Big Basin Way Climb from Saratoga Avenue

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: 15 bike crashes were reported on or beside Big Basin Way along the climb from 2021–2025, 6 of them serious or fatal. The most were at SR-9 & Heather Heights Rd (3). Of the 4 where the cyclist's direction along the climb can be read, 3 were coming down and 1 going up.

1. 3 crashes · 3 serious or fatal

   SR-9 & Heather Heights Rd

   Falls and fixed objects

   3 of 3 crashes were a fall or hitting an object, with no other vehicle involved.

   See it on the map

How long and steep is the Big Basin Way from Saratoga Avenue climb?

7.3 miles (11.8 km) at 5.6% on average, climbing 2,152 ft (656 m) from 479 ft to 2,631 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.8%. That makes it a Category 1 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.25911, -122.03182, where Big Basin Way leaves Saratoga Avenue, and tops out at Saratoga Gap at 37.25852, -122.12197.

Is Big Basin Way 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.

• Bohlman RoadCat 2 · 4.5 mi at 8.4% · 1,991 ft · starts 0.4 mi away
• Norton RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 11.4% · 971 ft · starts 0.8 mi away
• Overlook RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 6.8% · 732 ft · starts 3.1 mi away
• Regnart RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 7% · 548 ft · starts 3.3 mi away
• Redwood Gulch RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 10% · 686 ft · starts 3.5 mi away
• Montebello RoadCat 1 · 6.8 mi at 6.3% · 2,244 ft · starts 3.8 mi away
• Kennedy RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.8% · 545 ft · starts 4.4 mi away
• Gist RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 9.4% · 673 ft · starts 4.4 mi away