Norton 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 Norton Road climb?

1.6 miles (2.6 km) at 11.4% on average, climbing 971 ft (296 m) from 686 ft to 1,657 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 14.6%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.24973, -122.03958, and tops out at On Orbit Drive at 37.24232, -122.04492.

Is Norton 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.

• Bohlman RoadCat 2 · 4.5 mi at 8.4% · 1,991 ft · starts 0.3 mi away
• Big Basin Way from Saratoga AvenueCat 1 · 7.3 mi at 5.6% · 2,152 ft · starts 0.8 mi away
• Overlook RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 6.8% · 732 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• Redwood Gulch RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 10% · 686 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Regnart RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 7% · 548 ft · starts 3.8 mi away
• Gist RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 9.4% · 673 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Montebello RoadCat 1 · 6.8 mi at 6.3% · 2,244 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Skyline Boulevard from Gist RoadCat 3 · 4.8 mi at 3.5% · 876 ft · starts 4.1 mi away