Gorden 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 Gorden Road climb?

1.2 miles (2.0 km) at 10% on average, climbing 646 ft (197 m) from 3,228 ft to 3,875 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 13.2%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 40.61766, -123.76599, where Gorden Road leaves Showers Pass Road, and tops out on the road at 40.61835, -123.74676.

Is Gorden 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.

• Stapp RoadCat 2 · 3.0 mi at 7.5% · 1,201 ft · starts 3.3 mi away
• Jack Shaw RoadCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 6.1% · 594 ft · starts 4.9 mi away
• Berry Summit-Mad River Road near Blue LakeCat 3 · 4.2 mi at 3.7% · 823 ft · starts 6.0 mi away
• Bear Creek Road near Rio DellCat 3 · 3.9 mi at 4.4% · 912 ft · starts 8.0 mi away
• Bear Creek Road near Rio DellCat 2 · 2.7 mi at 10.4% · 1,503 ft · starts 8.0 mi away
• Berry Summit-Mad River Road near Blue LakeCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 5.9% · 899 ft · starts 8.3 mi away
• Tom Shaw RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 5.4% · 636 ft · starts 8.9 mi away
• Kneeland Road near FortunaCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 3.8% · 574 ft · starts 9.0 mi away