Blue Lakes Road 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 Blue Lakes Road climb?

7.3 miles (11.7 km) at 3% on average, climbing 1,145 ft (349 m) from 7,159 ft to 8,304 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.8%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.73016, -119.92814, and tops out at Border Ruffian Flat Road at 38.63911, -119.91649.

Is Blue Lakes 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.

• Old Luther Pass RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 5.8% · 663 ft · starts 3.3 mi away
• Luther Pass Road near South Lake TahoeCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 5.1% · 676 ft · starts 3.4 mi away
• Luther Pass Road from Portal DriveCat 2 · 4.3 mi at 5.8% · 1,312 ft · starts 7.7 mi away
• Airport RoadCat 3 · 3.1 mi at 4% · 653 ft · starts 8.2 mi away
• South Upper Truckee RoadCat 3 · 3.3 mi at 3% · 535 ft · starts 8.5 mi away
• Route 50 from Pomo StreetCat 2 · 3.6 mi at 5.5% · 1,050 ft · starts 9.8 mi away
• Fountain Place RoadCat 2 · 4.5 mi at 5.3% · 1,260 ft · starts 10 mi away
• Emigrant TrailCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 4.7% · 682 ft · starts 10 mi away