Aerospace Highway Climb

We don't rate roads as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a ride is, and roads people like to ride draw more riders, so they see more crashes. What the records show: no bike crashes were reported along the climb from 2021–2025.

How long and steep is the Aerospace Highway climb?

3.3 miles (5.3 km) at 3% on average, climbing 525 ft (160 m) from 2,480 ft to 3,005 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 5.1%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 35.69192, -117.86715, and tops out on the road at 35.64564, -117.88022.

Is Aerospace Highway paved?

Yes, by its OpenStreetMap tags.

How is the category worked out?

From the climb's shape only: length in metres × average grade (%) of 16,000 or more for Cat 3, 32,000 for Cat 2, 64,000 for Cat 1 and 80,000 for HC. It describes how hard the climb is, not traffic or crashes.

Where does this data come from?

The climb is found from OpenStreetMap roads and USGS 3DEP elevation (every climb, not a list of famous ones). Access is from OpenStreetMap tags; gates and closures change, so obey posted signs. Crash counts are police reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS) on data.ca.gov, counted where their map location is within 100 ft of the climb. The forecast is from the National Weather Service.

• Indian Wells Canyon RoadCat 1 · dirt · 7.1 mi at 6.8% · 2,552 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• West Inyokern RoadCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 4.2% · 548 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Isabella Walker Pass Road from Midland TrailCat 2 · 8.4 mi at 4.7% · 2,067 ft · starts 6.6 mi away
• Nine Mile Canyon RoadHC · 16 mi at 6% · 5,016 ft · starts 10 mi away
• Canebrake RoadCat 1 · dirt · 6.3 mi at 6.6% · 2,221 ft · starts 14 mi away
• Horse Canyon RoadHC · dirt · 14 mi at 4.7% · 3,465 ft · starts 15 mi away
• Chimney Basin Road from Kennedy Meadows RoadCat 2 · 4.5 mi at 6.3% · 1,496 ft · starts 15 mi away