Pauma Heights 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 Pauma Heights Road climb?

2.3 miles (3.8 km) at 7.3% on average, climbing 906 ft (276 m) from 978 ft to 1,883 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.30086, -116.9933, and tops out at Curran Court at 33.28134, -116.99494.

Is Pauma Heights 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.

• Nate Harrison GradeHC · dirt · 9.3 mi at 8.7% · 4,288 ft · starts 1.0 mi away
• Cole Grade RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 7.4% · 942 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Sams Mountain RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 11.9% · 955 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• Highway 76Cat 2 · 7.2 mi at 5.1% · 1,949 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• Avenida de Las Estrella AvenueCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 12.8% · 886 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• North Mesa DriveCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 8.5% · 863 ft · starts 1.7 mi away
• Starbeam LaneCat 3 · 0.8 mi at 15.3% · 650 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Quail DriveCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 10% · 558 ft · starts 2.9 mi away