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BikeRaceInfo's
King of the Mountain Cycling

An international guide to paved climbs

U.S.: California

Climb

Mtn. Range

Height (Feet/
meters)

Location

Races Tours

Comments

Altamont Pass


Near Los Altos and Redwood City on Altamont Pass Road.


Apache Saddle


Southern California.
Heartbreak Double.

Baldy, Mount


Near Los Angeles. From Upland, climbs though Mt. Baldy to the Mount Baldy Ski Area.
Mount Baldy Hill Climb

Beckworth Pass

5221/
1591
On Highway 70, between the intersection of Highway 395 and Chilcoot. Near border of Nevada


Big Bear

8443/
2573
On the Rim of World Scenic Byway, between Mormon Rocks Fire Station and Mill Creek Ranger Station, in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Orange County Wheelmen's Century "Ride around the Bear".
Highest Point of the Rim of the World Scenic Byway.
Booneville Grade
Coast Range (CA, USA)

On Highway 253, between Ukiah and Booneville.


Camino Cielo Road

4100/
1250
In the foothills behind Santa Barbara.


Carson Pass
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA)
8650/
2637
South of Lake Tahoe, between Sorensens and Kit Carson on Highway 88.
"Death Ride of the California Alps".

Cibo Peak

2000/
610
Near Tres Pinos Town, up Quien Sabe Road.


Cielo Peak

4100/
1250
Santa Barbara. On Gibraltar Road, near Pier.


Cotton-
wood
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA)

Near Whitney Portal, off Highway 395— about 2 miles south of Lone Pine.

(a.k.a. Horseshoe Meadows Road).
Crystal Lake


Near Azusa, up Highway 39.


Diablo, Mount

3849/
1173
Near Mount Diablo State Park, east of Oakland between Danville and Walnut Creek.
Mount Diablo Challenge. Devil Mountain Double.
One of Big Three Bay Area Climbs.
Ebbetts Pass
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA)
8731/
2661
On Highway 4, between Bear Valley and (Highway 89) Markleeville. East of Pacific Grade Summit.
Death Ride, Tour of the California Alps.
Closed in winter until May 30th.
Fargo Street


Los Angeles, near Dodger Stadium.

Steepest Street in L.A. (525 foot climb in a tenth of a mile, average grade of 33% grade).
Fort Ross


Sonoma County. Fort Ross Road.
Terrible Two.

Freedonyer Pass

5748/
1752
On Highway 36, between Susanville and Westwood.


Fremont Peak

3169/
966
Southern California.


Geiger Summit

6700/
2042
Near Carson Valley, NV.


Geysers, The


Sonoma County. Geysers Road.
Terrible Two.
One of LeMond's old favorites.
Hamilton, Mount

5000/
1524
San Jose.
Mount Hamilton Road Race. Devil Mountain Double.
The highest paved road climb in the Bay Area and one of Big Three Bay Area Climbs.
Heartbreak Hill


Southern California.
Heartbreak Double.

Horseshoe Meadows Road
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA)
10000/
3048
Eastern High Sierra area. Reched via Whitney Portal Road in Lone Pine.

(a.k.a. Cottonwood). Usually open by the end of May.
Ink Grade
Coast Range (CA, USA)

60 miles outside of Davis, between Pope Valley & Angwin


Jubilee Pass

1250/
381
Death Valley, near Badwater Basin (the lowest elevation in the US, -282 feet).
Furnace Creek 508.

Kaiser Pass


East of Fresno.
Climb to Kaiser.

Kings Mountain


Near Los Altos and Redwood City. Kings Mountain Road in Woodside.


Kingsbury Grade


Near South Lake Tahoe.


Laureles Grade

1240/
378
Monterey.


Leesville Gap
Coast Range (CA, USA)

Outside of Davis.
Leesville Gap Road Race.

Luther Pass

7735/
2358
South of Lake Tahoe, on Highway 89 between Sorensens and the intersection of Highway 50.


Monitor Pass
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA)
8134/
2534
South of Lake Tahoe, On Highway 89 between the intersection of Highway 395 and Markleeville; near the border of Nevada.
"Death Ride, Tour of the California Alps".
Closed in winter until May 30th.
Monte-
zuma Highway

3600/
1097
Borrego Springs.


Mosquito Flat

10250/
3124
Inyo County, north of Bishop.

The Highest Paved Road Climb in California. Climb ends with a mountain top finish.
Nobles Pass


On Highway 89 (Lassen Park Road), in Lassen Volcanic National Park.


Oakville Grade


Napa County.
Terrible Two.

Old Ski Bowl Highway


Outside of Mount Shasta.


Onion Valley
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA)
9200/
2804
Near Independence, north of Lone Pine.


Onyx Pass

8443/
2573
On the Rim of World Scenic Byway, between Mormon Rocks Fire Station and Mill Creek Ranger Station, in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Orange County Wheelmen's Century "Ride around the Bear".
(a.k.a. Big Bear). Highest Point of the Rim of the World Scenic Byway.
Pacific Grade Summit
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA)
8050/
2454
On Highway 4, between Bear Valley and (Highway 89) Markleeville. West of Ebbetts Pass.
Death Ride, Tour of the California Alps.
Portions of climb at 24% grade.
Palomar Mountain

5571/
1698
Palomar Mountain State Park, near San Diego.


Panamint Pass
Panamint (CA, USA)
5200/
1585
Death Valley.
Death Valley to Mount Whitney Road Race.

Patterson Pass


Between Livermore and the Sacramento Valley.


Pine Mountain

5500/
1676
A few miles north of Ojai.


Rose Summit, Mount

8770/
2673
West of Reno, NV.


Sage Hen

5556/
1693
On Highway 395, between Likely and Madeline.


San Gabriel Hill



San Gabriel Hill Climb.

Skaggs Springs


Sonoma County. Skaggs Springs Road - bypass of Lake Sonoma.
Terrible Two.
An endless series of steep, sun-baked climbs and false summits, with little shade.
Sonora Pass

9624/
2933
On Highway 108, between Dardanelle and Bridgeport; north of Yosemite National Park.

Portions of climb at 26% grade.
Tamalpais, Mount

2571/
784
Mount Tamalpais. In Marin County (Bay Area).

One of Big Three Bay Area Climbs. The summit offers a startling panorama of the Bay Area. Considered the mountain bike center of Marin County.
Tioga Pass

9945/
3031
On State Route 120, in Yosemite National Park.

Closed late October to Memorial Day.
Towne Pass
Panamint (CA, USA)
4956/
1511
Death Valley; near Big Pine.
Death Valley to Mount Whitney Road Race.

Trinity Grade


Sonoma County.
Terrible Two. Used to be part of the old Coors Classic stage race.

Vaca, Mount

2500/
762
North of Vacaville.

Highest Paved Road climb in Solano County.
Whitney Portal

8361/
2548
West of Lone Pine and Death Valley, on Whitney Portal Road..
Death Valley to Mount Whitney Road Race.
Approach Road to Mount Whitney (14,494 feet—Highest Point in California)
Whitney, Mount

14494/
4418
West of Lone Pine.

Highest Point in California—but there are no paved roads to the summit. The paved road climb (Whitney Portal) ends at 8,361 ft.