Pines To Palms Highway Climb near Palm Springs

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 Pines To Palms Highway near Palm Springs climb?

1.9 miles (3.1 km) at 5.8% on average, climbing 584 ft (178 m) from 4,364 ft to 4,948 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.67159, -116.6774, and tops out on the road at 33.68682, -116.70346.

Is Pines To Palms Highway 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.

• Apple Canyon RoadCat 2 · 3.6 mi at 5.8% · 1,086 ft · starts 0.5 mi away
• Thomas Mountain RoadCat 1 · dirt · 7.3 mi at 5.9% · 2,267 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Banning-Idyllwild Panoramic Highway near Palm SpringsCat 2 · 7.3 mi at 4.5% · 1,745 ft · starts 3.7 mi away
• Morris Ranch RoadCat 3 · 3.6 mi at 5.1% · 971 ft · starts 4.7 mi away
• Pinecrest AvenueCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 8.3% · 659 ft · starts 5.6 mi away
• Fern Valley RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 8.9% · 840 ft · starts 5.8 mi away
• Hog Lake Truck TrailCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 8% · 607 ft · starts 5.9 mi away
• Idyllwild Control RoadHC · dirt · 6.1 mi at 8.6% · 2,772 ft · starts 7.9 mi away