Castle Lake 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 Castle Lake Road climb?

7.1 miles (11.5 km) at 5.8% on average, climbing 2,198 ft (670 m) from 3,238 ft to 5,436 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.7%. That makes it a Category 1 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 41.27781, -122.33175, where Castle Lake Road leaves W. A. Barr Road, and ends where the road ends at 41.23115, -122.38217.

Is Castle 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.

• South Fork Road from W. A. Barr RoadHC · 16 mi at 3.9% · 3,248 ft · starts 0.9 mi away
• Deer Creek Road near Mount ShastaCat 1 · dirt · 5.8 mi at 6.9% · 2,110 ft · starts 1.0 mi away
• McCloud AvenueCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 6% · 597 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Everitt Memorial HighwayHC · 14 mi at 5.7% · 4,167 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Toad Lake RoadHC · dirt · 11 mi at 5.2% · 2,894 ft · starts 3.8 mi away
• Mott RoadCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 4.6% · 554 ft · starts 4.3 mi away
• Mc Cloud Dunsmuir CtfCat 2 · 4.7 mi at 5.5% · 1,352 ft · starts 4.3 mi away
• Ski Park HighwayCat 3 · 4.3 mi at 4.1% · 935 ft · starts 6.1 mi away