Big Rock Drive 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 Big Rock Drive climb?

1.6 miles (2.6 km) at 9.8% on average, climbing 853 ft (260 m) from 46 ft to 899 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.0375, -118.60807, where Big Rock Drive leaves Pacific Coast Highway, and tops out on the road at 34.04538, -118.62431.

Is Big Rock Drive 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.

• Las Flores Canyon RoadCat 2 · 3.4 mi at 8.6% · 1,542 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Topanga Canyon Boulevard from Pacific Coast HighwayCat 2 · 9.2 mi at 3% · 1,457 ft · starts 1.7 mi away
• Rambla PacificoCat 2 · 3.1 mi at 8.8% · 1,430 ft · starts 1.9 mi away
• Saddle Peak RoadCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 5% · 614 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Grand View DriveCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9.7% · 554 ft · starts 3.1 mi away
• Fernwood Pacific DriveCat 2 · 2.9 mi at 7.2% · 1,089 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Palisades Drive near Santa MonicaCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 5.4% · 587 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Schueren RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 5.6% · 528 ft · starts 3.4 mi away