Panoche 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 Panoche Road climb?

3.3 miles (5.3 km) at 5% on average, climbing 883 ft (269 m) from 2,526 ft to 3,409 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 16%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 36.70821, -121.00936, and tops out on the road at 36.68747, -120.96775.

Is Panoche 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.

• Western RoadCat 1 · dirt · 5.6 mi at 8.6% · 2,556 ft · starts 7.2 mi away
• Salt Creek Road near SoledadCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 6.4% · 1,014 ft · starts 7.8 mi away
• Salt Creek Road near SoledadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 8.5% · 738 ft · starts 8.4 mi away
• Piedra Azul RoadCat 2 · 3.6 mi at 9.9% · 1,883 ft · starts 9.2 mi away
• Langdon RoadCat 3 · 4.4 mi at 4.1% · 938 ft · starts 12 mi away
• Murphy RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 4.8% · 604 ft · starts 15 mi away
• Santa Anita RoadCat 3 · 4.9 mi at 3.4% · 873 ft · starts 15 mi away