Ship Rock 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 Ship Rock Road climb?

2.2 miles (3.6 km) at 7.8% on average, climbing 912 ft (278 m) from 2,884 ft to 3,796 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 14.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.23568, -120.42764, where Ship Rock Road leaves Cunningham Road, and tops out on the road at 38.24783, -120.40854.

Is Ship Rock 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.

• Skull RanchCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 9.1% · 932 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Armstrong RoadCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 4.3% · 646 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Hubbard Road near AngelsCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 5.3% · 623 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Gold Mountain RoadCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 5.5% · 830 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• Sheep Ranch Road near AngelsCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 9.6% · 774 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Avery Sheep Ranch RoadCat 3 · 3.3 mi at 5.8% · 1,004 ft · starts 3.1 mi away
• Moran RoadCat 3 · 4.9 mi at 3.6% · 928 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Love Creek RoadCat 2 · 6.2 mi at 3.4% · 1,099 ft · starts 4.0 mi away