Mataguay 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 Mataguay Road climb?

3.9 miles (6.3 km) at 3.5% on average, climbing 732 ft (223 m) from 2,802 ft to 3,533 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.2%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.23229, -116.69401, and tops out on the road at 33.20044, -116.6485.

Is Mataguay 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.

• Route 79 near EscondidoCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 3.4% · 633 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Mesa Grande Road from Highway 76Cat 3 · 1.8 mi at 7.6% · 722 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Lost Valley RoadCat 2 · 4.2 mi at 5% · 1,109 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• East Grade RoadHC · 11 mi at 4.7% · 2,717 ft · starts 4.4 mi away
• Eagles Nest RoadCat 2 · 3.6 mi at 6.4% · 1,207 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Camino San Ignacio RoadCat 2 · 5.1 mi at 5.8% · 1,545 ft · starts 6.4 mi away
• Mesa Grande Road near PowayCat 3 · 2.7 mi at 3.7% · 535 ft · starts 6.6 mi away
• Palomar Divide RoadHC · dirt · 13 mi at 4.4% · 2,907 ft · starts 6.9 mi away