Cerro Noroeste 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 Cerro Noroeste Road climb?

7.6 miles (12.2 km) at 5.4% on average, climbing 2,169 ft (661 m) from 6,093 ft to 8,261 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.4%. That makes it a Category 1 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.86109, -119.20959, where Cerro Noroeste Road leaves Mil Potrero Highway, and tops out at Cerro Noroeste at 34.83221, -119.20377.

Is Cerro Noroeste 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.

• Hudson Ranch Road near MaricopaCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 5.5% · 751 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• Freeman DriveCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 7.3% · 600 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Woodland DriveCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 10.5% · 981 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Bernina DriveCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 9.9% · 650 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• Zermatt DriveCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 12.5% · 702 ft · starts 3.1 mi away
• Linden DriveCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 11.6% · 732 ft · starts 3.4 mi away
• Mil Potrero Highway from San Moritz DriveCat 2 · 3.8 mi at 5.4% · 1,102 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Mil Potrero Highway near MaricopaCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 6.9% · 1,037 ft · starts 4.7 mi away