Sams Mountain 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 Sams Mountain Road climb?

1.5 miles (2.5 km) at 11.9% on average, climbing 955 ft (291 m) from 820 ft to 1,775 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 13.2%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 33.29605, -116.9707, where Sams Mountain Road leaves Pala Road, and ends where the road ends at 33.31171, -116.9649.

Is Sams Mountain 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.

• Highway 76Cat 2 · 7.2 mi at 5.1% · 1,949 ft · starts 0.0 mi away
• Avenida de Las Estrella AvenueCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 12.8% · 886 ft · starts 0.2 mi away
• Pauma Heights RoadCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 7.3% · 906 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• North Mesa DriveCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 8.5% · 863 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Quail DriveCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 10% · 558 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Starbeam LaneCat 3 · 0.8 mi at 15.3% · 650 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Nate Harrison GradeHC · dirt · 9.3 mi at 8.7% · 4,288 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Indian Oak TrailCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 11% · 564 ft · starts 2.4 mi away