Couser Canyon 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 Couser Canyon Road climb?

3.4 miles (5.5 km) at 4.9% on average, climbing 866 ft (264 m) from 295 ft to 1,161 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.8%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.33386, -117.12941, and tops out at San Gabriel Way at 33.30795, -117.09259.

Is Couser Canyon 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.

• Rice Canyon Road from Pala RoadCat 3 · 3.3 mi at 4.2% · 732 ft · starts 0.7 mi away
• Old Highway 395 from Pala Mesa DriveCat 3 · 3.2 mi at 3.1% · 538 ft · starts 1.9 mi away
• Huntley RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 9.6% · 633 ft · starts 1.9 mi away
• Old Highway 395 from Dulin RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6.9% · 640 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Pala Mesa Mountain DriveCat 3 · 0.9 mi at 11.8% · 574 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Pala del Norte RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 12.4% · 896 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Santa Catalina RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 6.8% · 623 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Lilac RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 7.3% · 846 ft · starts 3.3 mi away