La Sierra Avenue 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. The records here are also incomplete: most reports along it are filed under Riverside, where only 66% of reported bike crashes have a map location, so the numbers here are too low. What the records show: 7 bike crashes were reported on or beside La Sierra Avenue along the climb from 2021–2025. The most were at La Sierra Ave & State Hwy 91 Wb Offramp (N) (4). Of the 7 where the cyclist's direction along the climb can be read, 4 were coming down and 3 going up.

1. 4 crashes

   La Sierra Ave & State Hwy 91 Wb Offramp (N)

   Side-impact crashes at the junction

   4 of 4 crashes were broadside: a vehicle hit at an angle, usually a driver pulling out of a side street or driveway, turning across, or running the signal. 50% happened after dark. Traffic is posted at about 55 mph. 50% were hit-and-run.

   See it on the map

How long and steep is the La Sierra Avenue climb?

4.6 miles (7.4 km) at 3% on average, climbing 722 ft (220 m) from 719 ft to 1,440 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.3%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.90265, -117.47547, where La Sierra Avenue leaves Magnolia Avenue, and tops out on the road at 33.84584, -117.46299.

Is La Sierra Avenue 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.

• Lakepointe Drive from Buchanan StreetCat 2 · 2.6 mi at 8% · 1,093 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Van Buren BoulevardCat 3 · 3.6 mi at 3.2% · 604 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Lakepointe Drive from Spring View CourtCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 8.3% · 620 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Rimpau AvenueCat 3 · 3.7 mi at 3.1% · 600 ft · starts 4.8 mi away
• Fullerton AvenueCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 3.8% · 568 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Cajalco RoadCat 3 · 4.5 mi at 3% · 702 ft · starts 5.7 mi away
• Onaknoll DriveCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 7.1% · 774 ft · starts 6.8 mi away
• Bedford RoadHC · dirt · 6.1 mi at 8.6% · 2,756 ft · starts 7.3 mi away