Shadow Canyon 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 Shadow Canyon Road climb?

2.5 miles (4.0 km) at 4.7% on average, climbing 604 ft (184 m) from 1,066 ft to 1,670 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 35.54177, -120.81866, where Shadow Canyon Road leaves York Mountain Road, and ends where the road ends at 35.56451, -120.84512.

Is Shadow Canyon 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.

• Sibley LaneCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 9.6% · 636 ft · starts 0.8 mi away
• Sunrise Ridge RoadCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9.4% · 545 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Green Valley Road near AtascaderoCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 6.5% · 666 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Santa Rosa Creek RoadCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 3.5% · 535 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Niderer RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 5% · 548 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Peachy Canyon Road near AtascaderoCat 3 · 3.2 mi at 3.1% · 535 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Falling Star LaneCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 9.1% · 846 ft · starts 4.7 mi away
• Old Creek RoadCat 2 · 3.4 mi at 6.4% · 1,148 ft · starts 5.3 mi away