Isla Vista 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 Isla Vista Road climb?

1.1 miles (1.8 km) at 8.8% on average, climbing 528 ft (161 m) from 1,542 ft to 2,070 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.8%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 32.7266, -116.83514, where Isla Vista Road leaves Lyons Valley Road, and tops out on the road at 32.71498, -116.82873.

Is Isla Vista 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.

• Skyline Truck TrailCat 2 · 5.4 mi at 5% · 1,430 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• Lyons Valley Road from Harper Ranch RoadCat 3 · 3.6 mi at 5% · 938 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Lyons Valley Road from State Route 94Cat 3 · 4.2 mi at 4.2% · 932 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Alta Loma DriveCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 12.6% · 883 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Dehesa RoadCat 3 · 5.6 mi at 3.6% · 1,047 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Honey Springs RoadCat 2 · 7.0 mi at 5.2% · 1,909 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Jamul DriveCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 4.1% · 653 ft · starts 4.6 mi away
• Wisecarver LaneCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 8.6% · 545 ft · starts 4.6 mi away