Benson Avenue 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. The records here are also incomplete: most reports along it are filed under Upland, where only 55% of reported bike crashes have a map location, so the numbers here are too low. What the records show: 5 bike crashes were reported on or beside Benson Avenue along the climb from 2021–2025. The most were at Benson Ave & Foothill Blvd (3).

1. 3 crashes

   Benson Ave & Foothill Blvd

   Side-impact crashes at the junction

   2 of 3 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. Traffic is posted at about 45 mph.

   See it on the map

How long and steep is the Benson Avenue climb?

3.9 miles (6.3 km) at 3.2% on average, climbing 666 ft (203 m) from 1,168 ft to 1,834 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 4.1%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.08876, -117.6809, where Benson Avenue leaves West 7th Street, and tops out on the road at 34.13957, -117.67276.

Is Benson Avenue 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.

• San Antonio AvenueCat 3 · 5.4 mi at 3.2% · 909 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• North Euclid Avenue from South Euclid Avenue near UplandCat 3 · 4.6 mi at 4.1% · 997 ft · starts 1.7 mi away
• North Euclid Avenue from South Euclid Avenue near UplandCat 3 · 3.9 mi at 3.3% · 679 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• North Mills AvenueCat 2 · 4.7 mi at 4.5% · 1,109 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Padua AvenueCat 3 · 3.2 mi at 4.9% · 820 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Mount Baldy RoadHC · 13 mi at 7.4% · 5,256 ft · starts 3.7 mi away
• North Mountain AvenueCat 3 · 3.7 mi at 3.3% · 653 ft · starts 3.8 mi away
• Gale TrailCat 3 · 0.8 mi at 13.4% · 538 ft · starts 3.9 mi away