Rancho 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 Rancho Heights Road climb?

2.3 miles (3.7 km) at 6.9% on average, climbing 840 ft (256 m) from 1,243 ft to 2,083 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 14.4%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.42299, -117.08842, where Rancho Heights Road leaves Pala Temecula Road, and tops out on the road at 33.41809, -117.06281.

Is Rancho 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.

• Magee Road from Rancho Heights RoadCat 3 · 1.6 mi at 7.9% · 663 ft · starts 0.8 mi away
• Arouba RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 12.6% · 817 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Rancho Guadalupe RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 9.9% · 659 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Pala Temecula RoadCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 4.7% · 837 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Rainbow Heights RoadCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 5.7% · 876 ft · starts 3.4 mi away
• Pala del Norte RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 12.4% · 896 ft · starts 4.1 mi away
• Magee Road from Highway 76Cat 2 · 5.7 mi at 5.3% · 1,598 ft · starts 4.5 mi away
• Lilac RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 7.3% · 846 ft · starts 5.0 mi away