Experimental Mine 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 Experimental Mine Road climb?

1.3 miles (2.1 km) at 7.7% on average, climbing 535 ft (163 m) from 1,919 ft to 2,454 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 14.2%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.06385, -120.38945, and tops out at Italian Bar Road at 38.04892, -120.38978.

Is Experimental Mine 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.

• Big Hill Road from Sawmill Flat RoadCat 2 · 3.5 mi at 7.1% · 1,296 ft · starts 1.9 mi away
• Italian Bar Road near SonoraCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 5.6% · 1,004 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Yankee Hill RoadCat 2 · 5.3 mi at 4% · 1,115 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Covington RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 11.3% · 974 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Five Mile Creek RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6% · 554 ft · starts 3.3 mi away
• Ponderosa Way from Camp Nine RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 9.2% · 1,004 ft · starts 3.7 mi away
• Parrotts Ferry RoadCat 3 · 4.3 mi at 4.5% · 1,037 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Camp Nine RoadCat 2 · 5.4 mi at 4% · 1,152 ft · starts 4.3 mi away