Hoe 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 Hoe Road climb?

1.6 miles (2.5 km) at 9.8% on average, climbing 801 ft (244 m) from 541 ft to 1,342 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 13.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 39.23145, -123.46104, where Hoe Road leaves Orr Springs Road, and tops out on the road at 39.25161, -123.46865.

Is Hoe 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.

• Orr Springs Road near WillitsCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 4.8% · 722 ft · starts 0.1 mi away
• Orr Springs Road near UkiahCat 2 · 6.4 mi at 5.4% · 1,821 ft · starts 3.3 mi away
• Wendling Soda Creek RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 8.3% · 768 ft · starts 7.0 mi away
• Nash Mill RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 7.1% · 912 ft · starts 7.1 mi away
• Tram WayCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 10.7% · 584 ft · starts 7.2 mi away
• Holmes Ranch RoadCat 2 · 2.9 mi at 7.3% · 1,122 ft · starts 8.2 mi away
• Navarro Ridge RoadCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 6.9% · 1,037 ft · starts 8.2 mi away
• Comptche Ukiah RoadCat 2 · 6.2 mi at 3.5% · 1,129 ft · starts 9.3 mi away