Bucks Lake Road Climb near Paradise

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 Bucks Lake Road near Paradise climb?

3.3 miles (5.3 km) at 4.7% on average, climbing 817 ft (249 m) from 4,974 ft to 5,791 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 11.9%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 39.86462, -121.22372, and tops out at Grizzly Summit at 39.85885, -121.27354.

Is Bucks Lake 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.

• Gravel Range RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 9.5% · 768 ft · starts 5.9 mi away
• Sky High RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 8.6% · 630 ft · starts 6.5 mi away
• Powerline TrailHC · dirt · 6.7 mi at 7.5% · 2,644 ft · starts 6.9 mi away
• Tobin Rock Creek TrailCat 1 · dirt · 4.1 mi at 11.3% · 2,428 ft · starts 7.3 mi away
• Big Creek RoadCat 2 · 7.1 mi at 4.1% · 1,539 ft · starts 8.3 mi away
• Hanson Bar Trail near ParadiseHC · dirt · 2.3 mi at 21.5% · 2,657 ft · starts 8.5 mi away
• Hanson Bar Trail near ParadiseCat 1 · dirt · 1.6 mi at 29.7% · 2,562 ft · starts 9.0 mi away
• Stag Point TrailHC · dirt · 3.4 mi at 16.9% · 3,025 ft · starts 9.1 mi away