Parker Pass 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 Parker Pass Road climb?

9.6 miles (15.4 km) at 6% on average, climbing 3,015 ft (919 m) from 3,501 ft to 6,516 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.1%. That makes it a Hors catégorie climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 35.90239, -118.65122, and tops out on the road at 35.9527, -118.6226.

Is Parker Pass 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.

• Tyler Creek DriveCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 4.4% · 561 ft · starts 3.1 mi away
• Hot Springs DriveCat 3 · 3.9 mi at 5% · 1,027 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Sugarloaf Road from Sugarpine TrailCat 2 · 4.8 mi at 7.1% · 1,785 ft · starts 5.3 mi away
• Sugarloaf RoadCat 3 · 4.0 mi at 3% · 627 ft · starts 5.8 mi away
• Sugarloaf Road from Parker Pass DriveCat 2 · 5.6 mi at 5% · 1,490 ft · starts 6.4 mi away
• Sugarloaf DriveCat 2 · 5.6 mi at 4.8% · 1,411 ft · starts 6.7 mi away
• M-56 near PortervilleCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 3.7% · 656 ft · starts 6.7 mi away
• Sugarloaf RoadCat 3 · 4.4 mi at 4% · 925 ft · starts 7.2 mi away