Loma Prieta Way 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 Loma Prieta Way climb?

1.7 miles (2.7 km) at 6.9% on average, climbing 604 ft (184 m) from 2,474 ft to 3,077 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.6%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.10045, -121.87199, and tops out at Summit Road at 37.09709, -121.847.

Is Loma Prieta Way 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.

• Canyon VistaCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 13.9% · 906 ft · starts 1.2 mi away
• Skyland RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 6.8% · 541 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Loma Prieta AvenueCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 6.6% · 856 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Hicks Road from Alamitos RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 8.8% · 784 ft · starts 4.5 mi away
• Wrights Station RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 7.4% · 554 ft · starts 4.9 mi away
• Redwood Lodge RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6% · 574 ft · starts 5.1 mi away
• Mount Umunhum RoadCat 2 · 5.4 mi at 7.2% · 2,060 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Tindall Ranch RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 9.2% · 771 ft · starts 5.2 mi away