McConaughy Gulch 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 McConaughy Gulch Road climb?

1.8 miles (2.9 km) at 9% on average, climbing 853 ft (260 m) from 3,553 ft to 4,406 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.5%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 41.45943, -122.76642, and tops out on the road at 41.47175, -122.76247.

Is McConaughy Gulch 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.

• French Creek Road near EtnaCat 2 · 6.9 mi at 3.2% · 1,152 ft · starts 5.8 mi away
• Miners Creek Road near EtnaCat 3 · 3.9 mi at 3.1% · 630 ft · starts 6.5 mi away
• Sawyers Bar Road from Main StreetHC · 9.9 mi at 5.8% · 3,018 ft · starts 6.8 mi away
• Rail Creek RoadCat 1 · 6.9 mi at 6% · 2,165 ft · starts 6.9 mi away
• Gazelle Callahan Road near EtnaCat 2 · 7.8 mi at 3.1% · 1,280 ft · starts 7.3 mi away
• Cottonwood Creek RoadCat 2 · 5.1 mi at 4.5% · 1,220 ft · starts 9.1 mi away
• Scarface Road near Fort JonesCat 2 · 6.4 mi at 4.4% · 1,486 ft · starts 9.1 mi away
• Wildcat Creek RoadCat 3 · 5.2 mi at 3.6% · 997 ft · starts 9.7 mi away