Hetch Hetchy 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 Hetch Hetchy Road climb?

5.4 miles (8.7 km) at 4.1% on average, climbing 1,165 ft (355 m) from 3,944 ft to 5,108 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 10.7%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.94098, -119.78778, and tops out on the road at 37.9039, -119.83404.

Is Hetch Hetchy 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.

• Cottonwood Road from Forest Route 1N04Cat 3 · 3.2 mi at 5.4% · 899 ft · starts 7.2 mi away
• Cherry Lake Road near SonoraCat 1 · 10 mi at 4.9% · 2,612 ft · starts 10 mi away
• Cherry Lake Road near SonoraCat 2 · 3.2 mi at 9% · 1,539 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Big Oak Flat Road from Highway 120Cat 1 · 11 mi at 4.3% · 2,598 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Tioga RoadCat 2 · 9.8 mi at 3% · 1,542 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Hardin Flat RoadCat 2 · 4.6 mi at 4.5% · 1,096 ft · starts 12 mi away
• Tioga Road from Big Oak Flat RoadCat 3 · 3.9 mi at 4.3% · 873 ft · starts 13 mi away
• Old Tioga RoadCat 2 · 3.7 mi at 5.9% · 1,161 ft · starts 13 mi away