Hillside Drive Climb from Balboa Avenue

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: 2 bike crashes were reported on or beside Hillside Drive along the climb from 2021–2025.

How long and steep is the Hillside Drive from Balboa Avenue climb?

1.9 miles (3.1 km) at 5.4% on average, climbing 541 ft (165 m) from 23 ft to 564 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.9%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.58654, -122.37277, where Hillside Drive leaves Balboa Avenue, and tops out at Skyline Boulevard at 37.57336, -122.39635.

Is Hillside Drive 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.

• Trousdale DriveCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 6.8% · 568 ft · starts 0.8 mi away
• Skyfarm Drive from Redington RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 7.8% · 551 ft · starts 1.0 mi away
• Millbrae AvenueCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 5.5% · 548 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Ralston Avenue from Elm AvenueCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 4.8% · 581 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• Hillcrest BoulevardCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 6.5% · 594 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Hayne RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.9% · 558 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Sneath LaneCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 4.2% · 676 ft · starts 4.4 mi away
• Sneath Lane TrailCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 7.2% · 591 ft · starts 4.9 mi away