Big Trees Parkway Climb near Sonora

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 Trees Parkway near Sonora climb?

2.4 miles (3.9 km) at 6.3% on average, climbing 801 ft (244 m) from 3,694 ft to 4,495 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.6%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.2703, -120.27108, and tops out on the road at 38.24461, -120.2709.

Is Big Trees Parkway 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.

• Big Trees Parkway near SonoraCat 2 · 4.0 mi at 6% · 1,247 ft · starts 0.0 mi away
• McKay's Point RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 12.9% · 912 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Highway 4 from Frontage RoadCat 2 · 12 mi at 3.2% · 2,014 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• New McKays Dam Road near SonoraCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 8.3% · 1,010 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• New McKays Dam Road near SonoraCat 2 · 2.7 mi at 8.3% · 1,181 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• Upper Moran RoadCat 3 · 2.0 mi at 6.7% · 696 ft · starts 3.4 mi away
• Candy Rock RoadCat 3 · 4.2 mi at 4.4% · 961 ft · starts 5.6 mi away
• Love Creek RoadCat 2 · 6.2 mi at 3.4% · 1,099 ft · starts 5.9 mi away