George Smith 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 George Smith Road climb?

1.3 miles (2.1 km) at 8.8% on average, climbing 600 ft (183 m) from 1,145 ft to 1,745 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 13.4%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 36.68912, -119.2157, where George Smith Road leaves Ennis Road, and tops out at Magpie Lane at 36.69255, -119.23066.

Is George Smith 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.

• Ennis RoadCat 3 · 3.2 mi at 4.2% · 709 ft · starts 0.5 mi away
• Totem LaneCat 3 · 0.9 mi at 12.6% · 574 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Squaw Valley Road from Shadybrook LaneCat 3 · 2.0 mi at 5.9% · 627 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Squaw Valley Road from Shorewood LaneCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 7.2% · 856 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Ruth Hill Road from Indian Guide RoadCat 2 · 4.9 mi at 4.2% · 1,086 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Pepperweed RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 9.5% · 787 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• East Kings Canyon Road near Orange CoveHC · 24 mi at 4.3% · 5,436 ft · starts 4.5 mi away
• Chuckwagon RoadCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 5.6% · 991 ft · starts 4.6 mi away