Montezuma-Borrego Highway 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 Montezuma-Borrego Highway climb?

11 miles (17.4 km) at 6% on average, climbing 3,448 ft (1,051 m) from 778 ft to 4,226 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.7%. That makes it a Hors catégorie climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.25502, -116.39942, where Montezuma-Borrego Highway leaves Montezuma Valley Road, and tops out at Montezuma Valley Road at 33.2105, -116.49714.

Is Montezuma-Borrego Highway 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.

• Yaqui Pass RoadCat 2 · 5.0 mi at 4.6% · 1,214 ft · starts 5.1 mi away
• Grapevine Canyon RoadCat 1 · dirt · 9.6 mi at 4.6% · 2,313 ft · starts 8.8 mi away
• Camino San Ignacio RoadCat 2 · 5.1 mi at 5.8% · 1,545 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Eagles Nest RoadCat 2 · 3.6 mi at 6.4% · 1,207 ft · starts 13 mi away
• Banner GradeCat 2 · 8.1 mi at 3.9% · 1,686 ft · starts 14 mi away
• Lost Valley RoadCat 2 · 4.2 mi at 5% · 1,109 ft · starts 15 mi away
• Farmer RoadCat 2 · 3.0 mi at 6.7% · 1,060 ft · starts 15 mi away