Meridian 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 Meridian Road climb?

3.6 miles (5.8 km) at 4.3% on average, climbing 827 ft (252 m) from 3,241 ft to 4,068 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 6.8%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.41484, -116.92831, where Meridian Road leaves Meridian Avenue, and tops out at Meridian Avenue at 34.36862, -116.90986.

Is Meridian 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.

• Crystal Creek Road near Big Bear LakeCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 4.7% · 863 ft · starts 1.7 mi away
• Mesa RoadCat 2 · 3.7 mi at 5.6% · 1,096 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• JF3150Cat 2 · 5.4 mi at 6.9% · 1,962 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Crystal Creek Road from JF3148Cat 2 · 3.1 mi at 9.4% · 1,526 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Camp Rock RoadCat 3 · 4.1 mi at 3.7% · 794 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• Santa Rosa Road from Shantung RoadCat 3 · 4.1 mi at 4% · 850 ft · starts 5.1 mi away
• High RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 5.6% · 702 ft · starts 6.1 mi away
• Monarch Flat RoadCat 1 · dirt · 4.1 mi at 10.4% · 2,251 ft · starts 6.4 mi away