Golden Chain Highway 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 Golden Chain Highway climb?

5.8 miles (9.3 km) at 5% on average, climbing 1,506 ft (459 m) from 866 ft to 2,372 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.6%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.6098, -120.13625, and tops out on the road at 37.66921, -120.15939.

Is Golden Chain Highway 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.

• Golden Chain HighwayCat 2 · 4.0 mi at 6.7% · 1,421 ft · starts 0.1 mi away
• Pinetree RoadCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 9.8% · 525 ft · starts 1.0 mi away
• French RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6.1% · 568 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Bear Valley RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 6.3% · 571 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Crown Lead RoadCat 2 · 1.9 mi at 10.9% · 1,109 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Quailmine RoadCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 7.3% · 965 ft · starts 5.0 mi away
• Lyons Gulch RoadCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 5.4% · 719 ft · starts 5.8 mi away
• Mosher RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 10.2% · 646 ft · starts 5.9 mi away