Falling Star Lane 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 Falling Star Lane climb?

1.8 miles (2.9 km) at 9.1% on average, climbing 846 ft (258 m) from 764 ft to 1,611 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.2%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 35.47423, -120.81034, where Falling Star Lane leaves Marsh Road, and tops out on the road at 35.48672, -120.80315.

Is Falling Star Lane paved?

Mostly: OpenStreetMap tags 57% of the climb as paved, and the rest as dirt or gravel.

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.

• Toro Creek RoadCat 3 · 2.7 mi at 4.7% · 659 ft · starts 1.2 mi away
• Toro Creek Truck TrailCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 10.8% · 587 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Old Creek RoadCat 2 · 3.4 mi at 6.4% · 1,148 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Sunrise Ridge RoadCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9.4% · 545 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Montecito RoadCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 3.9% · 614 ft · starts 4.3 mi away
• Shadow Canyon RoadCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 4.7% · 604 ft · starts 4.7 mi away
• Green Valley Road near AtascaderoCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 6.5% · 666 ft · starts 5.0 mi away
• Sibley LaneCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 9.6% · 636 ft · starts 5.4 mi away