Emigrant Trail 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 Emigrant Trail climb?

2.8 miles (4.5 km) at 4.7% on average, climbing 682 ft (208 m) from 5,020 ft to 5,702 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.81987, -119.77915, where Emigrant Trail leaves River Ranch Road, and tops out at Pioneer Trail at 38.79105, -119.81158.

Is Emigrant Trail 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.

• Fredericksburg Canyon RoadCat 1 · dirt · 4.1 mi at 11.7% · 2,526 ft · starts 0.7 mi away
• Airport RoadCat 3 · 3.1 mi at 4% · 653 ft · starts 5.4 mi away
• Luther Pass Road near South Lake TahoeCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 5.1% · 676 ft · starts 8.0 mi away
• Old Luther Pass RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 5.8% · 663 ft · starts 8.2 mi away
• Blue Lakes RoadCat 2 · 7.3 mi at 3% · 1,145 ft · starts 10 mi away
• Centerville BridgeHC · 13 mi at 4.4% · 3,051 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Fountain Place RoadCat 2 · 4.5 mi at 5.3% · 1,260 ft · starts 12 mi away
• Keller RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 7.8% · 607 ft · starts 13 mi away