Golden Chain Highway Climb from Main Street

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 from Main Street climb?

2.9 miles (4.7 km) at 3.9% on average, climbing 597 ft (182 m) from 791 ft to 1,388 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 10.6%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.4306, -120.85192, where Golden Chain Highway leaves Main Street, and tops out at Sutter Ione Road at 38.40012, -120.81893.

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.

• Tonzi RoadCat 3 · 5.0 mi at 3.2% · 860 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Quartz Mountain Road NorthCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 3.5% · 545 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Ridge Road from Ridge CourtCat 3 · 4.0 mi at 3.9% · 804 ft · starts 6.5 mi away
• Bell RoadCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 3.9% · 705 ft · starts 7.6 mi away
• Butte Mountain RoadCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 3.6% · 545 ft · starts 7.8 mi away
• Stony Creek RoadCat 3 · 4.2 mi at 3.8% · 846 ft · starts 8.1 mi away
• Hale RoadCat 2 · 2.8 mi at 7.1% · 1,060 ft · starts 8.7 mi away
• State Highway 49 near PlymouthCat 3 · 5.2 mi at 3.8% · 1,043 ft · starts 9.3 mi away