Bear Creek Road Climb near Orinda

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 Bear Creek Road near Orinda climb?

2.1 miles (3.3 km) at 5.7% on average, climbing 623 ft (190 m) from 338 ft to 961 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.90153, -122.20711, and tops out on the road at 37.92217, -122.19487.

Is Bear Creek Road 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.

• Wildcat Canyon Road from Camino PabloCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 4.9% · 614 ft · starts 0.2 mi away
• El ToyonalCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 8.1% · 659 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• South Park DriveCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 9% · 715 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Centennial DriveCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 8.9% · 781 ft · starts 3.1 mi away
• Panoramic WayCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 8.1% · 679 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Euclid AvenueCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 4.7% · 561 ft · starts 3.4 mi away
• Grizzly Peak BoulevardCat 3 · 3.9 mi at 4.1% · 846 ft · starts 3.4 mi away
• Spruce StreetCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 4.9% · 591 ft · starts 3.7 mi away