North Branch 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 North Branch Road climb?

2.6 miles (4.1 km) at 5.3% on average, climbing 719 ft (219 m) from 446 ft to 1,165 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 13%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.80643, -123.34622, and tops out on the road at 38.82675, -123.371.

Is North Branch 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.

• Rockpile Road from North Branch RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 11% · 932 ft · starts 4.3 mi away
• Buckeye Creek RoadCat 3 · 0.6 mi at 17.3% · 584 ft · starts 4.6 mi away
• Rockpile Road near CloverdaleCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9.2% · 561 ft · starts 4.9 mi away
• Oak Hill L O RoadCat 3 · 3.3 mi at 5.9% · 1,020 ft · starts 5.3 mi away
• Evans Ridge RoadCat 2 · 3.2 mi at 7.9% · 1,358 ft · starts 5.7 mi away
• Fish Rock Road near UkiahCat 2 · 3.3 mi at 6.2% · 1,089 ft · starts 6.0 mi away
• Rockpile Road near CloverdaleCat 2 · 4.0 mi at 7.1% · 1,512 ft · starts 6.6 mi away
• South Branch RoadCat 3 · 2.0 mi at 5.8% · 607 ft · starts 6.9 mi away