Milpas 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 Milpas Road climb?

2.0 miles (3.3 km) at 9.1% on average, climbing 981 ft (299 m) from 3,251 ft to 4,232 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 14.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.43362, -117.10185, where Milpas Road leaves Milpas Drive, and tops out at Teton Road at 34.40495, -117.10339.

Is Milpas 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.

• Loma Vista RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 9.1% · 584 ft · starts 0.8 mi away
• Coxey Truck TrailHC · dirt · 17 mi at 3.5% · 3,241 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Grapevine Canyon Road from Santa Rosa RoadHC · dirt · 5.3 mi at 10% · 2,812 ft · starts 3.7 mi away
• High RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 5.6% · 702 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Santa Rosa Road from Shantung RoadCat 3 · 4.1 mi at 4% · 850 ft · starts 5.0 mi away
• Roundup WayCat 3 · 3.1 mi at 3.4% · 558 ft · starts 5.6 mi away
• Mesa RoadCat 2 · 3.7 mi at 5.6% · 1,096 ft · starts 8.4 mi away
• Crystal Creek Road near Big Bear LakeCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 4.7% · 863 ft · starts 8.9 mi away