Lower Forbestown 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 Lower Forbestown Road climb?

2.4 miles (3.9 km) at 5.2% on average, climbing 659 ft (201 m) from 2,438 ft to 3,097 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.1%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 39.51034, -121.31482, and tops out at Forbestown Road at 39.52856, -121.28799.

Is Lower Forbestown 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.

• Lumpkin Road near OrovilleCat 3 · 3.6 mi at 4.6% · 856 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Lumpkin Road from Enterprise BridgeCat 1 · 9.2 mi at 5.4% · 2,621 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Old Forestown RoadCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9.4% · 541 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Forbestown Road near OrovilleCat 2 · 6.1 mi at 4.6% · 1,483 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Ponderosa Way near OrovilleCat 2 · 3.9 mi at 6.5% · 1,325 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Lake Haven WayCat 3 · 3.1 mi at 5.8% · 942 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Sucker Run Road from Ponderosa WayCat 1 · dirt · 6.0 mi at 6.9% · 2,172 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• Stringtown RoadCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 5.5% · 715 ft · starts 3.2 mi away