Pepperweed 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 Pepperweed Road climb?

1.6 miles (2.5 km) at 9.5% on average, climbing 787 ft (240 m) from 1,224 ft to 2,011 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 13%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 36.67771, -119.16713, where Pepperweed Road leaves Squaw Valley Road, and tops out at Sand Creek Road at 36.69269, -119.15358.

Is Pepperweed 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.

• Squaw Valley Road from Shorewood LaneCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 7.2% · 856 ft · starts 0.5 mi away
• Squaw Valley Road from Shadybrook LaneCat 3 · 2.0 mi at 5.9% · 627 ft · starts 0.7 mi away
• Totem LaneCat 3 · 0.9 mi at 12.6% · 574 ft · starts 1.7 mi away
• Ennis RoadCat 3 · 3.2 mi at 4.2% · 709 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• Chuckwagon RoadCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 5.6% · 991 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• George Smith RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 8.8% · 600 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Barberry LaneCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9% · 531 ft · starts 4.1 mi away
• Sundew RoadCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 9.8% · 541 ft · starts 4.6 mi away