Pilot Peak 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 Pilot Peak Road climb?

2.2 miles (3.5 km) at 10% on average, climbing 1,165 ft (355 m) from 3,012 ft to 4,177 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 13.9%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.46533, -119.73563, where Pilot Peak Road leaves Creel Road, and tops out at Grant Grade Toll Road at 37.46912, -119.71483.

Is Pilot Peak 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.

• Creel RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 8.6% · 535 ft · starts 0.2 mi away
• Chowchilla Mountain RoadCat 1 · dirt · 5.4 mi at 9% · 2,566 ft · starts 0.6 mi away
• Boot Jack - Ahwahnee RoadCat 3 · 2.7 mi at 5.9% · 827 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Grant Grade Toll RoadCat 1 · dirt · 6.3 mi at 6.9% · 2,297 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Watt RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 7.9% · 653 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Watt RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 7.2% · 892 ft · starts 3.7 mi away
• Miami Mountain RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.9% · 581 ft · starts 4.1 mi away
• Old Mill RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 11.6% · 1,030 ft · starts 4.3 mi away