Julian Highway 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: 1 bike crash was reported on or beside Julian Highway along the climb from 2021–2025.

How long and steep is the Julian Highway climb?

7.0 miles (11.3 km) at 3.6% on average, climbing 1,329 ft (405 m) from 2,982 ft to 4,311 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.9%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.10921, -116.67391, where Julian Highway leaves Old Julian Highway, and tops out at 2nd Street at 33.0781, -116.59901.

Is Julian Highway 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.

• Mesa Grande Road near PowayCat 3 · 2.7 mi at 3.7% · 535 ft · starts 1.9 mi away
• Wynola RoadCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 3.9% · 577 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Farmer RoadCat 2 · 3.0 mi at 6.7% · 1,060 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• Boulder Creek Road near San DiegoCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 4.7% · 627 ft · starts 6.2 mi away
• Engineers RoadCat 2 · 5.3 mi at 4.4% · 1,224 ft · starts 6.8 mi away
• Route 79 near EscondidoCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 3.4% · 633 ft · starts 6.9 mi away
• Sutherland Dam RoadCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 4.9% · 764 ft · starts 7.4 mi away
• Eagle Peak RoadCat 1 · dirt · 8.5 mi at 5.3% · 2,379 ft · starts 7.7 mi away