Big Ridge Road Climb near Paradise

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 Big Ridge Road near Paradise climb?

2.5 miles (4.0 km) at 4.8% on average, climbing 640 ft (195 m) from 2,300 ft to 2,940 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 10.9%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 39.667, -121.38285, and tops out at French Creek Road at 39.68664, -121.36009.

Is Big Ridge 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.

• Galen Ridge RoadCat 2 · 3.4 mi at 7.6% · 1,385 ft · starts 1.2 mi away
• Edan Canyon Road near ParadiseCat 3 · 0.6 mi at 18.5% · 564 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• Bonnie Meadow LaneCat 3 · 0.3 mi at 51.3% · 689 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Edan Canyon Road near ParadiseCat 3 · 0.3 mi at 39.9% · 564 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Zink RoadCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 6% · 883 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Bald Rock RoadCat 2 · 7.9 mi at 3.4% · 1,421 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Berry Creek RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 8.7% · 797 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Bloomer Hill RoadCat 2 · 3.0 mi at 7.6% · 1,224 ft · starts 3.0 mi away