Confidence 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 Confidence Road climb?

2.6 miles (4.2 km) at 5% on average, climbing 692 ft (211 m) from 3,517 ft to 4,209 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.4%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.02125, -120.22235, where Confidence Road leaves Cedar Springs Road, and tops out on the road at 38.04232, -120.20605.

Is Confidence 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.

• Mount Provo RoadCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 6.4% · 932 ft · starts 0.4 mi away
• Elizabeth Peak RoadCat 2 · 2.6 mi at 7.6% · 1,056 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Middle Camp Sugar Pine RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 7.1% · 623 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Middle Camp RoadCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 4.8% · 650 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• Cottonwood Road near SonoraCat 1 · 9.2 mi at 5.1% · 2,461 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Old Buchanan Mine RoadCat 2 · 1.9 mi at 11% · 1,112 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Buchanan RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 7.5% · 843 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Kewin Mill RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 7.7% · 679 ft · starts 2.8 mi away