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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/
|
Location |
Races Tours |
Comments |
Altamont Pass |
Near Los Altos and Redwood City on Altamont Pass Road. |
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Apache Saddle |
Southern California. |
Heartbreak Double. |
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Baldy, Mount |
Near Los Angeles. From Upland, climbs though Mt. Baldy to the Mount Baldy Ski Area. |
Mount Baldy Hill Climb |
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Beckworth Pass |
5221/ 1591 |
On Highway 70, between the intersection of Highway 395 and Chilcoot. Near border of Nevada |
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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. |
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Booneville Grade |
Coast Range (CA, USA) |
On Highway 253, between Ukiah and Booneville. |
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Camino Cielo Road |
4100/ 1250 |
In the foothills behind Santa Barbara. |
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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". |
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Cibo Peak |
2000/ 610 |
Near Tres Pinos Town, up Quien Sabe Road. |
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Cielo Peak |
4100/ 1250 |
Santa Barbara. On Gibraltar Road, near Pier. |
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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). |
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Crystal Lake |
Near Azusa, up Highway 39. |
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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). |
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Fort Ross |
Sonoma County. Fort Ross Road. |
Terrible Two. |
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Freedonyer Pass |
5748/ 1752 |
On Highway 36, between Susanville and Westwood. |
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Fremont Peak |
3169/ 966 |
Southern California. |
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Geiger Summit |
6700/ 2042 |
Near Carson Valley, NV. |
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Geysers, The |
Sonoma County. Geysers Road. |
Terrible Two. |
One of LeMond's old favorites. |
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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. |
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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 |
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Jubilee Pass |
1250/ 381 |
Death Valley, near Badwater Basin (the lowest elevation in the US, -282 feet). |
Furnace Creek 508. |
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Kaiser Pass |
East of Fresno. |
Climb to Kaiser. |
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Kings Mountain |
Near Los Altos and Redwood City. Kings Mountain Road in Woodside. |
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Kingsbury Grade |
Near South Lake Tahoe. |
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Laureles Grade |
1240/ 378 |
Monterey. |
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Leesville Gap |
Coast Range (CA, USA) |
Outside of Davis. |
Leesville Gap Road Race. |
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Luther Pass |
7735/ 2358 |
South of Lake Tahoe, on Highway 89 between Sorensens and the intersection of Highway 50. |
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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. |
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Mosquito Flat |
10250/ 3124 |
Inyo County, north of Bishop. |
The Highest Paved Road Climb in California. Climb ends with a mountain top finish. |
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Nobles Pass |
On Highway 89 (Lassen Park Road), in Lassen Volcanic National Park. |
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Oakville Grade |
Napa County. |
Terrible Two. |
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Old Ski Bowl Highway |
Outside of Mount Shasta. |
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Onion Valley |
Sierra Nevada (CA, USA) |
9200/ 2804 |
Near Independence, north of Lone Pine. |
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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. |
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Panamint Pass |
Panamint (CA, USA) |
5200/ 1585 |
Death Valley. |
Death Valley to Mount Whitney Road Race. |
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Patterson Pass |
Between Livermore and the Sacramento Valley. |
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Pine Mountain |
5500/ 1676 |
A few miles north of Ojai. |
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Rose Summit, Mount |
8770/ 2673 |
West of Reno, NV. |
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Sage Hen |
5556/ 1693 |
On Highway 395, between Likely and Madeline. |
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San Gabriel Hill |
San Gabriel Hill Climb. |
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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. |
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Sonora Pass |
9624/ 2933 |
On Highway 108, between Dardanelle and Bridgeport; north of Yosemite National Park. |
Portions of climb at 26% grade. |
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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. |
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Tioga Pass |
9945/ 3031 |
On State Route 120, in Yosemite National Park. |
Closed late October to Memorial Day. |
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Towne Pass |
Panamint (CA, USA) |
4956/ 1511 |
Death Valley; near Big Pine. |
Death Valley to Mount Whitney Road Race. |
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Trinity Grade |
Sonoma County. |
Terrible Two. Used to be part of the old Coors Classic stage race. |
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Vaca, Mount |
2500/ 762 |
North of Vacaville. |
Highest Paved Road climb in Solano County. |
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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 feetHighest Point in California) |
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Whitney, Mount |
14494/ 4418 |
West of Lone Pine. |
Highest Point in Californiabut there are no paved roads to the summit. The paved road climb (Whitney Portal) ends at 8,361 ft. |