Mehrten Spring Rd 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 Mehrten Spring Rd climb?

2.3 miles (3.7 km) at 7.8% on average, climbing 942 ft (287 m) from 5,617 ft to 6,558 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 10.1%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.57796, -120.31222, where Mehrten Spring Rd leaves Cat Creek Road South, and tops out at Mehrten Spring Road at 38.5561, -120.30056.

Is Mehrten Spring Rd 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.

• Cat Creek Road SouthCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 5% · 617 ft · starts 0.7 mi away
• Meiss Pass Rd from Cat Creek Road NorthCat 3 · 3.8 mi at 4.3% · 856 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• Bear River RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 6.1% · 712 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Meiss Pass Rd from Meiss Grade RdCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 4.7% · 755 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• South Bear River RoadCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 5.3% · 643 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Ellis RoadHC · 8.2 mi at 6.2% · 2,710 ft · starts 6.1 mi away
• Cole Creek RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.5% · 531 ft · starts 6.7 mi away
• North South Road from Leoni RoadCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 7.9% · 945 ft · starts 6.9 mi away