Highway 26 Climb near Jackson

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 Highway 26 near Jackson climb?

5.6 miles (9.0 km) at 4.5% on average, climbing 1,319 ft (402 m) from 1,404 ft to 2,723 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.7%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.31605, -120.65335, and tops out at Upper Dorray Road at 38.35381, -120.58362.

Is Highway 26 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.

• Jesus Maria Road near JacksonCat 2 · 4.7 mi at 5.9% · 1,476 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Jesus Maria Road from Hawver RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 7.5% · 653 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• Hawver Road from Jesus Maria RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 9.1% · 581 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Tabeaud RoadCat 3 · 4.8 mi at 3.6% · 902 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• State Highway 49 from Big Bar RoadCat 3 · 3.1 mi at 4.1% · 682 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Old Spring RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.9% · 564 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• Doster RoadCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 5.3% · 974 ft · starts 4.7 mi away
• Irish Town RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 7.3% · 604 ft · starts 5.1 mi away