sulphur Springs Mountain.
Farming and Ranching
The western side of the Howell Mountains is famous for its many vineyards and wineries. The soil here comes from the volcanic rhyolite rocks. Even though these soils are not very rich in nutrients, grape growers believe that vines planted here produce better quality grapes. They say the "stressed" vines make more flavorful wine. This area is so special for wine that it has its own official wine region called the Howell Mountain AVA.
On the eastern side of the mountains, facing Suisun Valley, the volcanic soils are similar. However, this side is mostly used for cattle grazing, and there are only a few vineyards.
How the Mountains Got Their Name
Long ago, in 1842, a Spanish map showed the hills between the Suscol and Suisun areas. It called them the "Sierras de Suscol" (Suscol Hills). Sometimes, they were also called "Sierra de Napa" (Napa Hills). These names usually referred to the southern part of the range, looking down on Vallejo and Benicia.
As the northern Napa Valley became famous for wine and tourism, newer names became more popular. These include the Howell Mountains and Mt. George Range. These names come from the northern parts of the mountains. It's interesting to know that the United States Geographical Survey does not officially recognize any of these names. So, the range doesn't have an official designation.
Howell Mountain itself is named after John Howell. In 1856, he opened the first blacksmith shop in Napa County. Over time, the name Howell Mountains was also used for the peaks to the south that separate Napa Valley from Suisun Valley. Because the mountains don't have an official name, people sometimes confuse them with the nearby Mayacamas Mountains or Vaca Mountains. However, the Howell Mountains are actually quite different from these other ranges.
Images for kids
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Twin Sisters, seen here from Suisun Valley, is the highest summit in the Howell Mountains
