Nichols Canyon 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 Nichols Canyon Road climb?

3.2 miles (5.1 km) at 4.2% on average, climbing 702 ft (214 m) from 417 ft to 1,119 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.1%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.10169, -118.35822, where Nichols Canyon Road leaves Hollywood Boulevard, and tops out at Universal City Overlook at 34.12814, -118.36462.

Is Nichols Canyon 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.

• Laurel Canyon BoulevardCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 5.5% · 659 ft · starts 0.5 mi away
• Mount Olympus DriveCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 11.8% · 659 ft · starts 0.5 mi away
• Hercules DriveCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 8.9% · 525 ft · starts 0.6 mi away
• Outpost DriveCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 8.3% · 617 ft · starts 0.8 mi away
• Sunset Plaza DriveCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 6.8% · 922 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• North Doheny DriveCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 8.6% · 965 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Carla RidgeCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 8.8% · 640 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Wrightwood DriveCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 8.2% · 548 ft · starts 2.6 mi away