Lookout 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 Lookout Road climb?

2.7 miles (4.4 km) at 11.1% on average, climbing 1,604 ft (489 m) from 4,879 ft to 6,483 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 18.1%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 32.95834, -116.57953, where Lookout Road leaves Route 79, and tops out at Cuyamaca Peak at 32.94715, -116.6067.

Is Lookout 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.

• Upper Green Valley RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 4.2% · 545 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Cuyamaca Forest RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 11.2% · 686 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• North Peak RoadCat 2 · 1.6 mi at 14.5% · 1,204 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Sunrise HighwayCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 4.1% · 551 ft · starts 3.8 mi away
• Route 79 near San DiegoCat 3 · 5.1 mi at 3.4% · 922 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Mountain Circle DriveCat 3 · 0.9 mi at 10.9% · 531 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Engineers RoadCat 2 · 5.3 mi at 4.4% · 1,224 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Boulder Creek Road near San DiegoCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 4.7% · 627 ft · starts 5.6 mi away