Briceland-Thorn 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 Briceland-Thorn Road climb?

3.1 miles (5.0 km) at 3.7% on average, climbing 607 ft (185 m) from 666 ft to 1,273 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 40.10109, -123.91558, and tops out at Ettersburg Road at 40.08862, -123.94454.

Is Briceland-Thorn 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 Briceland Road from Old Sumerville Creek RoadCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 6.9% · 945 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Old Sumerville Creek RoadCat 2 · 3.6 mi at 6.4% · 1,214 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Ferren RoadCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 11.8% · 636 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• Elk Ridge RoadCat 2 · 3.3 mi at 8.2% · 1,421 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Perry Lane from Perry Meadow RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 11.1% · 719 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Perry Lane from Shop RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 10.7% · 1,024 ft · starts 3.1 mi away
• Road BbCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 10.1% · 538 ft · starts 3.5 mi away
• Goodman Ranch RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 6.7% · 535 ft · starts 3.6 mi away