Buckhorn Fire 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 Buckhorn Fire Road climb?

4.1 miles (6.6 km) at 6.7% on average, climbing 1,440 ft (439 m) from 2,005 ft to 3,445 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.9%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.69472, -120.18285, where Buckhorn Fire Road leaves Golden Chain Highway, and tops out at Schilling Road at 37.67369, -120.1258.

Is Buckhorn Fire 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.

• Dogtown Road near SonoraCat 2 · 3.9 mi at 5.6% · 1,152 ft · starts 1.2 mi away
• Greeley Hill RoadCat 2 · 5.3 mi at 5.9% · 1,660 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• Priest Coulterville RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 7.3% · 587 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Crown Lead RoadCat 2 · 1.9 mi at 10.9% · 1,109 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Jones Road near SonoraCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9.9% · 600 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• B L M RoadCat 2 · 6.6 mi at 4.2% · 1,463 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Cuneo RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 8.2% · 915 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Penon Blanco Lookout RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 6.5% · 554 ft · starts 4.2 mi away