La Cresta 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 La Cresta Road climb?

3.1 miles (5.0 km) at 6.2% on average, climbing 1,017 ft (310 m) from 594 ft to 1,611 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.3%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 32.80714, -116.91067, where La Cresta Road leaves Greenfield Drive, and tops out at Mountain View Road at 32.81477, -116.86237.

Is La Cresta 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.

• Olde Highway 80Cat 3 · 3.2 mi at 3.3% · 551 ft · starts 3.5 mi away
• Harbison Canyon RoadCat 3 · 3.6 mi at 3.6% · 689 ft · starts 3.8 mi away
• Dehesa RoadCat 3 · 5.6 mi at 3.6% · 1,047 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Montana SerenaCat 3 · 0.9 mi at 11.2% · 545 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• Quail Canyon Road from Blossom Springs RoadCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 5.3% · 735 ft · starts 4.4 mi away
• Jamul DriveCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 4.1% · 653 ft · starts 4.6 mi away
• Mountain View Road from Frances DriveCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 4.9% · 630 ft · starts 4.7 mi away
• Wildcat Canyon Road from Willow RoadCat 2 · 4.0 mi at 5.3% · 1,122 ft · starts 4.7 mi away