Road Z 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 Road Z climb?

2.7 miles (4.4 km) at 9% on average, climbing 1,296 ft (395 m) from 705 ft to 2,001 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 40.15663, -123.88699, where Road Z leaves Road Aa, and tops out at Elk Ridge Road at 40.14312, -123.90853.

Is Road Z 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.

• Road BbCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 10.1% · 538 ft · starts 1.0 mi away
• Seely Creek RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 7.5% · 548 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• Perry Meadow RoadCat 3 · 3.4 mi at 5.7% · 1,007 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• Perry Lane from Shop RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 10.7% · 1,024 ft · starts 2.1 mi away
• Wood Ranch RoadCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 13.8% · 801 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Perry Lane from Perry Meadow RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 11.1% · 719 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Elk Ridge RoadCat 2 · 3.3 mi at 8.2% · 1,421 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• East ForkCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 9.7% · 735 ft · starts 3.0 mi away