Ponderosa Way 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 Ponderosa Way climb?

1.9 miles (3.1 km) at 5.3% on average, climbing 545 ft (166 m) from 2,943 ft to 3,488 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 40.33805, -121.77297, and tops out at State Highway 36 East at 40.34651, -121.76417.

Is Ponderosa Way paved?

Mostly: OpenStreetMap tags 58% of the climb as paved, and the rest as dirt or gravel.

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.

• Tramway Road from Little Giant Mill RoadCat 2 · 4.1 mi at 5% · 1,093 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• Ponderosa WayCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 5.4% · 709 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Good Fellows AvenueCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 5.6% · 709 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Road 140 ACat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.5% · 538 ft · starts 5.9 mi away
• Plum Creek RoadCat 2 · 8.4 mi at 3.4% · 1,506 ft · starts 6.8 mi away
• Oasis Spring Ranch RoadCat 2 · 3.9 mi at 6.1% · 1,257 ft · starts 7.0 mi away
• Bucks Flat RoadCat 3 · 3.3 mi at 4.1% · 709 ft · starts 7.6 mi away
• Forwards Mill RoadCat 2 · 8.3 mi at 3.8% · 1,650 ft · starts 7.8 mi away