Cow Gulch 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 Cow Gulch Road climb?

1.8 miles (2.9 km) at 7.8% on average, climbing 748 ft (228 m) from 2,789 ft to 3,537 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 10.2%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 40.36742, -122.93208, and tops out at Knob Peak Lookout Road at 40.379, -122.92088.

Is Cow Gulch 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.

• Knob Peak Lookout RoadCat 2 · 3.7 mi at 6.4% · 1,247 ft · starts 1.0 mi away
• Cow Gulch RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 7.1% · 673 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Beegum Gorge Road from Platina RoadCat 2 · 2.7 mi at 7.6% · 1,106 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• Beegum Gorge RoadCat 2 · 3.1 mi at 8% · 1,296 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• State Highway 36 WestCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 5.4% · 961 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Jeep TrailCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 4.4% · 600 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Tedoc RoadCat 2 · 3.9 mi at 8.1% · 1,667 ft · starts 5.5 mi away
• Graves Ranch RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6.4% · 617 ft · starts 5.8 mi away