Overlook 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 Overlook Road climb?

2.1 miles (3.3 km) at 6.8% on average, climbing 732 ft (223 m) from 577 ft to 1,309 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.22728, -121.99245, where Overlook Road leaves Wissahickon Avenue, and tops out at Overlook Trail at 37.22879, -122.01479.

Is Overlook Road paved?

Mostly: OpenStreetMap tags 73% of the climb as paved, and the rest as dirt or gravel.

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.

• Cypress WayCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 9.7% · 833 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Kennedy RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.8% · 545 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Montevina RoadCat 2 · 3.9 mi at 8.8% · 1,811 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Black RoadCat 2 · 4.6 mi at 7.4% · 1,785 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Bear Creek Road near Monte SerenoCat 2 · 4.1 mi at 7.1% · 1,535 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Gist RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 9.4% · 673 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Norton RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 11.4% · 971 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• Bohlman RoadCat 2 · 4.5 mi at 8.4% · 1,991 ft · starts 3.0 mi away